The closest thing to total war before World War One, the Seven Years' War was fought in North America, Europe, the Caribbean and India with major consequences for all parties involved. This fascinating book is the first to truly review the grand strategies of the combatants and examine the differing styles of warfare used in the many campaigns. These ranged from the large-scale battles and sieges of the European front to the ambush and skirmish tactics used in the forests of North America. Daniel Marston's engaging narrative is supported by official war papers, personal diaries and memoirs, and official reports.

A study of the Seven Years' War, reviewing the grand strategies of the combatants and the differing styles of warfare used in the many campaigns. The narrative is supported by official war papers, personal diaries and memoirs, and official reports.

Daniel Marston was born and raised in Boston, Massachusetts. He completed both his BA and MA in History at McGill University, Montreal, Canada. The subject of his MA thesis was the performance of the British Army in North America during the Seven Years War. He is currently living in England, where he is working towards completion of a D.Phil in the History of War at Balliol College, University of Oxford

2005-06-12 Thorough and interesting

Speaking as a non-historian (and therefore one of the book's intended audience), I found this book to be an excellent general history of a conflict that I previously knew little about. The author did a good job of presenting the various participants and theatres clearly and concisely, as well as succinctly outlining the (potentially confusing) political context in which the war took place. The illustrations and maps provided interest and important supporting information. I thought that this was more than up to Osprey's usual standard of quality, and overall a thorough and interesting exploration of 18th-century history and warfare.