Osprey Publishing have an extensive range of books covering warfare from the ancient world through to modern day. Their texts are well written and adequately cover the subject matter. Each of the books also has between 6 and 10 lavish colour plates depicting the armies or battles. If I'm building an army, these are usually the first books I buy!

Western warfare as we understand it, has its foundations in the warfare of the ancient Greeks. Regardless of terrain or troop strength, ancient Greek armies historically maintained battlefield superiority. The structure of the phalanx and the deliberate economy and craft of hostile warfare and weaponry are outlined. The emergence of Athens and Sparta, the battles of Platea, and Marathon and the Persian wars, are placed in their cultural context, together with the Dark Ages which followed.

Alexander is a legend - a king who conquered the Persian empire before he was 30 and proved himself to be one of the greatest military leaders of all time. The author uses his skills to put together a fascinating story in which he explores Alexander's journey, his strategies as a general, his colourful private life and his fascination with the Gods. It will take a long time before this detailed and well-written work is surpassed

The story of the Claudian Conquest of Britain was only parly recorded by ancient historians. Much of the missing knowledge has been recaptured by archaelogical research. As a result we have a better understanding of the tribal society which then existed in Britain and this can help us to appreciate the courses of military action open to Plautius, the commanding Roman general. The author discusses what these may have been, examines the reasons for a seemingly isolated foray into the West Country, and suggests that the guerrilla campaign of AD 43-52 denied the Romans their hope of a speedy conquest.

Thucydides claimed that his account of the devastating war between the Athenians and the Spartans was a "possession for all time". An Athenian general, he was exiled for a military failure and drew for his writing on his personal experience and information from an extensive network of contacts on both sides to the epic conflict. The issues Thucydides addressed are as germane today as they were in the 5th-century BC