The essays on aspects of the Anglo-American approach to war range from study of volunteer soldiering in the Mexican War of 1846-48, analyses of operations in the two World Wars, to a reconsideration of the nature of future warfare.

The great strength of this collection of studies is that academics and senior military practitioners have been brought together, drawing from similar sources and working to the highest scholarly standards, but bringing their own perspectives to bear on complex military subjects. The essays on multifarious aspects of the Anglo-American approach to war range from study of volunteer soldiering in the Mexican War of 1846-48, analyses of operations in the two World Wars, to a reconsideration of the nature of future warfare. All the contributors thoroughly consider the overall historical context and explore the relationship between theory and practice in military operations. They also review the problems of transition from the small-scale duties of an imperial or frontier constabulary to coping with the demands of continental warfare, a central feature of the Anglo-American military tradition. Throughout a major theme is the importance of peacetime in mental preparation and training for war.