Hannibal Crosses The Alps: The Enigma Re-examined Hardcover – May 21, 1998

The book was very interesting. It seemed to be well researched and the conclusions very believable.

Well researched and written. Filled in a lot of blanks about the turmoil between nations and people that have only been lightly touched upon in other writings I have read.

This was my first in-depth study of the subject and I could hardly put the book down. The history here is absolutely riveting and well-written, and also seemingly well-documented. The only reason I can't give it five stars is the profuse discussion on the possible routes Hannibal took, which is fine in and of itself, but without adequate maps?!! If I were a native or resident of the region and knew all these place names it would be a different story, but as it were there was no payoff in reading these sections carefully without the benefit of placing it in a geographical context. Thus, I inevitably resorted to skimming these sections to get back to the meaningful discussions. As far as the rest of it, though, I give Prevas high praise for a very readable and engrossing account of Hannibal's exploits and the broader context, even if only introductory, of the Punic Wars.

I like "Hannibal Crosses the Alps: The Enigma Re-Examined". Despite what the title of this book implies, it is as much about the historical context of the Roman/Carthaginian conflicts as it is about the myriad theories concerning the exact route Hannibal took through the Alps.Unless you know who Hannibal was and what he did - and I dare say that most people who are products of our U.S. public school systems are ignorant of those facts - then discussing the possible routes that Hannibal took on his way to Rome would be dull reading indeed. So, quite sensibly, the author treats the reader with a very well written account of what we know about the Carthaginian civilization at that time, along with relevant details about the Romans. Did you know that the Carthaginians were Phoenician and practiced infanticide? I didn't.All the major events of the three Punic wars are covered without getting bogged down with too many details. So I think most people will find this book a good read. However, in all likelihood those who already know the story of Hannibal will not learn anything new about this period of Roman history.As for the author's theory that Hannibal crossed the Alps following the Drome River through the Traversette pass, all I can really say is that he's not only an expert in classical history but an Alpine climber to boot - a combination that to my mind allows John Prevas to write with a bit of authority on this matter. This particular route has been largely ignored by most scholars and after reading John Prevas' arguments, it should be taken as a very serious candidate.For those looking for a readable introduction to Hannibal spiced with some unique detective work, this book cannot be beat.

I am writing as a high school Latin student of John Prevas and his work is nothing short of impressive. The thorough retelling of Hannibal Barca's trek against the Romans is brought to vivid life with deep explanations and descriptive text. It all starts with a Trojan prince deserting his woman and a historic lust for revenge to be fought for throughout the course of the three Punic Wars. Such a suspenseful history is elucidated with betrayals, ambushes, retreats, murders, chases and so much more. One can't help but admire the transformation and development of the Roman and Carthaginian worlds as they wait for each other. You will see the organization of some ragtag mercenaries and lower class Carthaginian turn into the greatest fighting force graced by ancient history. This very force is the one that eventually descended from the Alps to assault the Romans on their own land. Stories are cross-examined from ancient manuscripts and the author's own personal travels over the passages he recounts. This is a compelling, addictive book of marvelous composition. I definitely recommend this work to anyone interested in the era or even those who wish to learn of the amazing feats of one of the greatest war tacticians of all time. Enjoy!

Even if one has no interest in history and is a little tired of reading business books then this book us for you. It will surely invigorate you. The story about Hannibal is truly inspirational and the book is so well written that it puts the entire context of ancient history into perspective. The first time I started reading it, I read for 8 hours straight and couldn't put it down. It is so well written that the author manages to make you feel that are living in that ancient times. A must read!

I just finished reading this book over the weekend, and I have to say that I was enthralled - I could hardly put the book down. I am not terribly knowledgable about this era in history, so I found the background, timeline, and cast of characters to be extremely useful (and entertaining).My only, very minor, gripe about the book (and what keeps me from giving it 5 stars) is that it needed more maps. I had to use an atlas to gain a better understanding of the text. While not bad in itself, trying to reconcile the ancient names with the modern ones was distracting, and trying to pick through a detailed map took too much time. I was most of the way through chapter VI before I came to the one map of routes through the Alps that was included - references to this one as well as more maps would have also been useful.However, I still HIGHLY recommend this book.

I think that John Prevas wrote a great book about Hannibal. He is an exceptional man because he tought me at Thomas Stone High School this past year and he knows whats he is talking about in this book.

This book gives a chronological time line from the first Punic war to the total destruction of Carthage in 146 b.c. At the front of the book It gives the names of the people and a brief description of who was who during this period which is very helpful and keeps you on track. Also the book gives a sober judgement on the amount of miles Hannibal travelled and how many men died during battles.very constructive and enjoyable book to learn from I strongly recommend it to all historians.