Cavalry from hoof to track /

This history of the cavalry arm from classical antiquity to the present focuses on the constant features that have characterized its operations. Jarymowycz (Royal Military College of Canada) argues that the essence of cavalry lies in its spirit--a combination of speed, simplicity, and boldness--rather than its form of transportation, and he seeks to describe how that spirit has manifested itself through the ages. This is a daunting task. It requires that cavalry actions be placed firmly in the context of broader operations while at the same time not digressing into subjects that may be interesting but ultimately not relevant. Jarymowycz is weak on both points. His descriptions of campaigns are so sketchy that those not familiar with them will find it difficult to understand what occurred or what role the cavalry played; his tendency to go off on tangents such as the details of the longbow or 18th-century camp followers will confuse more than delight. In the end, this book is more a collection of impressionistic snapshots of cavalry actions and anecdotes than a well-reasoned scholarly analysis. Summing Up: Optional. Public libraries/general collections. R. H. Larson Lycoming College