Between 17, Europe plunged into an abyss of destruction. In a sweeping, evocative narrative, Bell takes us from campaigns of 'extermination' in the blood-soaked fields of western France to savage street fighting in ruined Spanish cities to central European battlefields where tens of thousands died in a single day. In a sweeping, evocative narrative, Bell takes us from campaigns of 'extermination' in the blood-soaked fields of western Fr The twentieth century is usually seen as 'the century of total war.' But as the historian David Bell argues in this landmark work, the phenomenon acutally began much earlier, in the era of muskets, cannons, and sailing ships - in the age of Napoleon. The twentieth century is usually seen as 'the century of total war.' But as the historian David Bell argues in this landmark work, the phenomenon acutally began much earlier, in the era of muskets, cannons, and sailing ships - in the age of Napoleon.
