Forts And Fortresses: From The Hillforts Of Prehistory To Modern Times: The Definitive Visual Account Of The Science Of Fortification, by Martin Brice

There is something almost endearing about the way that this book is labeled as the definitive visual account of the science of fortification when it comes in under 200 pages (including its index), when it does not even get to the end of the Cold War, and when its own historical account is somewhat muddled and disorganized and far from systematic and chronological in nature. Some books would be irritating because of such limitations, but this book admittedly has considerable charm about it all the same. The author’s points in general are sound and well worth considering if one happens to be (as I am) a student of the art and science of fortification. One thing that this book indicates is that fortification is only half of the story. Fortresses are half of a dynamic relation that also involves attacking, and it has always been true that defenses can be bypassed and often overcome by technologies, though they remain able to exert a heavy cost on attackers where the ground is favorable to the defense (as it is in places like Afghanistan, as noted by the author in light of the Soviet invasion there). Nevertheless, it remains true as well that if a fortress is entirely invested (besieged) and the attacker has the resources and the will to maintain the siege, a fortress is more or less doomed to fail on account of starvation and/or dehydration, no matter what. Nor can the most impressive fortresses overcome treachery in the ranks of defenders. The author has the savvy to recognize this even as he celebrates the complexity and wonder of defenses all over the world.

This particular book is between 175 and 200 pages in length, with pretty large sizes due in large part to its excellent illustrations. The book is divided into six parts. The first part of the book examines the ancient world, including a discussion on the origin of fortresses (especially the well-preserved ones in Europe and the Middle East), with special features and box features on such sites as the Great Wall of China, biblical strongholds, and the Roman limites, Hattusas, Mycenae, Troy, Sparta, Babylon, Cadbury Castle, and the Saxon Shore forts (1). This is followed by a look at the medieval world, with features on Norman castles, Crusader castles, the medieval castles of India, Constantinople, Cadbury Castle (again), Jerusalem, Chateau Gaillard, and Balmoral (2). A discussion of the Renaissance world provides features on Tudor coastal defense, the Turkish high tide, as well as Vauban, the Kremlin, Haarlem, and the Martello towers (3). The following chapter on the expanding world discusses the “Southern” strongholds of South America (Inca) and the Shona fortresses of Great Zimbabwe, American frontier forts, Gibraltar, Debul, Ahmadnagar, highland forts, Fort St. George, Jalalabad, Shuri castle, and Jhansi (4). The fifth chapter, on the industrial world, discusses America’s post-1812 coastal defense, the Maginot line, Germany’s Atlantic War during World War II, Sevastopol, Heligoland, Singapore, Oscarsborg, Eben-Emael, and the Maunsell forts. The book then ends with a brief chapter on the shrinking world of the modern age, a glossary, bibliography, and index.

If you can get over the author’s somewhat old-fashioned approach to history and his lack of a firm chronology, this book is pretty impressive for its small size and a genuinely visible account. The fact that the author does not limit himself to European fortifications, though Vauban and others get plenty of due praise, also speaks to his favor. The author comments knowledgeably on Afghan hill forts as he does on British ones, on the Crusader fortresses of the Middle East, the many attempts to secure Jerusalem from attack (a generally hopeless task, it must be admitted), and also the fortresses of the Inca and Shona (Great Zimbabwe). This sort of scope deserves to be appreciated, and the fact that the author manages to discuss so much with maps, drawings, diagrams of the workings of a particular fortress and how it sought to take advantage of natural or prepared defensible ground, and photographs speaks to a desire to convey information in a variety of ways. The author’s focus on the human element of defense and attack as well as the need for will and loyalty both on the side of the attacker or defender, and the results of successful and unsuccessful sieges and their political as well as diplomatic and military consequences speaks to this book being a good one. It may not be the only book you will want to read on the subject, but it certainly deserves to be read by those who have an interest in the subject all the same. Perhaps a new edition that was slightly better organized would be in order, though.