ATTILA: THE BARBARIAN KING WHO CHALLENGED ROME.

UK,8vo HB+dw/dj,illustrated,1st edn. [Complete number line 1 3 5 7 9 10 8 6 4 2.] FINE+/FINE. No owner inscrptn and no price-clip to dw/dj.Bright,crisp, clean,matt,montage'd monochrome photographic illustarted dw/dj with capitalised,glossy pink+grey lettered part-title and capitalised,matt white-lettered sub-title,author's capitalised,glossy,pale lettered name to front of dw/dj; a black spine/backstrip with fornt's photograph thumbnail detail to head and similarly coloured+lettered part-title and author name as front's,and publisher's capitalised white-lettered and illustrated,colphon to foot of same,rear panel of dw/dj with monochrome photographic background and 4 critics' white+grey lettered reviews for author's 'Genghis Khan' title.Top+fore-edges bright and clean without foxing/spotting; contents bright,tight and clean,solid and sound - pristine - no dog-ear reading creases to any pages' corners,appears unread other than my own collation.Publisher's bright,crisp,clean and unblemished,sharp-cornered,original plain black cloth boards with bright,crisp,blocked silver gilt lettered spine/backstrip,a b/w striped headband and plain green endpapers.UK,8vo HB+dw/dj,illustrated,1st edn,ix-xpp+1-324pp [paginated] includes a Maps +Illustrations list/table, author's Introduction,Pts I-III comprising 3, 4 and 5 chapters respectively,16pp contemporary colour photographs in 2 blocks of 8pp apiece,between pp116/17 and pp196/97 respectively,3 b/w regional maps - 2 double-paged and a single page map - interspersed throughout the book,a Bibliography and an Index; plus [unpaginated] half-title+title pages,a dedication and a Contents list/table. Attila the Hun is a household name - a byword for mindless barbarism.But to most of us the man himself,his world,and his significance are all unknown. In this stunning historical narrative,John Man reveals the real Attila.
For a crucial twenty years in the early fifth century, Attila held the fate of the Roman Empire and the future of all Europe in his hands.The decaying imperium,dominating the West from its twin capitals of Rome and Constantinople,was threatened by barbarian tribes from the East.It was Attila who created the greatest of barbarian forces.His empire briefly rivaled Romes,reaching from the Rhine to the Black Sea,the Baltic to the Balkans.In numerous raids and three major campaigns against the Roman Empire,he earned himself an instant and undying reputation for savagery.
But there was more to him than mere barbarism. Attila's power derived from his astonishing character. He was capricious,arrogant,and brutal - but also brilliant enough to win the loyalty of millions.Huns thought him semi divine,Goths and other barbarians adored him,educated Westerners were proud to serve him.Attila was also a canny politician.From his base in the Hungarian grasslands,he sent Latin and Greek secretaries to blackmail the Roman Empire.Like other despots,before and since,he relied on foreign financial backing and knew how to play upon the weaknesses of his friends and enemies.With this unique blend of qualities,Attila very nearly dictated Europes future.
In the end,his ambitions ran away with him.An insane demand for the hand of a Roman princess and assaults too deep into France and Italy led to sudden death in the arms of a new wife.He did not live long enough to found a lasting empire - but enough to jolt Rome toward its final fall.
In this riveting biography,John Man draws on his extensive travels through Attilas heartland and his experience with the nomadic traditions of Central Asia to reveal the man behind the myth. Please contact seller,for correct shipping/P+p quotes - particularly ALL overseas customers - BEFORE ordering through the order page! N.B. ALL buyers please note,stocks' actual shipping/P+p costs are adjusted and any difference is refunded,after order's receipt and before the order's despatch,especially if the item(s) are offered either P+p included/FREE. ** N.B. US/Canada customers please be aware: Standard AIRMAIL postage from UK to these destinations can now cost more than the price of the book! If speed is not of the essence,then Economy rate is recommended - at approx. anything from a 1/3rd to 1/2 of the standard US AIR quote/rate - sometimes arriving sooner than the 42 days - but not always. **