This is a bit of an odd book. It consists of an introduction and fourteen chapters, each one a fictionalized account of a soldier from a variety of time periods, from the Roman invasion of Britain to a British paratrooper trapped at Arnhem. The chapters are fiction but are based on actual military operations, with most details drawn from non-fiction histories. The fictional primary players are introduced as composite characters to allow the reader to understand what it was like for the grunt solider of the different eras. It's actually surprisingly good. The stories flow well, are interesting and informative. Each chapter has a color plate depicting the primary character with an emphasis on his equipment and dress. This is an excellent book for the more casual military reader. ( )