| Book Review | The Journal of American History, 88.2

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| Book Review | The Journal of American History, 88.2 | The History Cooperative

Book Review

The Oxford Companion to American Military History. Ed. by John Whiteclay Chambers II, Fred Anderson, Lynn Eden, Joseph T. Glatthaar, Ronald H. Spector, and G. Kurt Piehler. (New York: Oxford University Press, 1999. xxxiv, 916 pp. $60.00, ISBN 0-19-507198-0.)

The increased academic respectability of military history in the United States as a subject for research and study, despite the virulent prejudices that still persist in certain circles, has long demanded a reliable reference work. The Oxford Companion to American Military History has certainly fulfilled its objective of providing such a work based on the latest scholarship and perspectives on the subject. Throughout, contributors treat American military history in a broad fashion, reflecting the historiographical trends that have prevailed for about forty years. They seek to move beyond accounts of military operations or institutions (although those are far from neglected) in order to provide the content of this encyclopedia in "relationship to the social, economic, political and cultural milieu." It is also designed to facilitate one of the historian's favorite pastimes—browsing. 1

Thought is also stimulated by the inclusion of substantial, interpretative articles that consider themes and concepts as well as historical events and persons. For instance, within the space of a dozen pages under the "C" listings, an inquiring reader will find entries on "Collective Security," "Colonial Rebellions," "Colored Troops, US," "Combat, Changing Experience of," "Combat Effectiveness," "Combat Support," "Command and Control," and "Commander in Chief, President as." A lot of thought has gone into the arrangement of this volume. These (and many other) essays offer authoritative introductions for the general reader or student; the expert will find them indispensable for the preparation of lectures. . . .

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