Conflict is one of the most devastating factors of human history. Yet, as Margaret Macmillan has recently argued, it is also catalytic in shaping societies. Here in Hatchards Military Department you’ll find histories from the Napoleonic Wars, the battles of World War II, to current struggles in the Middle East.

Our Bestsellers

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Abducting a General by Patrick Leigh Fermor
Abducting a General
Patrick Leigh Fermor
£12.99
A Hateful Decision by Edward Abel Smith
A Hateful Decision
Edward Abel Smith
£22.00
The General by C. S. Forester
The General
C. S. Forester
£12.99
The Duke of York's Flanders Campaign by Steve Brown
The Duke of York's Flanders Campaign
Steve Brown
£25.00
The Savage Storm by James Holland
The Savage Storm
James Holland
£11.99
The Last Days of Hitler by Hugh Trevor Roper
The Last Days of Hitler
Hugh Trevor Roper
£12.99
Waterloo by Gareth Glover
Waterloo
Gareth Glover
£16.99
The White War by Mark Thompson
The White War
Mark Thompson
£14.99
Eastern Approaches by Fitzroy Maclean
Eastern Approaches
Fitzroy Maclean
£12.99
Winkle by Paul Beaver
Winkle
Paul Beaver
£12.99
Victory '45 by James Holland
Victory '45
James Holland
£10.99
Britain at Bay by Alan Allport
Britain at Bay
Alan Allport
£14.99
From the Front line by Vasily Grossman
From the Front line
Vasily Grossman
£25.00
Advance Britannia by Alan Allport
Advance Britannia
Alan Allport
£30.00
Once There Was a War by John Steinbeck
Once There Was a War
John Steinbeck
£12.99
The Spy and the Traitor by Ben Macintyre
The Spy and the Traitor
Ben Macintyre
£11.99
Gurkha by Kailash Limbu
Gurkha
Kailash Limbu
£12.99
The Second World War by Martin Gilbert
The Second World War
Martin Gilbert
£20.00
The Final Few by Dilip Sarkar
The Final Few
Dilip Sarkar
£9.99
The Longest Walk Home by Ray Bailey
The Longest Walk Home
Ray Bailey
£12.99

New & Coming Soon

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Plunder by Max Hastings
Plunder
Max Hastings
£25.00
Biological War by Annie Jacobsen
Biological War
Annie Jacobsen
£22.00
Napoleon and his Marshals by Andrew Roberts
Napoleon and his Marshals
Andrew Roberts
£40.00
Churchill’s Pirates by Will Iredale
Churchill’s Pirates
Will Iredale
£22.00
Collapse by Jonathan Fennell
Collapse
Jonathan Fennell
£30.00
Montgomery: Unbeatable, Unbearable by Gary Mead
Montgomery: Unbeatable, Unbearable
Gary Mead
£25.00
Castles by Dan Jones
Castles
Dan Jones
£30.00
Redwood by Ben Macintyre
Redwood
Ben Macintyre
£25.00
Blitz by John Nichol
Blitz
John Nichol
£25.00
Lest We Forget by Tessa Dunlop
Lest We Forget
Tessa Dunlop
£22.00
We Have Ways of Making You Talk by Al Murray
We Have Ways of Making You Talk
Al Murray
£22.00
The Sceptic Isle by Steven Casey
The Sceptic Isle
Steven Casey
£26.99
Atlantic Furies by Midge Gillies
Atlantic Furies
Midge Gillies
£25.00
The Crusader Storm by Nicholas Morton
The Crusader Storm
Nicholas Morton
£25.00
Berlin by Prit Buttar
Berlin
Prit Buttar
£30.00
The Accidental Soldier by Owain Mulligan
The Accidental Soldier
Owain Mulligan
£22.00
Tunisgrad by Saul David
Tunisgrad
Saul David
£25.00
Victory '45 by James Holland
Victory '45
James Holland
£22.00
Tank by Mark Urban
Tank
Mark Urban
£25.00
A History of The World in Ten Wars by Terry Deary
A History of The World in Ten Wars
Terry Deary
£22.00

Hatchards Recommends

  • Trafalgar by Paul O'Keeffe
    Trafalgar
    Paul O'Keeffe
    £25.00
    From one of the leading military historians, this account of the battle of Trafalgar is filled with vivid and often over... See more
    From one of the leading military historians, this account of the battle of Trafalgar is filled with vivid and often overlooked details, such as the logistics of Nelson’s elaborate funeral an... See more
  • Stealing Hitler's Rocket by Guy Walters
    Stealing Hitler's Rocket
    Guy Walters
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    Telling the neglected and incredible story of one of the Second World War's most important operations, Stealing Hitler's... See more
    Telling the neglected and incredible story of one of the Second World War's most important operations, Stealing Hitler's Rocket reveals how Polish resistance fighters and the Allies managed ... See more
  • The August Coup by Robert Service
    The August Coup
    Robert Service
    £30.00
    The acclaimed historian of Russia offers his compelling analysis of a dramatic turning point in recent Russian history: ... See more
    The acclaimed historian of Russia offers his compelling analysis of a dramatic turning point in recent Russian history: the August Coup of 1991. See more
  • The Lifesavers by Roderick Bailey
    The Lifesavers
    Roderick Bailey
    £25.00
    A remarkable true story about saving life in wartime, not taking it'A story destined to be told. A fascinating history o... See more
    A remarkable true story about saving life in wartime, not taking it'A story destined to be told. A fascinating history of blood for the front line. Humbling, awe inspiring and life affirming... See more
  • Dad’s Army by Sinclair McKay
    Dad’s Army
    Sinclair McKay
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    From the bestselling author of The Secrets of Bletchley Park comes a moving and eye-opening portrait of the Home Guard, ... See more
    From the bestselling author of The Secrets of Bletchley Park comes a moving and eye-opening portrait of the Home Guard, revealing a legion of dedicated, skilled and courageous men and women ... See more

General Military History

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The Shortest History Of War by Gwynne Dyer
The Shortest History Of War
Gwynne Dyer
£12.99
On War by Carl von Clausewitz
On War
Carl von Clausewitz
£9.99
The Art of War by Sun-tzu
The Art of War
Sun-tzu
£8.99
War by Saul David
War
Saul David
£35.00
Modern War by Richard English
Modern War
Richard English
£9.99
Behind the Enigma by John Ferris
Behind the Enigma
John Ferris
£18.99
Strategy by Sir Lawrence Freedman
Strategy
Sir Lawrence Freedman
£22.99
Empire of Guns by Priya Satia
Empire of Guns
Priya Satia
£16.99

Espionage

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The Spy and the Traitor by Ben Macintyre
The Spy and the Traitor
Ben Macintyre
£11.99
A Woman of No Importance by Sonia Purnell
A Woman of No Importance
Sonia Purnell
£12.99
The Secret War by Max Hastings
The Secret War
Max Hastings
£12.99
The Defence of the Realm by Christopher Andrew
The Defence of the Realm
Christopher Andrew
£18.99
M by Henry Hemming
M
Henry Hemming
£12.99
The Secret Listeners by Sinclair McKay
The Secret Listeners
Sinclair McKay
£14.00
Trinity by Frank Close
Trinity
Frank Close
£14.99
Game of Spies by Paddy Ashdown
Game of Spies
Paddy Ashdown
£12.99
The Secret World by Christopher Andrew
The Secret World
Christopher Andrew
£18.99
The Walls Have Ears by Helen Fry
The Walls Have Ears
Helen Fry
£12.99
Stalin's Englishman by Andrew Lownie
Stalin's Englishman
Andrew Lownie
£13.99
Village of Secrets by Caroline Moorehead
Village of Secrets
Caroline Moorehead
£12.99
D-Day Girls by Sarah Rose
D-Day Girls
Sarah Rose
£12.99
The New Spymasters by Stephen Grey
The New Spymasters
Stephen Grey
£16.99
Secret Pigeon Service by Gordon Corera
Secret Pigeon Service
Gordon Corera
£12.99
My Silent War by Kim Philby
My Silent War
Kim Philby
£10.99

Pre-WW1 Conflicts

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The Arab Conquests by Justin Marozzi
The Arab Conquests
Justin Marozzi
£18.99
By the Spear by Ian Worthington
By the Spear
Ian Worthington
£16.99
Crusaders by Dan Jones
Crusaders
Dan Jones
£12.99
The Crusades by Thomas Asbridge
The Crusades
Thomas Asbridge
£12.99
The English Civil War by Diane Purkiss
The English Civil War
Diane Purkiss
£14.99
The World Turned Upside Down by Christopher Hill
The World Turned Upside Down
Christopher Hill
£12.99
The History of the Rebellion by Edward Hyde, Earl of Clarendon
The History of the Rebellion
Oliver Cromwell (Penguin Monarchs) by David Horspool
Oliver Cromwell (Penguin Monarchs)
David Horspool
£7.99
Britain Against Napoleon by Roger Knight
Britain Against Napoleon
Roger Knight
£19.99
The Longest Afternoon by Brendan Simms
The Longest Afternoon
Brendan Simms
£12.99
Russia Against Napoleon by Dominic Lieven
Russia Against Napoleon
Dominic Lieven
£16.99
When Britain Burned the White House by Peter Snow
When Britain Burned the White House
Peter Snow
£12.99
The American Civil War by John Keegan
The American Civil War
John Keegan
£14.99
Team of Rivals by Doris Kearns Goodwin
Team of Rivals
Doris Kearns Goodwin
£16.99
Victoria's Wars by Saul David
Victoria's Wars
Saul David
£14.99
Crimea by Orlando Figes
Crimea
Orlando Figes
£18.99
Return of a King by William Dalrymple
Return of a King
William Dalrymple
£25.00
The Boer War by Sir Sir Winston S. Churchill
The Boer War
The Boer War by Thomas Pakenham
The Boer War
Thomas Pakenham
£16.99

Napoleonic Wars

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Napoleon the Great by Andrew Roberts
Napoleon the Great
Andrew Roberts
£20.00
In These Times by Jenny Uglow
In These Times
Jenny Uglow
£16.99
This Dark Business by Tim Clayton
This Dark Business
Tim Clayton
£13.99
To War with Wellington by Peter Snow
To War with Wellington
Peter Snow
£14.99
1812 by Adam Zamoyski
1812
Adam Zamoyski
£19.99
The Longest Afternoon by Brendan Simms
The Longest Afternoon
Brendan Simms
£12.99
Britain Against Napoleon by Roger Knight
Britain Against Napoleon
Roger Knight
£19.99
Nelson by John Sugden
Nelson
John Sugden
£35.00
Russia Against Napoleon by Dominic Lieven
Russia Against Napoleon
Dominic Lieven
£16.99
Rifles by Mark Urban
Rifles
Mark Urban
£12.99
In Nelson's Wake by James Davey
In Nelson's Wake
James Davey
£14.99
24 Hours at Waterloo by Robert Kershaw
24 Hours at Waterloo
Robert Kershaw
£12.99
Napoleon in Egypt by Paul Strathern
Napoleon in Egypt
Paul Strathern
£16.99
Witnessing Waterloo by David Crane
Witnessing Waterloo
David Crane
£12.99
Military Dispatches by The Duke of Wellington
Military Dispatches
Citizen Emperor by Philip Dwyer
Citizen Emperor
Philip Dwyer
£25.00
Wellington by Rory Muir
Wellington
Rory Muir
£25.00

The First World War

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Where Poppies Blow by John Lewis-Stempel
Where Poppies Blow
John Lewis-Stempel
£10.99
The Sleepwalkers by Christopher Clark
The Sleepwalkers
Christopher Clark
£18.99
Gallipoli by Peter Hart
Gallipoli
Peter Hart
£14.99
Passchendaele by Nick Lloyd
Passchendaele
Nick Lloyd
£12.99
Goodbye to All That by Robert Graves
Goodbye to All That
Robert Graves
£10.99
Dreadnought by Robert K Massie
Dreadnought
Robert K Massie
£18.99
Testament of Youth by Vera Brittain
Testament of Youth
Vera Brittain
£14.99
The World's War by David Olusoga
The World's War
David Olusoga
£12.99
Undertones of War by Edmund Blunden
Undertones of War
Edmund Blunden
£10.99
The First Day on the Somme by Martin Middlebrook
The First Day on the Somme
Martin Middlebrook
£14.99
The Price of Glory by Alistair Horne
The Price of Glory
Alistair Horne
£10.99
The Missing of the Somme by Geoff Dyer
The Missing of the Somme
Geoff Dyer
£10.99
Fight to the Finish by Allan Mallinson
Fight to the Finish
Allan Mallinson
£12.99
Staring at God by Simon Heffer
Staring at God
Simon Heffer
£16.99
Memoirs of an Infantry Officer by Siegfried Sassoon
Memoirs of an Infantry Officer
Siegfried Sassoon
£9.99
The Pity of War by Niall Ferguson
The Pity of War
Niall Ferguson
£18.99
The Indian Empire At War by George Morton-Jack
The Indian Empire At War
George Morton-Jack
£14.99
The Fall of the Ottomans by Eugene Rogan
The Fall of the Ottomans
Eugene Rogan
£12.99

The Second World War

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All Hell Let Loose by Max Hastings
All Hell Let Loose
Max Hastings
£14.99
The Crew by David Price
The Crew
David Price
£9.99
Shrapnel by William Wharton
Shrapnel
William Wharton
£8.99
The Bombing War by Richard Overy
The Bombing War
Richard Overy
£20.00
The End by Ian Kershaw
The End
Ian Kershaw
£16.99
The Bomber Mafia by Malcolm Gladwell
The Bomber Mafia
Malcolm Gladwell
£20.00
Stalingrad by Antony Beevor
Stalingrad
Antony Beevor
£12.99
Hiroshima by John Hersey
Hiroshima
John Hersey
£10.99
The Gathering Storm by Winston Churchill
The Gathering Storm
Winston Churchill
£18.99
The Unwomanly Face of War by Svetlana Alexievich
The Unwomanly Face of War
Svetlana Alexievich
£9.99
Defeat Into Victory by William Slim
Defeat Into Victory
William Slim
£16.99
An Army At Dawn by Rick Atkinson
An Army At Dawn
Rick Atkinson
£16.99
The Battle of Britain by James Holland
The Battle of Britain
James Holland
£14.99
The Second World War by Martin Gilbert
The Second World War
Martin Gilbert
£20.00
Arnhem by William F. Buckingham
Arnhem
William F. Buckingham
£20.00
Abducting a General by Patrick Leigh Fermor
Abducting a General
Patrick Leigh Fermor
£12.99
D-Day by Giles Milton
D-Day
Giles Milton
£14.99
The Ratline by Philippe Sands
The Ratline
Philippe Sands
£12.99
War in Val d'Orcia by Iris Origo
War in Val d'Orcia
Iris Origo
£12.99
The Secret Life of Bletchley Park by Sinclair McKay
The Secret Life of Bletchley Park
Sinclair McKay
£10.99

Conflicts Post-1945

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The History of the SAS by Chris Ryan
The History of the SAS
Chris Ryan
£12.99
Eight Days at Yalta by Diana Preston
Eight Days at Yalta
Diana Preston
£14.99
Shadowplay by Tim Marshall
Shadowplay
Tim Marshall
£10.99
Our Boys by Helen Parr
Our Boys
Helen Parr
£10.99
The Cold War by Odd Arne Westad
The Cold War
Odd Arne Westad
£18.99
The Korean War by Max Hastings
The Korean War
Max Hastings
£18.99
The Vietnam War by Geoffrey C. Ward
The Vietnam War
Geoffrey C. Ward
£22.00
Boys in Zinc by Svetlana Alexievich
Boys in Zinc
Svetlana Alexievich
£10.99
Unwinnable by Theo Farrell
Unwinnable
Theo Farrell
£12.99
The Great War for Civilisation by Robert Fisk
The Great War for Civilisation
Robert Fisk
£22.99
The Morning They Came for Us by Janine di Giovanni
The Morning They Came for Us
Janine di Giovanni
£10.99
Directorate S by Steve Coll
Directorate S
Steve Coll
£18.99
Hue 1968 by Mark Bowden
Hue 1968
Mark Bowden
£14.99
National Service by Richard Vinen
National Service
Richard Vinen
£16.99
First They Killed My Father by Loung Ung
First They Killed My Father
Loung Ung
£11.99
Born on the Fourth of July by Ron Kovic
Born on the Fourth of July
Ron Kovic
£9.99
The End of the Cold War by Robert Service
The End of the Cold War
Robert Service
£20.00