Wintle has assembled over 4000 quotations offering a history of attitudes as well as behavior. Ranging from paragraphs to aphorisms, they present war's enduring mix of fascination and horror. The 'Dictionary' is organized in three sections. Part I deals with the general nature of war. Part II comments on wars and battles from the Stone Age to the Falklands, with no significant omissions. Part III features personalities: Lysander of Sparta, Robert E. Lee, William Westmoreland.

Includes indexes.

Foreword -- Generalities: general statements about war, arranged chronologically by author -- Particularities: quotations about individual wars and battles, arranged chronologically -- Personalities: quotations about commanders, captains and others, arranged alphabetically by name