Noted military historian observes the command characteristics of Alexander, Wellington, Grant, and Hitler within the context of heroism.

Includes index. "Elisabeth Sifton books."

Pre-heroic leadership -- Alexander the Great and heroic leadership -- Alexander: the father of the man -- The achievement -- The Kingdom of Macedon -- The Macedonian Army Alexander and his soldiers -- Ceremony and theatre -- Alexander's oratory -- Alexander on the battlefield -- Alexander and the mask of command -- Wellington: the anti-hero -- Wellington the man -- Wellington and Western military society -- Wellington's army -- Wellington's staff -- Wellington's routine -- Wellington and the presentation of self -- Wellington in battle -- Observation and sensation -- Grant and unheroic leadership -- Grant and the progress of war -- The professional career of U.S. Grant -- Grant's army -- Grant's staff -- Grant on campaign -- Grant the fighter -- Grant and American democracy -- False heroic: Hitler as supreme commander -- War and Hitler's world -- The war Hitler made -- Hitler's soldiers -- Hitler's headquarters -- Hitler in command -- Hitler and the theatre of leadership -- Conclusion: Post-heroic: command in the nuclear world -- The imperative of kinship -- The imperative of prescription -- The imperative of sanction -- The imperative of action -- The imperative of example -- The validation of nuclear authority.