''In the requisite introductory essay the editors (who are also contributors) contextualize the problem in terms of historiography and adumbrate each contributor’s major point(s). Refreshingly for books of this type, an epilogue written by historian Nathan Rosenstein (who was one of the first to recognize the importance of the topic) lucidly discusses the major themes of the very different essays and indicates further avenues of research (readers may wish to read this section directly after the introduction). (...) In the present atmosphere of blame assignment and “fake news,” this book will provide insights on how ancient societies perceived, interpreted, and manipulated military failure.'' R.T. Ingoglia, Choice 2018.55.08

“The diversity of topics surveyed in this volume, in conjunction with the plethora of wide- ranging cultural comparisons, mean that it will be of interest not only to military historians but also to scholars of international relations, state doctrines, philosophical schools, and historiography (…) With the majority providing new insights into the differing ways in which defeat was experienced by the societies of the ancient Mediterranean, the volume is certain to become essential reading for anyone interested in military failure in antiquity. Overall, this is an important and engaging collection of essays which makes both a welcome and important contribution to an increasingly topical subject.” By Mark Woolmer in Bryn Mawr Classical Review 2019.02.07

"The volume leaves the reader with a better understanding of how ancient societies reacted to defeat. The contributions are generally stimulating and the volume as a whole is well-conceived and executed. Several contributions will be of interest to a wider readership, and this is in no small part to their success in engaging with some well-worn topics and somehow succeeding to say something new about them." Alun D. Williams in CJ-Online 2019.01.04