Dark Path

Williamson Murray (1941–2023) was professor emeritus at The Ohio State University and the Ambassador Anthony D. Marshall Chair of Strategic Studies at Marine Corps University. His publications include more than twenty books on major wars, military innovation, and grand strategy.

“The Dark Path can be seen as the culmination of a lifetime of scholarly research and sustained study.”—Brendan Simms, Wall Street Journal“An engaging book that is well-researched . . . detailed and scholarly. . . . A valuable addition to the history of warfare."—David Rees, RUSI-A Book Reviews2025 CHOICE Outstanding Academic Title “Williamson Murray’s book demonstrates why military history should be a major part of any liberal arts curriculum, since he shows with extraordinary narrative detail why war has tragically been central to the story of humanity.”—Robert D. Kaplan, author of The Tragic Mind: Fear, Fate, and the Burden of Power“A highly important book for anyone seeking a better understanding of the factors that shape the changing character of war.”—Lt. Gen. (retired) Sir John Kiszely, author of Anatomy of a Campaign: The British Fiasco in Norway, 1940“Williamson Murray was one of America’s most distinguished and insightful scholars of military affairs. In this magisterial book, he brings together his enormous breadth of learning to describe the major military revolutions that have defined the modern world. Informed by a deep sense of realism—even tragedy—this is the kind of book Americans need to consult in an increasingly dangerous world.”—Elbridge A. Colby, author of The Strategy of Denial