One Shot, One Kill: A History of the Sniper

Nonfiction, Science & Nature, Technology, History, Military
Cover of the book One Shot, One Kill: A History of the Sniper by Andy Dougan, HarperCollins Publishers
View on Amazon View on AbeBooks View on Kobo View on B.Depository View on eBay View on Walmart
Author: Andy Dougan ISBN: 9780007394142
Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers Publication: October 10, 2011
Imprint: Fourth Estate Language: English
Author: Andy Dougan
ISBN: 9780007394142
Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers
Publication: October 10, 2011
Imprint: Fourth Estate
Language: English

Previously published as The Hunting of Man One shot, one kill: a cultural and military history of the sniper since 1643, when the first shot was fired by a sniper during the battle for Litchfield in the English Civil War, to the present day, when the sniper has become the embodiment of contemporary military strategy and technology. Since Robert Greville, Lord Brooke, commander of the Parliamentarian forces, was struck in the eye by a marksman positioned on the spire of Litchfield cathedral, the story of the sniper has been one of the gradual empowerment of the individual soldier over the massed battalions. As military technology evolved to produce lighter, and quieter firearms that could strike with accuracy over longer and longer distances, so the role of the talented individual marksman has become more central to the outcome of military conflicts. Andy Dougan tells the story of the sniper as seen in the wars of Vietnam, the first and Second World Wars, the American Civil War, the Boer War and European conflicts and up to the present day when the sniper is not only a battlefield phenomenon but a terrorist in civilian society of almost phantom-like elusiveness. In three hundred and fifty years the history of the sniper has, more than any other military history, been the story of individuals: of high-profile victims such as the Union General Sedgwick, whose legendary last words were 'They couldn't hit an elephant at this distance' to the celebrated shooters. Sniping has more mythology than any other aspect of warfare, more mystery too. Because the sniper does not participate in a war fought between huge killing machines at great remove from their victims. With the sniper, there is selection, identification and deliberate execution. In short, it's personal. Andy Dougan, author of Dynamo, has written an engrossing human history of the men and women who have taken up the gun to expert and deadly effect.

View on Amazon View on AbeBooks View on Kobo View on B.Depository View on eBay View on Walmart

Previously published as The Hunting of Man One shot, one kill: a cultural and military history of the sniper since 1643, when the first shot was fired by a sniper during the battle for Litchfield in the English Civil War, to the present day, when the sniper has become the embodiment of contemporary military strategy and technology. Since Robert Greville, Lord Brooke, commander of the Parliamentarian forces, was struck in the eye by a marksman positioned on the spire of Litchfield cathedral, the story of the sniper has been one of the gradual empowerment of the individual soldier over the massed battalions. As military technology evolved to produce lighter, and quieter firearms that could strike with accuracy over longer and longer distances, so the role of the talented individual marksman has become more central to the outcome of military conflicts. Andy Dougan tells the story of the sniper as seen in the wars of Vietnam, the first and Second World Wars, the American Civil War, the Boer War and European conflicts and up to the present day when the sniper is not only a battlefield phenomenon but a terrorist in civilian society of almost phantom-like elusiveness. In three hundred and fifty years the history of the sniper has, more than any other military history, been the story of individuals: of high-profile victims such as the Union General Sedgwick, whose legendary last words were 'They couldn't hit an elephant at this distance' to the celebrated shooters. Sniping has more mythology than any other aspect of warfare, more mystery too. Because the sniper does not participate in a war fought between huge killing machines at great remove from their victims. With the sniper, there is selection, identification and deliberate execution. In short, it's personal. Andy Dougan, author of Dynamo, has written an engrossing human history of the men and women who have taken up the gun to expert and deadly effect.

More books from HarperCollins Publishers

Cover of the book In Search of Adam by Andy Dougan
Cover of the book 100 Of The Best Curses and Insults In Italian: A Toolkit for the Testy Tourist by Andy Dougan
Cover of the book Virgo 2018: Your Personal Horoscope by Andy Dougan
Cover of the book 20,000 Leagues Under The Sea (Collins Classics) by Andy Dougan
Cover of the book A Summer to Remember by Andy Dougan
Cover of the book The Summer Season by Andy Dougan
Cover of the book Broken Skin (Logan McRae, Book 3) by Andy Dougan
Cover of the book One Soldier by Andy Dougan
Cover of the book The Clumsies make a Mess of the Big Show (The Clumsies, Book 3) by Andy Dougan
Cover of the book GI + GL Diet (Collins Need to Know?) by Andy Dougan
Cover of the book West of the Moon by Andy Dougan
Cover of the book My Adventures with Satyajit Ray: The Making of Shatranj Ke Khilari by Andy Dougan
Cover of the book Christmas at the Little Clock House on the Green (Whispers Wood, Book 2) by Andy Dougan
Cover of the book Gemini 2020: Your Personal Horoscope by Andy Dougan
Cover of the book Born into the Children of God: Part 2 of 3: My life in a religious sex cult and my struggle for survival on the outside by Andy Dougan
We use our own "cookies" and third party cookies to improve services and to see statistical information. By using this website, you agree to our Privacy Policy