This book by Matthew, who recently completed his doctoral thesis on which the book is based, offers a detailed account of the hoplites (spearmen) who fought in the classical Greek armies. The author describes their individual equipment, abilities, and tactics with the aid of relatively new disciplines such as reconstructive archaeology and re-enactment. As a result of those sources and attention to minute detail, he has been able to extract new information on how the hoplites fought. The book will attract readers interested in the history of the classical world and those interested in military history and strategy. Annotation ©2012 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)