Rating: 
Summary: A short review of the "Scorge of God".
Review: A quick easy read. The author dwelled on the conditions of both Western and Eastern Roman Empires, and less on the life and abilities of Attila. Book puts to rest that Attila had more reputation than actual cruelty. Attila was made out to be blood thirsty barbarian, when in actuality he was tolerant of different peoples and ideas.
Rating: 
Summary: The book should have an editor nefore its publication.
Review: A short biograhy of the Great Hun's life and death tells us much less about him than we would like to know. Doubtless this arises from limitations on the archaelogical evidence. The myth, sustained by serveral miniseries and Hollywood productions, is much more satisfying, particularly the story that he was poisoned by his wife. The Battle of Chalons concludes virtually half way through; thereafter the author discusses the interpretation of the Atlia myth by Christian and other writers. Apparently Atlia is still considered a folk hero in Hungary. Altogether a competent treatment but I preferred J.B. Bury's discussion of the Battle of Chalons in "The Barbarian Invasions of Europe."
Rating:
Summary: Nothing New
Review: Congratulations on being one of the worst books i've ever read. This book was written by a sadistic creature who enjoys making people suffer by reading this trash. The information is wrong, the dates are wrong and even part of the grammer is wrong! That's a few hours of my live i'll never get back.
Rating:
Summary: Needs maps and more real information
Review: Every book on Attila shares the same problem: there are simply not enough sources for there to be much real information that a historian can share. Howarth struggles heroically to find enough to fill a book, but even with substantial padding there are less than 190 pages. The last three or four chapters review the myth of Attila, rather than the man: in other words Howarth tells the tale of various operas and stories that feature Attila. These are mildly interesting but aren't history in any sense of the word.The book's worst fault, however, is that there are no maps. This is an inexcusable omission, particularly since even readers familiar with European geography are not likely to know the areas by the names current sixteen hundred years ago -- do you know where Pannonia is? Instead, there are several photographs of films and paintings of Attila; a poor substitute, considering that the renditions are all completely fanciful -- no good likeness survives. Even with these criticisms, though, this is a worthwhile book if you simply want to know the background and basic facts about Attila and the Huns. Partly because there is so little direct information about Attila himself, Howarth gives quite a bit of background about the Huns and the state of the Roman Empire at the time. The book is well-written and a pleasure to read; the lack of sources is not Howarth's fault, after all. One other note: there is only one surviving eye-witness account of Attila, and Howarth quotes quite a bit from it here. However, there is rather more of it quoted in the "Eyewitness to History" edited by John Carey, which I can strongly recommend.
Rating:
Summary: Needs maps and more real information
Review: Every book on Attila shares the same problem: there are simply not enough sources for there to be much real information that a historian can share. Howarth struggles heroically to find enough to fill a book, but even with substantial padding there are less than 190 pages. The last three or four chapters review the myth of Attila, rather than the man: in other words Howarth tells the tale of various operas and stories that feature Attila. These are mildly interesting but aren't history in any sense of the word. The book's worst fault, however, is that there are no maps. This is an inexcusable omission, particularly since even readers familiar with European geography are not likely to know the areas by the names current sixteen hundred years ago -- do you know where Pannonia is? Instead, there are several photographs of films and paintings of Attila; a poor substitute, considering that the renditions are all completely fanciful -- no good likeness survives. Even with these criticisms, though, this is a worthwhile book if you simply want to know the background and basic facts about Attila and the Huns. Partly because there is so little direct information about Attila himself, Howarth gives quite a bit of background about the Huns and the state of the Roman Empire at the time. The book is well-written and a pleasure to read; the lack of sources is not Howarth's fault, after all. One other note: there is only one surviving eye-witness account of Attila, and Howarth quotes quite a bit from it here. However, there is rather more of it quoted in the "Eyewitness to History" edited by John Carey, which I can strongly recommend.
Rating:
Summary: It wasn't anything special.
Review: I found this book not that exciting. Howarth left out many details that would have lightened the book up a bit. Granted we only know so much about the Huns but any sprinkling of interesting detail would have helped. The chapters were incredibally short. These short chapters made the book a very quick read. However, as stated earlier, this book was a quic read but rather boring in my opinion. I really didn't learn anything new.
Rating: 
Summary: Attila and friends.
Review: Patrick Howarth does a good job of writing a short and cogent book establishing context and "factual" evidence for the conduct of Attila before and during his reign. It reads more like a well done generalized history of beginning of the Eastern Roman empire as well as the decline of the Western Roman empire as much as a history of Attila's short rule of the Huns (and dominating the associated allied barbarian kingdoms) than anything else. It is concise, informative, and well done, but it could have been improved greatly with maps. I definitely would not fault the bibliography however. In addition to the aforementioned, the cultural after effects of Attila and the Huns, and how they had been portrayed in popular European history during various periods of European history is of great interest also. Variously such portrayals in literature, plays, or opera have been used for political purposes to inspire or motivate for a specific purpose, domestically or internationally, show how pervasive and influential the effects of Attila's rule are even today when properly manipulated. In sumation, a well written, introductory history of Attila the man and his environment which has served to further pique my interest in the period of history in which the Romans and barbarians were contesting for dominance of Europe.
Rating:
Summary: Attila and friends.
Review: Patrick Howarth does a good job of writing a short and cogent book establishing context and "factual" evidence for the conduct of Attila before and during his reign. It reads more like a well done generalized history of beginning of the Eastern Roman empire as well as the decline of the Western Roman empire as much as a history of Attila's short rule of the Huns (and dominating the associated allied barbarian kingdoms) than anything else. It is concise, informative, and well done, but it could have been improved greatly with maps. I definitely would not fault the bibliography however. In addition to the aforementioned, the cultural after effects of Attila and the Huns, and how they had been portrayed in popular European history during various periods of European history is of great interest also. Variously such portrayals in literature, plays, or opera have been used for political purposes to inspire or motivate for a specific purpose, domestically or internationally, show how pervasive and influential the effects of Attila's rule are even today when properly manipulated. In sumation, a well written, introductory history of Attila the man and his environment which has served to further pique my interest in the period of history in which the Romans and barbarians were contesting for dominance of Europe.
Rating:
Summary: Manhood and mythology...
Review: Patrick Howarth had a rich and varied career, that included study in languages at Oxford, work during the second world war in special operations and intelligence, and a wide ranging writing career, all of which have come together to help craft this interesting overview and introduction to the Huns and their most illustrious leader, Attila. This book is less a biography of Attila the Hun, the Scourge of God, as it is an overview of the cultural, military, political and personality aspects of the late Roman Empire and the expansive but short-lived Hunnish Empire. It also addresses how the mythology of Attila and the Huns is far more pervasive throughout history than the truth has been, or continues to be. Howarth's thesis begins that the Huns are a much-maligned people, and that most of our historical information comes with a distinct political taint, handed down by the victors (those who win get to write the history), the Romans, the Byzantines, and that longest-of-lasting institutions, the Christian church. Little known and less taught is the fact that the Roman Empire did in fact have major, if disorganised, rivals for their power. The Celtic Empire prior to the Common Era was one such; the Hunnish Empire from the middle fourth century to the late fifth century held more territory than Rome and Constantinople. This makes it more credible that Attila, who in fact only ruled as king of the Huns for a little under a decade, such a threat to both the Eastern and Western Empires. Howarth's text looks at the pieces that make up the history of the period. He looks at the internal politics and dynamics of the courts and general population of Rome and Constantinople, how they played off each other in addition to the Huns. He looks at the military situation was some insight, showing the difficulties of troop movement and support, the problems of intelligence gathering and planning, and the difficult time the Romans East and West had defending their territories, which also made it difficult in the end for the Huns to hold the gains, too. One of the more interesting chapters involves one of the great legends that has been spun around the interaction of Attila and Pope Leo. Howarth describes the effects of art and legendary stories on the way history is popularly perceived, and even academically transmitted - examples of Raphael and Gibbons commenting on the legends of the Pope's eloquence (and the appearance of Sts. Peter and Paul to threaten Attila) compared with other, more rationally likely explanations for Attila's reluctance to attack Rome. The controversy over Attila's death is also explored, drawing on sources contemporary and later, that Attila died on the night of his wedding to Ildico. Whether he was murdered or died of natural causes will likely never be known; where his grave is located also remains a mystery. Howarth discusses several possibilities, again drawing from ancient sources. Howarth combines a lot of ancient primary sources with more modern expositions of the history. He also looks at the continuing legacy of Attila, in popular culture around the world, as well as in modern-day Hungary. This is not a 'high academic' scholarly text, but it does serve as a good introduction to the subject, with the right balance between speculation (generally presented as such) and source-text reporting. There is a short index, which could be improved upon, and as another commentator has observed, the absence of maps is a significant flaw for a text on this kind of history. Still, the writing is engaging, if occasionally choppy, and the subject, already interesting in and of itself, is developed in an interesting fashion. Huzzah!
Rating:
Summary: "A Quick and Fulfulling Read"
Review: Patrick Howarth's work on Attila the Hun brings this marvelous war-lord to life, and reveals the man and his motives, the myth and his legacy, like no other biographer before. In addition to this, Howarth uncovers many features of the Later Roman Empire, which will no doubt contain elements of primary significance to readers of this particular period of time. Howarth's elegant prose also makes for a quick and smooth read, and will certainly provide adequate solace to busy students and general readers alike. The only thing Howarth forgot to include were some detailed maps of Attila's great campaigns; but in essence this minor drawback is only trivial when compared with the full-scope of this work.
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