The Art of War (AmazonClassics Edition) - Couverture souple

Though historical details of his life have been debated, Sun Tzu (544 BC–496 BC) is believed to have been a general, philosopher, and military strategist who lived during ancient China’s Spring and Autumn period. Legend describes him as a fierce and uncompromising military leader; one tale famously recounts his ability to turn even the king’s concubines into unequivocally loyal soldiers.

Revered in Asian culture for centuries, Sun Tzu and his philosophy of war—from dealing with personal conflicts to achieving unqualified success in battle—eventually found favor in Western culture as well. Today, The Art of War remains an unrivaled text for strategic lessons of survival...in and out of battle.

Son of British diplomat and notable sinologist Herbert Giles, Lionel Giles (1875–1958) was a translator, scholar, and assistant curator of the British Museum. Perhaps most well known for his 1910 translation of The Art of War, Giles translated numerous Chinese classics, including the Tao Te Ching and the Analects of Confucius. He received his BA in classics from Wadham College, University of Oxford, in 1899.

Long considered the most essential treatise on military strategy and tactics, The Art of War comprises thirteen chapters, each dedicated to a different aspect of warfare. Reaching far beyond the battlefield, it is a manifesto for success in every kind of conflict or competition, having had a notable influence on various subjects such as law, sports, and interpersonal relationships.

In this definitive 1910 Lionel Giles translation, the celebrated sinologist’s interpretive notes and valuable commentary make clear the nuances of Sun Tzu’s language. Most critical, Giles provides the context and culture from which the general’s theories emerged.

Revised edition: Previously published as The Art of War, this edition of The Art of War (AmazonClassics Edition) includes editorial revisions.