The War of the Triple Alliance is the largest single conflict in the history of South America. Drawing Argentina, Brazil, Uruguay and Paraguay into conflict the war was characterized by extraordinarily high casualty rates, and was to shape the future of an entire continent - depopulating Paraguay and establishing Brazil as the predominant military power. Despite the importance of the war, little information is available in English about the armies that fought it. This book analyzes the combatants of the four nations caught up in the war, telling the story of the men who fought on each side, illustrated with contemporary paintings, prints, and early photographs.

Introduction: the background & regional rivalries /Chronology /The Paraguayan offensive, 1865-66/ The Allied counter-offensive, 1867-68: development of Allied military superiority, and first serious Paraguayan defeats /The occupation of Paraguay, 1869-70, and the guerrilla resistance /Naval operations: riverine and maritime /The Armies (organization, commanders, tactics, operations and uniforms of): Paraguayan Republic - Brazilian Empire - Argentine Republic - Uruguayan Republic /Conclusion: aftermath and consequences
/Bibliography /Colour plate commentaries /Index

Gabriele Esposito is an Italian native, and a long-time student of South American wars. He has previously written magazine articles on the War of the Triple Alliance amongst other subjects. The author lives in Caserta, Italy.