University of Exeter: New book provides fresh insights on dramatic Star Wars battles

Dr Chris Kempshall, a First World War historian from the University of Exeter, has contributed to a new volume which explores the fall of the Republic, the Galactic Civil War, and the conflict between the First Order and the Resistance.

The book provides fresh insights on the dramatic battles seen in Star Wars films, animation, books, and comics from a historical perspective. Each battle is depicted with captivating imagery, newly commissioned maps, and explained through detailed analysis of tactics, famous commanders, legendary warriors, key moments, and its impact on wider galactic history.

Star Wars: Battles that Changed the Galaxy, expands upon momentous clashes following the droid invasion of Naboo and Clone Wars, which led to skirmishes that would crisscross the galaxy for decades to come. These galaxy-altering events unfolded beginning 13 years before the formation of the Galactic Empire.

The book also chronicles the spark of rebellion on the muddy surface of Mimban, the raid of a rain-soaked Imperial outpost on Eadu, the all-out Galactic Civil War that started on Scarif and ended with the Battle of Jakku, and the rise of the First Order from the scattered Imperial remnants, leading to the clash between Resistance fighters amid the fractured New Republic and culminating with the Battle of Exegol.

Dr Kempshall wrote the book with Jason Fry, Cole Horton and Amy Ratcliffe, and it has a foreword by ILM visual effects supervisor Roger Guyett.

Dr Kempshall said: “It was hugely exciting to take the world of military history and apply it to the battles of the Star Wars galaxy! Hopefully readers will get an exciting new insight into the Star Wars world and also maybe a taste for studying history as well.”