One Shot, One Kill: A History of the Sniper

A cultural and military history of the sniper since 1643, when the first shot was fired by a sniper during the battle for Litchfield in the English Civil War, to the present day.

Previously published as The Hunting of Man.

‘The modern sniper is perhaps the most versatile soldier on the battlefield. He is totally self-reliant, living off the land and his wits, the most vital link in the chain of combat. Ranging at will over the battlefield, he will push himself to his technological and psychological limit to provide protection for his comrades, intelligence for his commanders, and deadly interdiction whenever it is necessary. He is essentially a living weapon.’

In an engrossing history driven by the stories of the great marksmen of each era, Andy Dougan traces the development of the sniper’s role from the English Civil War to the modern day. A role that, despite tactical innovation and technological advance, has always aspired to the same lethal efficiency: one shot, one kill.