D-Day: The Battle for Normandy
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Review
As near as possible to experiencing what it was like to be there. . . It is almost impossible for a reader not to get caught up in the excitement (Giles Foden Guardian )
No writer can surpass Beevor in making sense of a crowded battlefield and in balancing the explanation of tactical manoeuvres with poignant flashes of human detail (Christopher Silvester Daily Express ) --This text refers to an alternate Paperback edition.
No writer can surpass Beevor in making sense of a crowded battlefield and in balancing the explanation of tactical manoeuvres with poignant flashes of human detail (Christopher Silvester Daily Express ) --This text refers to an alternate Paperback edition.
Review
As near as possible to experiencing what it was like to be there... It is almost impossible for a reader not to get caught up in the excitement -- Giles Foden Guardian No writer can surpass Beevor in making sense of a crowded battlefield and in balancing the explanation of tactical manoeuvres with poignant flashes of human detail -- Christopher Silvester Daily Express
--This text refers to an alternate
Paperback
edition.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
42 of 46 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
How many books have been written about D-Day? Dozens? Hundreds? The question we must therefore ask ourselves is does this book add anything to the already impressive list?
And I have to say it doesn't really. Most of what is here has been revealed before. Sure there are some new "voices" from the battlefield and elsewhere but we have seen innumerable such "memoirs" over the past few years (I notice another of the "Forgotten voices" series specifically for D Day has recently been published)
Where Beevor scored with Stalingrad and Berlin was that he had access to new material released in Russia which allowed a whole new dimension to be opened. Such material must be pretty thin on the ground regarding D Day so there is not much that is new here.
It is apparent that such a huge concern needs a multi-volume work or indeed perusal of the many books that come up if you type in "D day" in the search engine above. (7000+ books!) My personal favourites have always been the Purnell History of World War 2 series of books that came out originally in the 60's. They were and are (if you can find copies) fascinating reading for anyone interested in the military events of the time.
Having said all that, this is still well written and easy to read which would make it serve as a good introduction to the events of the 6th of June (This piece is being written on the 65th anniversary of the eve of the battle) but for more detail you'd be better turning to many of the other books on the subject
One final thought, I note that some of the other reviews of this book are aghast at how Amerocentric this book is. Equally I notice that Robin Niellands' book for example is seen as being too Anglo/Canadian centric. Why not read both and then make up your own mind? (And "Overlord" by Max Hastings, "Pegasus Bridge" and "Band of Brothers" by Stephen Ambrose, or "Piercing the Atlantic wall" by Robert Kershaw or....how long do you want the list to be?)
In any case if you haven't already done so may I also heartily endorse the Imperial War Museum's D Day Experience, absolutely brilliant especially for younger people interested in the period - just read the reviews on Amazon if you don't believe me.
And I have to say it doesn't really. Most of what is here has been revealed before. Sure there are some new "voices" from the battlefield and elsewhere but we have seen innumerable such "memoirs" over the past few years (I notice another of the "Forgotten voices" series specifically for D Day has recently been published)
Where Beevor scored with Stalingrad and Berlin was that he had access to new material released in Russia which allowed a whole new dimension to be opened. Such material must be pretty thin on the ground regarding D Day so there is not much that is new here.
It is apparent that such a huge concern needs a multi-volume work or indeed perusal of the many books that come up if you type in "D day" in the search engine above. (7000+ books!) My personal favourites have always been the Purnell History of World War 2 series of books that came out originally in the 60's. They were and are (if you can find copies) fascinating reading for anyone interested in the military events of the time.
Having said all that, this is still well written and easy to read which would make it serve as a good introduction to the events of the 6th of June (This piece is being written on the 65th anniversary of the eve of the battle) but for more detail you'd be better turning to many of the other books on the subject
One final thought, I note that some of the other reviews of this book are aghast at how Amerocentric this book is. Equally I notice that Robin Niellands' book for example is seen as being too Anglo/Canadian centric. Why not read both and then make up your own mind? (And "Overlord" by Max Hastings, "Pegasus Bridge" and "Band of Brothers" by Stephen Ambrose, or "Piercing the Atlantic wall" by Robert Kershaw or....how long do you want the list to be?)
In any case if you haven't already done so may I also heartily endorse the Imperial War Museum's D Day Experience, absolutely brilliant especially for younger people interested in the period - just read the reviews on Amazon if you don't believe me.
181 of 202 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
I would like to warn others against this book. The main ideas and arguments it puts forward have already been dealt with far more competently by other authors. It also claims to be based on extensive new research but it is not. If you have already read widely on the subject of the Normandy landings and the campaign that followed then it may just be worth reading this book so that you can discuss its shortcomings honestly if required to do so.
If you are new or relatively new to this subject area then I would strongly recommend you read the following authors before you read Mr Beevors book as their work is far superior-
Max Hastings - Overlord
Carlo D'este - Decision in Normandy
Robert J Kershaw - D-Day
If you really want to go into the detail of German combat readiness and performance in this theatre- in a properly researched book - then I would also recommend-
Niklas Zetterling Normandy 1944.
If you are new or relatively new to this subject area then I would strongly recommend you read the following authors before you read Mr Beevors book as their work is far superior-
Max Hastings - Overlord
Carlo D'este - Decision in Normandy
Robert J Kershaw - D-Day
If you really want to go into the detail of German combat readiness and performance in this theatre- in a properly researched book - then I would also recommend-
Niklas Zetterling Normandy 1944.
63 of 70 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
I was suspicious of the true historical value of this book after watching Antony Beevor commenting on the BBC during D Day commemorations. However, I took the plunge and ought the book as a holiday read. There is nothing of substance in the book and the text is littered with comments which originate from the mouths of 'Officers Mess Bores' and armchair experts and as such have little worth. The author tells us no more about D Day and the subsequent battle for Normandy than we already know. Beevor focuses on the failings on Monty which is not new. However, his constant referral to these failings when referring to the British influence on the battle became rather annoying. If you want a true history of the events, look elsewhere.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
Epic
Beevor, our premier recorder of the history of war, achieves an equivalent success to his earlier accounts of the battles for Stalingrad and Berlin in this epic account of the... Read more
Published 1 month ago by Matthew Hosier
solid
I have to echo other reviewers. this book isn't weak in itself. in fact it's well written and interesting. it's just that there are other, much better books out there. Read more
Published 1 month ago by Chris Green
Good stuff - but not classic Beevor!
A good, solid book rather than a 'Classic'. Whilst highly enjoyable, I found little new or original. Read more
Published 2 months ago by Chrischegwin
Flat and written without passion for the subject
I was really looking forward to reading this, but was extremely disappointed. I would count myself as a bit of an expert on NW Europe in 1944 - I have been reading about the... Read more
Published 4 months ago by Mal Military Man
Close copy to Max Hasting's book
Whilst this is a well written account of the battle for Normandy it so similar to Max Hasting's Overlord that some of it felt like it was lifted directly from it. Read more
Published 6 months ago by Jr Taylor
The human side of war
As with any piece of historiography Normandy is an interpretation by the author. This book illuminates for the reader the huge planning and logistical saga of the campaign for all... Read more
Published 8 months ago by Philip Shevlin
Very good book for reference.
This is a very good informative book for reference. We went to Normandy this year and referred to it when we visited places. Really helped to envision the situation.
Published 8 months ago by scrants
Horrifying and Iconoclastic
There's nothing like a little iconoclasm to liven up history, and from that point of view this is a particularly lively book, unafraid to tread on toes, rubbish preconceptions and... Read more
Published 13 months ago by Steve Keen
Book not to purchase
This book has nothing in common with with serious writers
who have written about the Normandy campaign. Read more
who have written about the Normandy campaign. Read more
Published 13 months ago by Romac
disappointing
I was riveted by Beevor's books on Berlin and Stalingrad. This is less good, perhaps because it attempts too much. Read more
Published 17 months ago by Stephen
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