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'Bicheno is not a mincer of words... he understands how battles are fought, and explains those of the Falklands perhaps better than any other writer has done... he has done us all a service by explaining them so well for a new generation.' (Max Hastings DAILY MAIL )
'gripping' (John Keegan DAILY TELEGRAPH )
'a hard-hitting account of a short, sharp war. Well written and brilliantly illustrated. In short, a cracking read.' (THE GUNNER )
'Very detailed, ends a lot of myths. Fascinating and illuminating battle accounts.' (SCOTTISH LEGION NEWS ) --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
'gripping' (John Keegan DAILY TELEGRAPH )
'a hard-hitting account of a short, sharp war. Well written and brilliantly illustrated. In short, a cracking read.' (THE GUNNER )
'Very detailed, ends a lot of myths. Fascinating and illuminating battle accounts.' (SCOTTISH LEGION NEWS ) --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
THE GUNNER
'a hard-hitting account of a short, sharp war. Well written and brilliantly illustrated. In short, a cracking read.'
--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
70 of 74 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
This is a remarkable book: surely the most thorough analysis of the Falklands campaign, combined with a strong element of polemic. Hugh Bicheno is extremely even-handed in his description of the events of the war, giving credit and criticism where due to both sides, but he does not pretend to be impartial as to which set of combatants had right on their side. Argentina was a fascist state, in which the military was driven by extreme nationalism, but tortured and murdered those whose views differed only in terms of nuance. Similarly, the regime professed a devotion to Roman Catholicism, thereby winning support from elements in France, Belgium, Italy and elsewhere, but this supposed piety did not draw the line at throwing nuns out of aircraft. The readiness of the Foreign Office to hand over British subjects to such a regime inspires contempt. Bicheno raises the interesting point of the former Foreign Office minister, who announced in Parliament that British Intelligence could read Argentina's codes. He puts this down to stupidity, but elsewhere wonders how far elements in Whitehall and the BBC deliberately sought to undermine the British forces, with the aim thereby of forcing a change of government in Great Britain. As far as the actual fighting is concerned, it is hard to see how this book can be bettered. Myths grew up on both sides after the war, although the subsequent career trajectories of certain British officers showed that some correct lessons had been learned. Bicheno quotes the exasperation of a Royal Marine, fed up with the widespread acceptance of the idea that the land war was a pushover. If you think that, you should definitely read this book. Not only does it show, again and again, what a terrible place a battlefield is, but the author also enumerates the alarmingly long list of points at which slightly different actions on the part of the Argentine defenders might have had disastrous consequences for the British. It is salutary to realise that the Sea Harrier aircraft that were so vital to British success in the Falklands have just now been prematurely withdrawn from service, with nothing lined up to replace them for years to come. The only thing to prevent a repeat of 1982's aggression by Argentina is the fact that her armed forces are even more enfeebled than our own. Yet the same irrational mentality holds sway, Bicheno observes, under nominally democratic regimes in Buenos Aires as under overtly totalitarian ones.
6 of 6 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
A refreshing new approach to the war that not only clarifies the action with research on site, but also crucially gives the background to the war with insight based on experience as a spanish speaking foreign office staffer in Latin America over a number of years.
It's damning conclusions on British foreign policy are second only to it's revulsion to the facist Argentine military regime.
This anti-facist stance does not seem to have won the support of those giving one star reviews however! Perhaps they are too right wing? I suspect the opposite to be true. Reviews from argentine sources predictably belong to the fantasy section, fittingly for a nation wedded to magical realism in literature.
It's damning conclusions on British foreign policy are second only to it's revulsion to the facist Argentine military regime.
This anti-facist stance does not seem to have won the support of those giving one star reviews however! Perhaps they are too right wing? I suspect the opposite to be true. Reviews from argentine sources predictably belong to the fantasy section, fittingly for a nation wedded to magical realism in literature.
5 of 5 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
The thorough and careful research of the subject makes this book an authoritative record of the political build up to the actual fighting campaign of the Falklands/Malvinas War. The first four chapters are a complete manifestation of the complexities of Argentinian politics.
An excellent work that will become a reference text book for students.
An excellent work that will become a reference text book for students.
Most Recent Customer Reviews
The best book written on the Falklands War
Anyone who wants to understand the Falklands War should read this book, it's probably the best book ever written on the Falklands War, it details the war from both sides both... Read more
Published 2 months ago by J. D. Smith
Great read with great reservations
Bicheno writes expertly about the battefield scenarios so if you want to know exactly what happened where and why in the Falklands Conflict this book is hard to better. Read more
Published 14 months ago by Seanino
Engaging
Hugh Bicheno should be congratulated on writting an informative, balanced and stimulating history of the Falklands War. Read more
Published 22 months ago by Salthorse
Best account I have read from various perspectives
This book is excellent from many perspectives, and is the probably the best book I have read on the story with excellent maps and illustrations. Read more
Published 22 months ago by GG
Dont be put off
by the title or the picture. This is a fantastic and ascerbic independent history of the war. Sadly much of what passes for history today is still following other agendas - this... Read more
Published on 2 Jun 2010 by David Johnston
An interesting and informative read
I would thoroughly recommend this for anyone interested in, British politics, the Falklands war or the history of the Falkland Islands. Well written without too much bias.
Published on 21 Jan 2010 by A. Peck
Fascinating mix of commentary and battlefield detail
Don't buy this book expecting a detailed history of all aspects of the war - this book concentrates in some detail on the ground engagements, and only mentions the naval and air... Read more
Published on 28 Mar 2009 by Damien Burke
Covers both the detail and the bigger picture
This is the only book that I've read about the Falklands war and I don't feel the need to read another. Read more
Published on 11 Oct 2008 by Overseas Reviewer
A trenchant and opinionated book, but refreshing and insightful
The author makes no effort to hide his views or pretend to be impartial but that is a huge part of the appeal of this book. Read more
Published on 19 Oct 2007 by J. J. Bradshaw
Cynical cash in
This is a book which wants to be gritty and realistic. It fails on both counts. It appears to be merely a cynical attempt to cash in on the anniversary of the Falklands War. Read more
Published on 27 Sep 2007 by jazzy man
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