Patton, Montgomery, Rommel: Masters of War
by Terry Brighton
List Price:
Our Price: $17.23
You Save: $12.77 (43%)
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
Buy Used: from $2.00 (click here)
Category: Book
See more book details and other editions
Book Summary Information
Author: Terry BrightonEdition: Hardcover
Audio: English (Unknown); English (Original Language); English (Published)
Published: 2009-11-03
ISBN: 0307461548
Number of pages: 448
Publisher: Crown
Product features:
- ISBN13: 9780307461544
- Condition: New
- Notes: BRAND NEW FROM PUBLISHER! 100% Satisfaction Guarantee. Tracking provided on most orders. Buy with Confidence! Millions of books sold!
Book Reviews of Patton, Montgomery, Rommel: Masters of War
Book Review: An insightful, penetrating look at three famous Generals and the War
Summary: 5 Stars
Terry Brighton has written a masterful, even handed book of three of World War II's famous but also controversial career soldiers. Although I had previously read individual biographies of all three, I found the unbiased presentation of the careers of these three men together most effective and I salute the author for his diligence and honesty, especially in presenting the faults of Montgomery with only an occasional whiff of defensiveness.
The author covers from birth to death of these brave but vain men that kept one eye on the battle field and the other on the headlines. To them, fame was the elixir of life and at times no matter what the cost would be driven to acheive it.
A brief description of their individual childhoods are covered before a more detailed experience in WWI where each discovered their strengths. Patton and Rommel wanted to be active field commanders while Montgomery saw himself as the planner, trainer of this forces. Each person was wounded in the Great War but they weren't deterred and remained in the service. Their experiences in WWII consume the lion's shares of the pages. The greatest attention is given to Montgomery for he was the most controversial. Patton is a close second and due to his military history, less flawed personality and premature death Rommel comes in a distant third. The reader also receives a bonus for General Eisenhower, due to his relationship with Montgomery and Patton is also covered but to a far lesser degree.
There is discussion of the campaigns in North Africa, Sicily, Salerno, Caen, Falaise, Antwerp, Arnhem, the Bulge and crossing the Rhine but the military events are subordinated to how the three commanders' decisions impacted those events as well as to themselves. Patton and Montgomery fought among themselves as much as they did Rommel. Mr Brighton presents a clear and accurate outlook on the personal traits of each person and the major influence he had on the war effort and to backup his commentary, he includes many comments and diary entries from their colleagues. He clearly shows that the machinations of especially Montgomery and Patton in the attempt to outdue the other actually delayed the Ally victory. After the war the facts of Rommel's death surfaced, causing some controversy and Patton's death were also discussed. The war ending didn't end their feuding. Also after the war, Eisenhower and Montgomery wrote their memoirs, criticizing the behavior of the other during the war which extended their bitterness. In Epilogue, the three protagonists are compared to von Clausewitz's list of winning attributes of successful Commanders and they all had the key traits. A summary of their weaknesses are also given that will detract from their legends.
Also included are a few interesting photos, a Primary source list, a Bibliography and Index.
This book was a most enjoyable, informative read, covering all the important aspects of their careers and the influences they had on the war and themselves, and for anybody who wants to learn the "Good, Bad and Ugly" of three of the most influential Generals in the War on the western Front should read this book. Its highly recommended.
Summary of Patton, Montgomery, Rommel: Masters of War
In Patton, Montgomery, Rommel, one of Britain's most accomplished military scholars presents an unprecedented study of the land war in the North African and European theaters, as well as their chief commanders?three men who also happened to be the most compelling dramatis personae of World War II.Beyond spellbinding depictions of pivotal confrontations at El Alamein, Monte Cassino, and the Ardennes forest, author-scholar Terry Brighton illuminates the personal motivations and historical events that propelled the three men's careers: how Patton's, Montgomery's, and Rommel's Great War experiences helped to mold their style of command?and how, exactly, they managed to apply their arguably megalomaniacal personalities (and hitherto unrecognized political acumen and tact) to advance their careers and strategic vision.
Opening new avenues of inquiry into the lives and careers of three men widely profiled by scholars and popular historians alike, Brighton definitively answers numerous lingering and controversial questions: Was Patton really as vainglorious in real life as he was portrayed to be on the silver screen??and how did his tireless advocacy of "mechanized cavalry" forever change the face of war? Was Monty's dogged publicity-seeking driven by his own need for recognition or by his desire to claim for Britain a leadership role in postwar global order??and how did this prickly "commoner" manage to earn affection and esteem from enlisted men and nobility alike? How might the war have ended if Rommel had had more tanks??and what fundamental philosophical difference between him and Hitler made such an outcome virtually impossible?
Abetted by new primary source material and animated by Terry Brighton's incomparable storytelling gifts, Patton, Montgomery, Rommel offers critical new interpretations of the Second World War as it was experienced by its three most flamboyant, controversial, and influential commanders?and augments our understanding of each of their perceptions of war and leadership.
Military Books
Book Subjects
- Arts & Photography
- Biographies & Memoirs
- Business & Investing
- Children's Books
- Comics & Graphic Novels
- Computers & Internet
- Cooking, Food & Wine
- Entertainment
- Gay & Lesbian
- Health, Mind & Body
- History
- Home & Garden
- Horror
- Law
- Literature & Fiction
- Mystery & Thrillers
- Nonfiction
- Outdoors & Nature
- Parenting & Families
- Professional & Technical
- Reference
- Religion & Spirituality
- Romance
- Science
- Science Fiction & Fantasy
- Sports
- Teens
- Travel
Most talked about in Military Books
A Quiet American: The Secret War of Varian Fryby Andy Marino
St. Martin's Press; Published: 1999-10-29; Hardcover; Book
Best price: $11.75
Price in other shops:
Eva's Story: A Survivor's Tale by the Step-Sister of Anne Frankby Eva Schloss, Evelyn Julia Kent
St Martins Pr; Published: 1989-04; Hardcover; Book
Best price: $40.00
George Washington: A Biographyby Washington Irving
Da Capo Press; Published: 1994-08-22; Paperback; Book
Best price: $14.99
Price in other shops:
Slavemaster President: The Double Career of James Polkby William Dusinberre
Oxford University Press, USA; Published: 2003-03-27; Hardcover; Book
Best price: $21.49
Price in other shops:
Hitler: Diagnosis of a Destructive Prophetby Fritz Redlich
Oxford University Press, USA; Published: 2000-05-18; Paperback; Book
Best price: $19.25
Alexander Hamiltonby Ron Chernow
Penguin Audio; Published: 2004-04-26; Audio Cassette; Book
Best price: $29.95
Price in other shops:
Alexander Hamiltonby Ron Chernow
Penguin Audio; Published: 2004-04-26; Audio CD; Book
Best price: $134.40
Faith of My Fathers: A Family Memoirby John McCain, Mark Salter
Harper; Published: 2008-09-30; Mass Market Paperback; Book
Best price: $0.01
Price in other shops:
Patton: A Genius for Warby Carlo D'Este, este, Carlo D'
Harpercollins; Published: 1995-11; Hardcover; Book
Best price: $49.94
Stonewall Jacksonby James Robertson
Macmillan Pub.; Published: 1997-02-18; Hardcover; Book
Best price: $48.00
Price in other shops:
Similar Books and other products
German Generals Talkby Basil H. Liddell Hart
William Morrow Paperbacks; Published: 1971-09-01; Paperback; Book
Best price: $6.94
Price in other shops:
Crusade in Europeby Dwight David Eisenhower
The Johns Hopkins University Press; Published: 1997-06-06; Paperback; Book
Best price: $18.74
Price in other shops:
Patton 360: The Complete Season 1A and E Home Video; Release date: 2009-10-27; DVD
Best price: $4.48
Price in other shops:
Patton: The Man Behind the Legend, 1885-1945by Martin Blumenson
William Morrow Paperbacks; Published: 1994-11-29; Paperback; Book
Best price: $5.51
Price in other shops:
Infantry Attacksby Erwin Rommel
Zenith Press; Published: 2009-05-05; Paperback; Book
Best price: $11.20
Price in other shops:
A Genius for Deception: How Cunning Helped the British Win Two World Warsby Nicholas Rankin
Oxford University Press, USA; Published: 2009-11-10; Hardcover; Book
Best price: $7.16
Price in other shops:
War As I Knew Itby George S. Patton Major General
Mariner Books; Published: 1995-05-08; Paperback; Book
Best price: $3.36
Price in other shops:
Brothers, Rivals, Victors: Eisenhower, Patton, Bradley and the Partnership that Drove the Allied Conquest in Europeby Jonathan W. Jordan
NAL Hardcover; Published: 2011-04-05; Hardcover; Book
Best price: $8.00
Price in other shops:
The Rommel Papers (Da Capo Paperback)by Erwin Rommel
Da Capo Press; Published: 1982-03-22; Paperback; Book
Best price: $11.98
Price in other shops:
Patton: A Genius for Warby Carlo D'Este
Harper Perennial; Published: 1996-09-27; Paperback; Book
Best price: $12.37
Price in other shops: