The D-Day Companion [Hardcover]

Jane Penrose (Editor)

Book Description

Publication Date: April 26, 2004 | Series: Companion

Published to commemorate the 60th anniversary of the Normandy Landings, ‘The D-Day Companion’ book brings together the perspectives and opinions of leading military historians from both sides of the Atlantic. Operation Overlord saw the Allied Generals Eisenhower and Montgomery pit their wits against Hitler in a bold bid to liberate continental Europe. Featuring a foreword by Major Richard Winters, real-life commander of Easy Company as featured in Stephen E Ambrose’s ‘Band of Brothers’, this is a unique and incisive examination of the momentous events that surrounded June 6, 1944. Each chapter of this new book focuses on a different aspect of the D-Day landings, from the build-up to the attack to the experiences of the troops on the ground.

Editorial Reviews

From Booklist

This excellent study of D-Day is clearly intended for the sixtieth-anniversary commemoration coming in June. Editor Penrose's Companion consists of essays by several hands discussing the strategic and tactical aspects of the operation, and also the logistics, which are finally getting their due as being essential to carrying out the largest, most complex military operation in the history of war.

Roland Green
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

Review

"...composed by an elite group of historians who have worked to become a literary ‘band of brothers..." -- Major Richard Winters, Commander of Easy Company as featured in Stephen E Ambrose’s Band of Brothers

"This impressive volume is an excellent historical account." -- Thomas Childers, Sheldon and Lucy Hackney Professor of History, University of Pennsylvania

'a fascinating collection of essays' -- Mark Archer, The Financial Times

'this book will commend itself to readers keen on delving deeper into the issues behind the headlines.' -- Andrew Roberts, the London Evening Standard

Anyone who wants to understand D-Day . . . should start their reading here. -- Dr Gary Sheffield, King's College London

The 60th anniversary of D-Day has unleashed a spate of books . . . Best of the bunch is the D-Day Companion. -- Taylor Downing, The Observer

The D-Day Companion will long serve as a lasting testament to the sacrifice of those who fought -- Col. Cole C Kingseed, USA Ret., Army Magazine - Publication of the Association of the United States Army

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 288 pages
• Publisher: Osprey Publishing (April 26, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1841767794
• ISBN-13: 978-1841767796
• Product Dimensions: 10.4 x 7.8 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.8 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,202,830 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Balanced, modern D-Day history, September 12, 2005

By 

WWIIreview (USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The D-Day Companion (Hardcover)

I enjoyed this high quality book. 12 experts from Britain and the U.S. tell the story of the invasion at Normandy. The mix of historians from both nations helps provide a balanced point of view. The latest research and facts are included. The photos and maps add color and flow. Have not seen much better.

13 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A seminal anthology of articulate essays, May 15, 2004

By 

Midwest Book Review (Oregon, WI USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The D-Day Companion (Hardcover)

Compiled and organized by Jane Penrose, The D-Day Companion: Leading Historians Explore History's Greatest Amphibious Assault is a seminal anthology of articulate essays and thoughtful insights drawn from a wide variety of military historians concerning the greatest European Theatre amphibious assault of World War II. Powerful black-and-white photographs wonderfully illustrate and enrich the text. The D-Day Companion was published to commemorate the 60th anniversary of the Normandy landings, examining vital moments and events from history, and sparing neither the bloodshed nor the bravery of this momentous day. The D-Day Companion is a welcome and highly commended contribution to personal, academic, and community library World War II Military History collections.

5.0 out of 5 stars Multinational perspective, December 10, 2010

By 

John E. Nevola "Author" (Mount Olive, New Jersey) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The D-Day Companion (Hardcover)

Thirteen multinational experts each provide a stirring chapter in this marvelously constructed book. The experts (all Doctors or Professors) provide a unique and balanced perspective of the enormous effort that went into the D-Day invasion (Operation Overlord) and the key follow-up engagements.

The book contains numerous period photographs (some in color) on 288 glossy pages. The maps are barely adequate but he book is liberally sourced, has a robust bibliography and is fully indexed.

The editor (Jane Penrose) did a marvelous job collecting such an esteemed group of international expert-authors to publish this compilation of well thought-out and beautifully written chapters. The foreword by Major Richard Winters (Easy Company, 506th Parachute Infantry Regiment - Band of Brothers) is icing on the cake.

A must read for students of the War.

John E. Nevola
Author of The Last Jump - A Novel of World War II