The Falklands War, 1982 (Penguin Classic Military) [Paperback]

Martin Middlebrook (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: May 2001 | ISBN-10: 0141390557 | ISBN-13: 978-0141390550 | Edition: 2nd

The Falklands War began when Argentinian troops invaded the Falkland Islands on 2 April 1982. Martin Middlebrook has sought out all the available evidence from documentary and personal sources on both sides and comes to some controversial conclusions about the conflict. His book, which contains material on the Exocet attacks on British ships, on the loss of HMS Coventry and the Sir Galahad tragedy, and on the controversial sinking of the General Belgrano, has been revised for this edition. Paced like the war itself, leading to a tense and stirring climax, this book will remain the definitive work on this recent and most unusual conflict.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Martin Middlebrook is a Fellow of the Royal Historical Society and the author of The Kaiser's Battle: March 1918 (Classic Penguin Military History, September 2000) and The First Day on the Somme (Classic Penguin Military History, May 2001).

Product Details

• Paperback: 448 pages
• Publisher: Penguin UK; 2nd edition (May 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0141390557
• ISBN-13: 978-0141390550
• Product Dimensions: 8.4 x 5.3 x 1.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.1 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,450,157 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

29 of 29 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars First class, gripping account of the 1982 Falklands War !, January 4, 2004

By 

P. Ferrigno "firehouse444" (Melbourne, Victoria Australia) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Falklands War, 1982 (Penguin Classic Military) (Paperback)

Noted military historian / writer Martin Middlebrook has excelled himself with this fastidiously researched & tightly written account of the short lived, but bloody, 1982 war between Britain & Argentina over the tiny Falklands Islands in the South Atlantic. The author has effectively covered both the British & Argentinian perspective's of the campaign, and gives a fairly unbiased approach to the subject matter at hand.

Middlebrook provides a comprehensive, historical background to the issue of how the crisis developed in the Falklands, and the political climate in Argentina prior to the ill fated invasion. Middlebrook additionally illustrates how the British Lion then roused from it's slumber, swung swiftly into action and assembled a formidable task force, and sailed them thousands of miles away into the South Atlantic to battle against a numerically superior force.

The book provides detailed and intriguing insights into the naval aspects of the campaign including the loss of the Argentinian cruiser, General Belgrano and several English ships such as Sheffield, Sir Galahad & Atlantic Conveyor. The author examines the constant threat & fear that the Excocet missile posed to British shipping & their crews, and a bold plan to land SAS troops at Rio Grande to destroy Argentinian Super Etendard jets, the only jets capable of air launching the deadly Exocet. In addition, Middlebrook paints a gripping picture of the air war between British Harriers & Argentinian Skyhawks & Daggers, and the fight for supremacy of the skies over the Falklands. Finally, he covers the land campaign and the hard fought battles by Britsh Paratroop & Commando units against a dug in opposition & bitterly cold weather for key points including Goose Green, Tumbledown Mountain, Darwin Hill & finally the capital of Stanley.

A key aspect of the book that maintains the readers interest is the many, enthralling first hand comments by participants in the war including serviceman & politicians from both sides, Falkland Islanders, and the relatives of those involved in the crisis. Middlebrook combines details on the military technology that are easy to follow for the layman, with a fluid and well paced writing style that make the book compelling reading. Middlebook has written numerous other titles on military history, and this is another fine addition to his line up. Highly recommended for those seeking a concise, intriguing & well written book on the Falklands War.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent Book, November 4, 2010

By 

J. Peabody (Naples, FL United States) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: The Falklands War, 1982 (Penguin Classic Military) (Paperback)

A balanced, highly detailed account that is highly readable.

Have read several books on the subject and this is the best. I would also strongly recommend the book written by the same author from the Argentine perspective (Argentine Fight for the Falklands)

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars What Happened for Real, May 29, 2011

By 

Captain Jerry (Washington) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: The Falklands War, 1982 (Penguin Classic Military) (Kindle Edition)

Middlebrook's "The Falklnds War, 1982" is an essential read for anyone interested in the battles that occured in the Falklands during 1982. I completed Middlebrook's book the evening before going ashore in the Falklands from a cruise ship this last February. While there, we went on an excursion; our guide was an ex-Royal Marine. The descriptions of the conditions in the Falklands are accurate and give one an understanding of the difficult terrain of the Falklands. It also accurately describes the towns and settlements where the fight occured. It also conveys the difficulties the British faced in trying to fight a war in this geographically isolated place.