Customer Reviews

A History of Warfare: Field-Marshal Viscount Montgomery of Alamein

5 star:		(1)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

It has been a while since reading this book, but I distinctly will always remember being dissappointed with this book. The content is often a very concise/over simplified in the analysis of event and filled with generalizations, but the worst is his treatment of World War 2 which left me with a bad taste in my mouth as field-marshal montgomery became one of the greatest general ever. It may be the over-bravado or just the style of writing, but it came of as tooting his horn too much. That being said... Reasons why it got 3 stars

pretty good overview of most of the history of warfare colorful "tainted" viewpoints of the events good place to start out for a beginning view of most era's

Written by one of the worlds ever leading generals and a master of the language, this book covers every military aspect of its subject from ancient times up to the sixties. Althogh a comprehensive coverage of course is impossible whithin one book, it should be considered a must for all interested in military history. It can also be looked upon as a world history, as it covers not only the western hemisphere but also quite extensively early oriental warfare. For anyone looking for a military-history-subject to specialize in, read this book first to find out what you find interesting.

As a history of warfare and the development of weaponry and its effect on society, this is a very handy book.It is concise and moves forward as a survey must, and I suppose Monty was guided by his researchers since he wasn't so for as I know a scholar. But his hand is all over it, such as to make you laugh out loud at the outrageousness of his self awareness. Looking back, he seems a character out of the Illiad. That's certainly not bad when being led by the nose (your nose, his hand) through the fortified city, the longbow, the arquebus and the hand grenade. I found the writing style very pleasurable to the eye and the ear, not Gibbon or Churchill but forthright and honorable. He was shot through the lung in WW1, and never lost his love of grand battles and mayhem which he calls repeatedly "the art of war." In short, if you are reading history, put this volume on the shelf. You'll turn to it like Google, and the hardbound edition feels good in the hand.