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An Army at Dawn
March 2021: Africa
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An Army at Dawn by Rick Atkinson - 5 stars
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This and book 2 were stellar reads for me too, Joy. I have the 3rd in the trilogy lined up to read this summer. Excellent review
Joanne wrote: "This and book 2 were stellar reads for me too, Joy. I have the 3rd in the trilogy lined up to read this summer. Excellent review"So glad you enjoyed it too. I'm looking forward to the next two. Each year, I make a list of 16 books I will definitely read, and I put this one on this year's list. I've been meaning to get to it for a long time.
I think one is pretty much safe with anything Rick Atkinson has written. I have read both "Army at Dawn" and "The Day of Battle." I would love to read the third one, "The Guns at First Light as a buddy read if anyone is ever interested. It would probably take me about six weeks though as it is quite the tome.
Steven wrote: "I think one is pretty much safe with anything Rick Atkinson has written. I have read both "Army at Dawn" and "The Day of Battle." I would love to read the third one, "The Guns at First Light as a b..."I am willing to make it a summer read with you Steven, say we start mid June?
Mid-June sounds great. Now will just have to remember. Will pull the book off the shelf and set it out. That should help.
If I get through the 2nd book by then, I will join you.
Great! This will be a great buddy read!
Looking forward to it also
I better start the second book!
Joy D wrote: "I better start the second book!"it was better than the first Joy, you will gobble it up!
My favorite quote from "The Day of Battle" -- "God help us. Come yourself. Don't send Jesus. This is no place for children." Agree with Joanne that this one is even better than ""An Army at Dawn."
Thanks for the info! I will start it soon.
@Joy and Steven-Are you still up for a buddy read on this? We can push the date back to July 1 (June is pretty busy for me), or keep it at mid-June. Let Me know
I am still reading the 2nd book, and should be finished before we start, whether it is mid-June or July - whatever works for you two is fine with me.
Ok, will wait to see if Stephen drops by with an opinion-if he doesn't I will PM him
I am good to go whenever you all are. Thank you for asking.
Great-LoL, guess I will make the call. Just counting my "have to read" before mid-June and I am pretty sure I will be good after the 15th. How about we call it for June 16th?
Sounds good to me, Joanne.
Me, I am in. Looking forward to it.
😁-also looking forward to it!
Just confirming this is a go ( I know I am neurotic) for the 15th. My library has it now, and if I check it out I will have it for 6 weeks before anyone else can put "gotcha" on it. Really checking to see if you finished book 2 Joy, because I have not seen a review
Joanne,Definitely a go from my end.
Joanne, I have not finished the 2nd book, but I should finish by the time we start. I am looking forward to it. The 2nd book is very good so I am expecting good things from the 3rd. [Sorry to be late replying but I didn't check this thread recently.]
It seems fitting that I finished the 2nd book on Memorial Day. I have not written my review yet but I am ready to start the 3rd book any time.
The 15th it is then! I have 4 others I have to finish up before I can start
Joanne wrote: "The 15th it is then! I have 4 others I have to finish up before I can start"Sounds good!
Agree that Army at Dawn is the almost perfect book to finish on Memorial Day - WWII was an epic struggle, and the sacrifices by both military members and civilians were on a scale I hope no country, or the world sees again.
Steven wrote: "Agree that Army at Dawn is the almost perfect book to finish on Memorial Day - WWII was an epic struggle, and the sacrifices by both military members and civilians were on a scale I hope no country..."Amen!
PBT Comments: This is a work of non-fiction about the campaign in North Africa in WWII. It takes place in Algeria, Morocco, and Tunisia. As may be expected in such a book, it contains lots of war-related violence.
“Memory, too, has transcendent power, even as we swiftly move toward the day when not a single participant remains alive to tell his tale, and the epic of World War II forever slips into national mythology. The author’s task is to authenticate: to warrant that history and memory give integrity to the story, to aver that all this really happened. But the final few steps must be the reader’s. For among mortal powers, only imagination can bring back the dead.”
The first book in the Liberation trilogy provides a riveting account of the Allied landings in North Africa during World War II. Allied troops landed in Algeria and Morocco, overpowered the Vichy French, and fought the Axis forces on the way to Tunisia, the planned launching point for the invasion of Italy. It is a detailed description of tactics, strategy, and impact of military operations. It includes profiles of many commanders, including Commander-in-Chief Eisenhower, Alexander, Bradley, Montgomery, Patton, Rommel, and von Arnim.
This is an exceptional work of non-fiction. Atkinson’s writing is outstanding. As I read this book, the descriptions were so vivid that I felt as if a movie were running through my head.
“Not until dusk did the British vanguard reach the col below Longstop’s northwest face. Rain had transformed the Medjerda valley into a vast brown sea too quaggy even for mules. A brace of bullocks was harnessed to pull a few guns forward. Wheeled vehicles bogged down 5,000 yards from the hill. Even tracked carriers could get no closer than Chassart Teffaha, a farm hamlet two miles away. There, in a damp cellar that stank like a slaughterhouse, surgeons worked by candlelight over boys beyond surgeoning; stretcher bearers dumped another load and headed back into the night without even bothering to fold stretchers stiff with blood.”
The author inserts plentiful quotes from journals, correspondences, and official documents to support his conclusions. I appreciated the inclusion of the many maps, photos, and endnotes. We get a “behind the scenes” view of the interpersonal conflicts and military politics among commanders, but it is not just a view from the top. It is also sprinkled with stories of individual soldiers. Atkinson highlights both mistakes and triumphs. “Confusion and error, valor and misdeed marked this first night of green troops in combat.”
North Africa provided a training ground for the previously untested American troops. By the time they reached Tunis, the troops were battle-hardened and ready for the fierce battles to come. It is important to understand the North African campaign in order to get a full picture of the road to the ultimate victory in Europe. I plan to read the final two books in the trilogy. This is history at its finest. I highly recommend it.