D-Day, June 6, 1944; The Climactic Battle of World War II by Stephen E. Ambrose.
I finished reading Ambrose's book on D-Day recently. It's a 600 page account of the lead up to and then the day itself as seen from the perspective of men on the different beaches as well as the airborne units who landed inland to take out specific targets.
My impression of the men who participated in the invasion is one of utter awe. There are so many stories of bravery and determination. Doing the impossible seemed to be the order of the day and was the norm not the exception.
Ambrose's storytelling is compelling, as if the topic itself wasn't enough, and his easy style makes the book a terrific read. He doesn't pull any punches and criticizes certain military leaders whenever their decisions or lack of them nearly ruined various operations. On the other hand, earned praise is given, too.
Do yourself a favor and either buy this book or borrow it from the library. While I borrowed it from the library, I'll have to order my own copy to have as a reference.
Now I'm reading A Man Called Intrepid by William Stevenson. The subtitle is: The Incredible WWII Narrative of the Hero Whose Spy Network and Secret Diplomacy Changed the Course of History. The book's person of focus is William Stephenson (what are the odds a man would write a book about another man with a similar name?).
Although I write action thrillers and have no plans for a spy thriller, the insider's view of the intelligence world is fascinating. And I do have a British spy character who appears in the Sgt. Dunn novels, just saying. On page 57 of 497. . .
Thanks for stopping by.
Ronn
