Inside the British Army

by Antony Beevor

The anatomy of an institution and a study of a tribal society unique to this country. From Rhine Army headquarters in Germany to underground bunkers in South Armagh the author talks with the Army's Generals, officers, NCO's and soldiers. His research has coincided with a period of social and political change of dramatic implications; revisiting the Army almost 20 years after he left it he has been able to combine the understanding of an insider with the freshness of a new observer.

Genres: Nonfiction, History, Military Fiction

Hardcover

First published January 1, 1990

About the author

Sir Antony James Beevor is a British military historian. He has published several popular historical works, mainly on the Second World War, the Spanish Civil War, and most recently the Russian Revolution and Civil War.
Educated at Abberley Hall School, Winchester College, and the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst, Beevor commanded a troop of tanks in the 11th Hussars in Germany before deciding in 1970 to leave the army and become a writer. He was a visiting professor at Birkbeck, University of London, and the University of Kent. His best-selling books, Stalingrad (1998) and Berlin: The Downfall 1945 (2002), have been acclaimed for their detailed coverage of the battles between the Soviet Union and Germany, and their focus on the experiences of ordinary people. Berlin proved very controversial in Russia because of the information it contained from former Soviet archives about the mass rapes carried out by the Red Army in 1945.
Beevor's works have been translated into many languages and have sold millions of copies. He has lectured at numerous military headquarters, staff colleges and establishments in Britain, the US, Europe, and Australia. He has also written for many major newspapers.

Reviews

[Shawn Luca · Rating 4 out of 5]

So much has been written about the British Army. And yet, Beevor finds new and interesting stories to tell. This is an interesting, complex work of history. It is a serious academic study, but highly recommended in my opinion. A great addition to any book self.

[Peter Brickwood · Rating 4 out of 5]

With his usual insightful, understandable analysis Beevor sets out the conditions in the British army circa 1990. I'm on a hunt for his opinion of the developments over the last 30 years.

A side note: this is the kind of non-fiction which I usually have great difficulty reading despite Beevor's excellent information and engaging style. This I read two or three paragraphs at a time during time outs and advertisements while watching National Football League games. It takes Americans, on average, three and a half hours to broadcast 60 minutes of play, so I had lots of time.