At All Costs: Stories of Impossible Victories

by Bryan Perrett

Victory at all costs--that was the goal of the armies whose riveting stories unfold here. Classic examples of battlefield successes achieved by poorly armed and positioned forces reveal how bravery, determination, and sheer willpower "can win the day. Go into the valleys of death at Balaclava in the 1800s, where the Light Brigade was destroyed--but the threat to Britain's supply lines stanched; to Gettysburg, where the persistence of just a few men, for just a few extra minutes, made all the difference; to Arras, where the Allies succeeded in smashing through Rommel's troops; and to 8 other battles.

Genres: Military History, History, Military Fiction

223 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1993

About the author

Bryan Perrett was born in 1934 and educated at Liverpool College. He served in the Royal Armoured Corps, the 17th/21st Lancers, Westminster Dragoons, and the Royal Tank Regiment, and was awarded the Territorial Decoration.A professional military historian for many years, his books include "A History of the Blitzkrieg" and "Knights of the Black Cross - Hitler's Panzerwaffe and its Leaders". His treatise Desert Warfare was widely consulted during the Gulf War. His most recent works, including "Last Stand, At All Costs" and "Against all Odds" examine aspects of motivation. During the Falklands and Gulf Wars Bryan Perrett served as Defense Correspondent to the Liverpool Echo. His books are widely read on both sides of the Atlantic and have been translated into several languages.

Reviews

[Olethros · Rating 3 out of 5]

-El deber y la falta de opciones vencen al miedo.-

Género. Historia.

Lo que nos cuenta. Narración de los eventos que tuvieron lugar en los brezales de Minden durante la Guerra de los Siete Años, de la carga de la Brigada Ligera durante la Batalla de Balaclava en la Guerra de Crimea, del asalto sobre Delhi de las fuerzas británicas de la Honorable Compañía de las Indias Orientales durante la Rebelión de los Cipayos, de los sucesos en una pequeña colina del flanco izquierdo de la Unión durante la Batalla de Gettysburg en la Guerra Civil Americana, de dos enfrentamientos épicos casi simultáneos durante la Guerra Franco-Prusiana, de la expedición de Gordon hacia Jartum durante la Rebelión del Mahdi, del contraataque aliado en Arras durante la ofensiva alemana del verano de 1940, de los durísimos combates en la colina Longstop de Túnez entre los aliados y el DAK, de parte de los acontecimientos que se dieron durante la Operación Market-Garden, del asalto norteamericano sobre la Isla de Corregidor ocupada por el ejército imperial japonés y de la Batalla de Goose Green entre fuerzas británicas y argentinas en las Islas Malvinas.

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[Checkman · Rating 4 out of 5]

Bryan Perrett writes what might be called "Readers Digest" histories. He covers eleven battles in this book and none of them are more than fifteen pages. In many respects many of his books feel like they're written for military history classes in which the students are cadets (in training to be officers). Perrett focuses on things such as morale, carrying the attack through and staying on course - not forgetting the mission. He is not a social historian and he doesn't focus all that much on the plight of the individual soldier. He focuses on the battle and the things that (mostly) officers would be interested in.

However Perrett's writing is very easy to follow and since his accounts are compact they are outstanding when it comes to both brevity and readability. The fact is I don't always want or have the time to read a 400 page account of a battle. Sometimes just the highlights are enough and Mr. Perrett is very good at that. You can read one of his accounts within fifteen minutes and feel like you actually learned something.

A prolific writer Mr. Perrett has been turning out very readable military histories for decades. His writing is entertaining and he is very good at packaging the battles into highly readable chapters. His research is not original nor is it massive and in-depth, but Mr. Perrett isn't trying to break new ground. He wants to educate, entertain and one suspects earn a living. I suggest that you give his books a try. Excellent to have along when attending events that don't require your undivided attention or during a slow time on the family vacation.

[John Somers · Rating 4 out of 5]

A book which looks at a series of "at all cost " attacks and desperate defences between 1759 & 1982 and the morale factors which affected the troops performances during those battles. Drums of Minden was superb, the first thing I read on the 7 years war it gave me a long lasting interest in a fascinating period. Balaclava was also excellent as it covered the 93rd highlanders and the charge of the heavy brigade as well as the charge of the light brigade. The walls of Delhi and the Gordon Relief Expedition are also first rate chapters. I didn't feel the chapters on Gettysburg or Goose Green in the Falklands really added to the book. The Arras counter attack was quite good and Von Bredows Death Ride during the Franco-Prussian war was brilliant though the attack of the Prussian Guard at St. Privet in the same chapter didn't hold my interest in the same way. Finally the finally the chapters on the taking of Longstop, the fight for the Nijmegen bridges & the jump on Corregidor are excellent looks at some lesser known battles during World War 2. The book could have done with a little more analysis to tie the chapters together into a cohesive whole (which the author attempts to do in a 2 1/2 page postscript) and is perhaps a little too focused on British & American actions but overall it is really good.

[Bill Harper · Rating 4 out of 5]

Bryan Perrett did not disappoint another good book. These stories are of victories on the battlefield that should not have happened but did, usually by the determination of the leaders and men involved in the battle. The battles covered are Minden 1759, Balacava 1854, Delhi 1857, Little Round Top 1863, Mars-la-Tour 1870, St Privat 1870, Gordon's Relief Column 1884-5, Arras Counterattack 1940, Longstop 1942-3,Across the Waal 1944, Jump on Corregidor 1945 and Goose Green 1982. Each on is a short story but with plenty of information and well written and easy to follow. Highly recommend this book for some light reading.

[Paul · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well written, non-trivial but provides enough background for those not familiar with the examples given.

[Ted · Rating 3 out of 5]

A 3.75 - stars read but Goodreads does not allow such, you have to go to TheStoryGraph to do that.

[Cody · Rating 4 out of 5]

Honestly, I really loved this book. It is well written, accurate (so far as I can tell) and easy to read. I never had one of those moments when you don't want to keep reading (or felt like skipping ahead).
Perrett's choice of events was also well done. Great read.
I highly recommend this book!

[Little Timmy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent overview of 11 battles out of history that should have been lost but weren't. Great history book, very recommended