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Hill 112
A gripping story of friendship and division in the midst of warfare, set against one of the most dramatic, dangerous, and crucial campaigns of World War II: the Battle of Normandy.
They went to war as boys. Will they make it home as men?
D-Day. June 6th, 1944. The trajectory of the Second World War—and with it the course of modern history—is changed for ever. For three young former schoolmates from South Wales, their war is only just beginning.
James was the school cricket captain. Now, a few short years later, he is in charge of a troop of Sherman tanks. Mark, just nineteen, must lead a platoon of infantrymen into battle. And Bill, always something of a loner, sees the heart of the fighting as a private soldier.
These young men, and thousands of others, are part of one of the bloodiest and most brutal episodes of the whole Normandy campaign: the battle for Hill 112. The horror, the fear, the filth; the savage fighting; the sheer exhilaration and moments of farce and laughter: those who come through the carnage will never be the same again.
As we remember the eightieth anniversary of D-Day, Adrian Goldsworthy presents a spellbinding evocation of the time, based on real events and the records and reminiscences of those who were there. Perfect for fans of Robert Harris and Simon Scarrow.
They went to war as boys. Will they make it home as men?
D-Day. June 6th, 1944. The trajectory of the Second World War—and with it the course of modern history—is changed for ever. For three young former schoolmates from South Wales, their war is only just beginning.
James was the school cricket captain. Now, a few short years later, he is in charge of a troop of Sherman tanks. Mark, just nineteen, must lead a platoon of infantrymen into battle. And Bill, always something of a loner, sees the heart of the fighting as a private soldier.
These young men, and thousands of others, are part of one of the bloodiest and most brutal episodes of the whole Normandy campaign: the battle for Hill 112. The horror, the fear, the filth; the savage fighting; the sheer exhilaration and moments of farce and laughter: those who come through the carnage will never be the same again.
As we remember the eightieth anniversary of D-Day, Adrian Goldsworthy presents a spellbinding evocation of the time, based on real events and the records and reminiscences of those who were there. Perfect for fans of Robert Harris and Simon Scarrow.
495 pages, Kindle Edition
Published May 23, 2024
53 people are currently reading
99 people want to read
About the author
Adrian Goldsworthy
44 books1,536 followersAdrian Goldsworthy, born in 1969, is the author of numerous acclaimed books, including biographies of Julius Caesar and Augustus. He lectures widely and consults on historical documentaries for the History Channel, National Geographic, and the BBC. He lives in the UK.
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Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews
June 6, 2024
D-Day - 6 June 1944 - was the largest amphibious invasion in the history of warfare. The statistics of D-Day, codenamed Operation Overlord, are staggering. The Allies used over 5,000 ships and landing craft to land more than 150,000 troops on five beaches in Normandy. The landings marked the start of a long and costly campaign in north west Europe, which ultimately convinced the German high command that defeat was inevitable.
One can only imagine the horror that awaited the allied forces, with some soldiers shot exiting landing craft. Others were drowned in the waters of the Bay of the Seine, weighted down by their equipment. On the beach, the soldiers crossed open sand with ridges and water filled troughs, exposed to gunfire. They also had to maneuver around man-made seawalls covered in razor wire.
After years of planning, it was D-Day - the allied invasion had begun.
In the three months after the landings, the Allies who had survived were tasked with launching a series of additional offensives to try and advance further inland. Not all of these ops were successful as they faced strong and determined German resistance.
This then is the backdrop for our fictional story of three protagonists - former school mates from South Wales - one in an armoured regiment and two in an infantry battalion.
James was the school cricket captain. Now, a few short years later, he is in charge of a troop of Sherman tanks.
Mark, just nineteen, must lead a platoon of infantrymen into battle.
And Bill, always something of a loner, sees the heart of the fighting as a private soldier.
Not much more than boys really, but will these lads survive to manhood? Sadly, one thing’s for certain, in the normally beautiful and peaceful landscape of Normandy, they face the most unimaginable horrors as combatants of one of the bloodiest and most brutal parts of the Normandy campaign, sometimes for very small territorial gains. Every field, every ravaged wood and orchard, every little house of every little village had to be fought for, then fought for again as the inevitable counter attacks came in.
Though fictional, ‘Hill 112’ is based on real events and records, and reminiscences of those who were there, and is published to coincide with the 80th anniversary of D-Day.
It gives an accurate, albeit terrifying insight, into how it really felt to be part of that campaign, gets right inside hearts and minds, and the effect that it had, both physically and mentally on those involved. Despite the horrors, the banter and camaraderie are evident and provide something of a release from all the madness and mayhem, albeit momentarily, for our protagonists. Unsurprisingly, there were times when no one was in the mood for talking at all, their minds quietly trying to process the horrors that they were experiencing.
A stupendous read, that follows three characters, placed at the heart of one of the biggest battles in history. Simply Superb!
*Thank you to Netgalley and Head of Zeus for my ARC in exchange for an honest unbiased review *
One can only imagine the horror that awaited the allied forces, with some soldiers shot exiting landing craft. Others were drowned in the waters of the Bay of the Seine, weighted down by their equipment. On the beach, the soldiers crossed open sand with ridges and water filled troughs, exposed to gunfire. They also had to maneuver around man-made seawalls covered in razor wire.
After years of planning, it was D-Day - the allied invasion had begun.
In the three months after the landings, the Allies who had survived were tasked with launching a series of additional offensives to try and advance further inland. Not all of these ops were successful as they faced strong and determined German resistance.
This then is the backdrop for our fictional story of three protagonists - former school mates from South Wales - one in an armoured regiment and two in an infantry battalion.
James was the school cricket captain. Now, a few short years later, he is in charge of a troop of Sherman tanks.
Mark, just nineteen, must lead a platoon of infantrymen into battle.
And Bill, always something of a loner, sees the heart of the fighting as a private soldier.
Not much more than boys really, but will these lads survive to manhood? Sadly, one thing’s for certain, in the normally beautiful and peaceful landscape of Normandy, they face the most unimaginable horrors as combatants of one of the bloodiest and most brutal parts of the Normandy campaign, sometimes for very small territorial gains. Every field, every ravaged wood and orchard, every little house of every little village had to be fought for, then fought for again as the inevitable counter attacks came in.
Though fictional, ‘Hill 112’ is based on real events and records, and reminiscences of those who were there, and is published to coincide with the 80th anniversary of D-Day.
It gives an accurate, albeit terrifying insight, into how it really felt to be part of that campaign, gets right inside hearts and minds, and the effect that it had, both physically and mentally on those involved. Despite the horrors, the banter and camaraderie are evident and provide something of a release from all the madness and mayhem, albeit momentarily, for our protagonists. Unsurprisingly, there were times when no one was in the mood for talking at all, their minds quietly trying to process the horrors that they were experiencing.
A stupendous read, that follows three characters, placed at the heart of one of the biggest battles in history. Simply Superb!
*Thank you to Netgalley and Head of Zeus for my ARC in exchange for an honest unbiased review *
June 8, 2024
A book that truly captures the scale, bravery and horror associated with war. Told through the eyes of three young men who went grew up in the same Welsh valley, it recounts each of their stories and experiences to devastating effect. The full horror of war is captured through Goldsworthy’s absorbing descriptive prose, with the reader being left completely invested in the outcome for each of them. This book never glorifies war, often demonstrating its futility, it’s desolation and the sheer fear it induced. And yet, it captures so brilliantly the camaraderie, care, respect, humour and friendship that provided some solace amongst the backdrop of the D-Day landings and the battle for Normandy.
This book and the story of three young men genuinely moved me and does great justice to those who gave their lives for our freedom eighty years ago.
This book and the story of three young men genuinely moved me and does great justice to those who gave their lives for our freedom eighty years ago.
May 11, 2024
Hill 112: a novel of D-Day and the Battle of Normandy by Adrian Goldsworthy
Synopsis /
D-Day. June 6th, 1944. The trajectory of the Second World War – and with it the course of modern history – is changed for ever.
For three young former schoolmates from South Wales, their war is only just beginning.
James was the school cricket captain. Now, a few short years later, he is in charge of a troop of Sherman tanks.
Mark, just nineteen, must lead a platoon of infantrymen into battle.
And Bill, always something of a loner, sees the heart of the fighting as a private soldier.
These young men, and thousands of others, will soon be a part of one of the bloodiest and most brutal parts of the Normandy campaign: the battle for Hill 112. The horror, the fear, the filth; the savage fighting; the sheer exhilaration and moments of farce and laughter: those who come through the carnage will never be the same again.
My Thoughts /
First and foremost, a huge THANK YOU to NetGalley, Publisher: Head of Zeus, and author Adrian Goldsworthy, for providing me with a copy of this publication, which allows me to provide you with an unbiased review. Publication date is currently set for January 14, 2025.
Outlier Review Incoming
I started reading this book on April 24 and finished it on May 10 - 17 days later. If this was a library book, I would have returned it as a DNF. But as a courtesy to the author, I needed to see this one out to the (bitter) end.
I'm sitting here at my computer with a huge case of procrastination. I've washed the clothes, cleaned the house, been grocery shopping, checked work emails, and I'm still no closer to wanting to write this review. I've got 'First Dates, UK' on the television in the background and it's dawned on me that I can see a similarity….when the matched couple decide not to see each other again, then the two little doves fly away separately….or worse - one gets an arrow to the heart. That's me with this book. I thought I'd love it. But at the end, all I want to do is desperately fly away.
The title of this book captivated me from the get-go. I asked a friend of mine, "Don't think about it - just tell me what is the first thing that pops into your mind when I say, 'the Battle of Normandy'?" And she said "beaches". And, naively, that was me too. So, here's a quick history lesson. Here are 8 'need to know' things about D-Day and the Battle of Normandy:
🔹The 'D' in D-Day stands simply for 'day' and the term was used to describe the first day of any large military operation.
🔹Ground troops landed across five assault beaches - Utah, Omaha, Gold, Juno and Sword.
🔹D-Day required detailed planning and was an international effort.
🔹This was the largest naval, air and land operation in history.
🔹German defences in Normandy varied in effectiveness.
🔹There is more to Normandy than just D-Day:-
🔹The importance of D-Day often overshadows the overall significance of the entire Normandy campaign. Establishing a bridgehead was critical, but it was just the first step. In the three months after D-Day, the Allies launched a series of additional offensives to try and advance further inland. These operations varied in success and the Allies faced strong and determined German resistance.
🔹The bocage - a peculiarity of the Normandy landscape characterised by sunken lanes bordered by high, thick hedgerows - was difficult to penetrate and placed the advantage with the German defenders. Yet the bloody and protracted Battle of Normandy was a decisive victory for the Allies and paved the way for the liberation of much of north-west Europe.
Back to the book. The author's writing style didn't work for me. It was extremely dense and very slow moving. As a result, I became disconnected from the story and had a hard time keeping myself interested.
Bookish Mixed Bags:
🙄 Part of the book title: - "Hill 112" - we didn't even reach the 'hill' until the 64% mark!
🙄 The sentence structure was unnecessarily verbose. For example: "So many animals were dead, and they had to clear a dozen or more dead cows to prepare their own camp. Dead cattle, dead horses, dead sheep, dead pigs were everywhere. There were probably dead people as well…"
🙄 The writing is repetitive. You now know from your history lesson above that the 'Battle of Normandy' was not ONLY fought on the beaches, but also in 'fields'. This was known as 'Hedgerow Fighting' - German forces used the hedgerows defensively, creating deadly killing fields which Allied troops had to cross. This difficult terrain forced Allied troops to reevaluate tactics and come up with creative solutions for clearing the Bocage of German forces. This difficult situation slowed down progress in Normandy for the invading armies. Unfortunately for this reader, the author exhausted my tolerance for the word 'field' and 'hedge'; by describing every, single, field and hedge in Normandy.
🙄 This then leads on to my next mixed bag. It's way too long. Tighter editing is required before final publishing next year, otherwise, it's going to be a prolonged and tedious account of British tanks moving from field to field. Slim it down and deal with the repetition.
Bookish Yays:
🤩 The theme was interesting, though the execution was clumsy, the author did well to provide the basis of an interesting story.
🤩 The author has obviously done his research. The proper terminology of military equipment, rank structure, and tactical and strategic contact was appreciated.
I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
Synopsis /
D-Day. June 6th, 1944. The trajectory of the Second World War – and with it the course of modern history – is changed for ever.
For three young former schoolmates from South Wales, their war is only just beginning.
James was the school cricket captain. Now, a few short years later, he is in charge of a troop of Sherman tanks.
Mark, just nineteen, must lead a platoon of infantrymen into battle.
And Bill, always something of a loner, sees the heart of the fighting as a private soldier.
These young men, and thousands of others, will soon be a part of one of the bloodiest and most brutal parts of the Normandy campaign: the battle for Hill 112. The horror, the fear, the filth; the savage fighting; the sheer exhilaration and moments of farce and laughter: those who come through the carnage will never be the same again.
My Thoughts /
First and foremost, a huge THANK YOU to NetGalley, Publisher: Head of Zeus, and author Adrian Goldsworthy, for providing me with a copy of this publication, which allows me to provide you with an unbiased review. Publication date is currently set for January 14, 2025.
Outlier Review Incoming
I started reading this book on April 24 and finished it on May 10 - 17 days later. If this was a library book, I would have returned it as a DNF. But as a courtesy to the author, I needed to see this one out to the (bitter) end.
I'm sitting here at my computer with a huge case of procrastination. I've washed the clothes, cleaned the house, been grocery shopping, checked work emails, and I'm still no closer to wanting to write this review. I've got 'First Dates, UK' on the television in the background and it's dawned on me that I can see a similarity….when the matched couple decide not to see each other again, then the two little doves fly away separately….or worse - one gets an arrow to the heart. That's me with this book. I thought I'd love it. But at the end, all I want to do is desperately fly away.
The title of this book captivated me from the get-go. I asked a friend of mine, "Don't think about it - just tell me what is the first thing that pops into your mind when I say, 'the Battle of Normandy'?" And she said "beaches". And, naively, that was me too. So, here's a quick history lesson. Here are 8 'need to know' things about D-Day and the Battle of Normandy:
🔹The 'D' in D-Day stands simply for 'day' and the term was used to describe the first day of any large military operation.
🔹Ground troops landed across five assault beaches - Utah, Omaha, Gold, Juno and Sword.
🔹D-Day required detailed planning and was an international effort.
🔹This was the largest naval, air and land operation in history.
🔹German defences in Normandy varied in effectiveness.
🔹There is more to Normandy than just D-Day:-
🔹The importance of D-Day often overshadows the overall significance of the entire Normandy campaign. Establishing a bridgehead was critical, but it was just the first step. In the three months after D-Day, the Allies launched a series of additional offensives to try and advance further inland. These operations varied in success and the Allies faced strong and determined German resistance.
🔹The bocage - a peculiarity of the Normandy landscape characterised by sunken lanes bordered by high, thick hedgerows - was difficult to penetrate and placed the advantage with the German defenders. Yet the bloody and protracted Battle of Normandy was a decisive victory for the Allies and paved the way for the liberation of much of north-west Europe.
Back to the book. The author's writing style didn't work for me. It was extremely dense and very slow moving. As a result, I became disconnected from the story and had a hard time keeping myself interested.
Bookish Mixed Bags:
🙄 Part of the book title: - "Hill 112" - we didn't even reach the 'hill' until the 64% mark!
🙄 The sentence structure was unnecessarily verbose. For example: "So many animals were dead, and they had to clear a dozen or more dead cows to prepare their own camp. Dead cattle, dead horses, dead sheep, dead pigs were everywhere. There were probably dead people as well…"
🙄 The writing is repetitive. You now know from your history lesson above that the 'Battle of Normandy' was not ONLY fought on the beaches, but also in 'fields'. This was known as 'Hedgerow Fighting' - German forces used the hedgerows defensively, creating deadly killing fields which Allied troops had to cross. This difficult terrain forced Allied troops to reevaluate tactics and come up with creative solutions for clearing the Bocage of German forces. This difficult situation slowed down progress in Normandy for the invading armies. Unfortunately for this reader, the author exhausted my tolerance for the word 'field' and 'hedge'; by describing every, single, field and hedge in Normandy.
🙄 This then leads on to my next mixed bag. It's way too long. Tighter editing is required before final publishing next year, otherwise, it's going to be a prolonged and tedious account of British tanks moving from field to field. Slim it down and deal with the repetition.
Bookish Yays:
🤩 The theme was interesting, though the execution was clumsy, the author did well to provide the basis of an interesting story.
🤩 The author has obviously done his research. The proper terminology of military equipment, rank structure, and tactical and strategic contact was appreciated.
I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
April 8, 2024
Hill 112 (A novel of 1944) is a stunning tale of ordinary young men doing extraordinary things in such circumstances and under such stress scarcely imaginable to those who weren’t there. The narrative thread of the days before and the weeks after the D-Day Landings in Normandy, France on 6 June 1944 is linked by the experiences of three former school friends from South Wales, one in an armoured regiment and two in an infantry battalion, as they face the horrors of war as the Allies and the Germans fought savagely over small territorial gains in the Normandy countryside. The boredom of waiting to embark for France; the exhilaration of going into battle for the first time; the terrible reality of “kill or be killed”; the pressure and stress of what was literally life or death decision making; the unknowable horror of discovering what bombs and bullets do to a human body; the physical and mental fatigue of repeatedly fighting to stay alive for day after day and week after week; the humour and banter which survived the darkest of human experiences - all are captured vividly and eloquently in this outstanding book. As a bonus, there is an excellent “Historical Note” at the end of the book which provides a clear and concise explanation of the tactical and strategic context in which the Battle for Normandy was fought.
I have no hesitation in giving this highly recommended book a 5 star rating.
I have no hesitation in giving this highly recommended book a 5 star rating.
Read
June 30, 2024While I love Adrian Goldsworthy's non-fiction, his fiction is hit or miss for me. And this is a definite miss. The prose is stilted, with lots of short sentences, overfilled with technical or military detail, while the dialogue is unconvincing, the attempt at camaraderie falling short at every turn. I couldn't connect to or care about any of the characters and I've tried three times to continue, with no success. Sorry to say this is a DNF.
December 21, 2024
A stellar war novel and deeply involving work of historical fiction. One of the best of its kind and almost certainly Goldsworthy's finest fiction. Full review at the blog.
July 30, 2025
I thoroughly enjoyed this novel, set in the first weeks of Operation Overlord and following three school friends (1 tank officer, 1 infantry officer and 1 enlisted infantryman). This setup allows Goldsworthy to draw on both the infantry and tanker experiences of Normandy, and while he initially begins with a research-dump heavy ‘faction’ style, his narrative quickly picks up steam and draws the reader in. I particularly liked the fact that the two infantrymen don’t cross the channel until a week after D-Day, which allows the author to explore what it was like for the many service personnel who didn’t immediately land on the beaches - an experience that is generally neglected in both fiction and non-fiction accounts of the Normandy campaign.
While this lacks the immediacy and authenticity of much of the contemporary fiction written by veterans (think Warriors for the Working Day or From the City, from the Plough), it is nonetheless an excellent book and a worthwhile read for fans of the genre.
While this lacks the immediacy and authenticity of much of the contemporary fiction written by veterans (think Warriors for the Working Day or From the City, from the Plough), it is nonetheless an excellent book and a worthwhile read for fans of the genre.
May 27, 2024
Thank you Netgalley, Adrian Goldsworthy & Head of Zeus for allowing me to read this book early for an honest review.
This is my first military/war book. I requested this book due to the mention of the Welsh men involved (I live in Wales). Having served in the military and loving a healthy dose of TV & Film war stories, I settled in for the ride.
This book is about Normandy but not the beach landings. It’s angle is on the town, village and surrounding countryside, the tank battles mostly. The cat and mouse games of the “Hun” and the Brits, constantly pushing to gain a little more ground and sometimes losing it.
The events are depicted brilliantly, it highlights the struggle, the frustration and the comradery of the troops as well as the death, maiming and loss they all suffered over sometimes tiny gains. The research for the book must have been long and deep. The descriptions pointing out tiny details do add to flavour and offer insights into how things worked, smelled, sounded etc.
Having now read the book, I do have some thoughts.
Hill 112 was a massive battle resulting in large losses. It unfortunately does not arrive until we are 65% in the book. Prior to 112 we read about a substantial amount of tank skirmishes. Most of the skirmishes happen in fields which all tend to involve wheat, hedges and trees with lots of smoke from burning vehicles or from smoke grenades to hide movement and then big guns that go bang. Sometimes hatches would be open and sometimes they would be closed, this almost becoming the defining difference between fights.
We do get A LOT of back stories and memories involving a lot of the characters. While mostly welcomed, there’s too many times where a memory will pop up in the weirdest of places such as mid firefight or while there’s a moment of tension as troops silently wait to spot the enemy, resulting in complete loss of any tension that was gained. People come and go often and so the endless memories and stories about them become confusing and tiring.
The result of endless mentions of trees, hedges, wheat, gun sounds and smoke as well as back stories does make the book incredibly long and slow and by the time we had reached 112, I was numb to everything as all of the battles sounded the same. 112 ended up sounding like all of the others which is a shame and I found myself wondering how much longer I had left to read to complete the book.
It would have been perfect if we had started almost at 112, I would not be fatigued by all of the same sounding tank battles and would have arrived fresh and ready to soak it all up.
This was an unedited version of the book and so likely much will change before release. I will certainly check out the Authors other books. The writing was great, just way too long with too many details which ground everything to a snails pace.
This is my first military/war book. I requested this book due to the mention of the Welsh men involved (I live in Wales). Having served in the military and loving a healthy dose of TV & Film war stories, I settled in for the ride.
This book is about Normandy but not the beach landings. It’s angle is on the town, village and surrounding countryside, the tank battles mostly. The cat and mouse games of the “Hun” and the Brits, constantly pushing to gain a little more ground and sometimes losing it.
The events are depicted brilliantly, it highlights the struggle, the frustration and the comradery of the troops as well as the death, maiming and loss they all suffered over sometimes tiny gains. The research for the book must have been long and deep. The descriptions pointing out tiny details do add to flavour and offer insights into how things worked, smelled, sounded etc.
Having now read the book, I do have some thoughts.
Hill 112 was a massive battle resulting in large losses. It unfortunately does not arrive until we are 65% in the book. Prior to 112 we read about a substantial amount of tank skirmishes. Most of the skirmishes happen in fields which all tend to involve wheat, hedges and trees with lots of smoke from burning vehicles or from smoke grenades to hide movement and then big guns that go bang. Sometimes hatches would be open and sometimes they would be closed, this almost becoming the defining difference between fights.
We do get A LOT of back stories and memories involving a lot of the characters. While mostly welcomed, there’s too many times where a memory will pop up in the weirdest of places such as mid firefight or while there’s a moment of tension as troops silently wait to spot the enemy, resulting in complete loss of any tension that was gained. People come and go often and so the endless memories and stories about them become confusing and tiring.
The result of endless mentions of trees, hedges, wheat, gun sounds and smoke as well as back stories does make the book incredibly long and slow and by the time we had reached 112, I was numb to everything as all of the battles sounded the same. 112 ended up sounding like all of the others which is a shame and I found myself wondering how much longer I had left to read to complete the book.
It would have been perfect if we had started almost at 112, I would not be fatigued by all of the same sounding tank battles and would have arrived fresh and ready to soak it all up.
This was an unedited version of the book and so likely much will change before release. I will certainly check out the Authors other books. The writing was great, just way too long with too many details which ground everything to a snails pace.
June 30, 2024
I received a copy of Hill 112 from Netgalley to review.
Rating of 4.75.
Prepare to dive headfirst into the deadliest of struggles as acclaimed historical fiction author Adrian Goldsworthy provides a captivating look at the Normandy invasions with his epic novel, Hill 112.
June 6th, 1944. After years of enduring the Nazi onslaught, the Allies are finally ready to begin their campaign to invade occupied France. But to liberate France and free all of Europe, the Allies first must make a perilous landing and brave the full force of the German army waiting for them. The destination for their fateful landing: Normandy!
As the Allies begin their invasion, three young soldiers, former classmates from south Wales, are amongst the troops landing in Normandy. The charismatic James must put his previous experience as cricket captain into practice by leading a troop of Sherman tanks into fray. The athletic Mark is forced to prove himself as the young officer in charge of a platoon of infantrymen, while Bill, the group’s resident firebrand, finds himself in the middle of the fighting as he serves as a private soldier. However, none of these young men are truly prepared for the carnage to come.
The battle-hardened German army is determined to push the Allies back into the sea, and soon both sides find themselves caught up in a brutal battle for survival. Into the middle of this, James, Mark and Bill find their courage and luck tested like never before as they finally experience the horrors of war and the seemingly unbeatable Germans. Their fates, and that of the entire Allied war effort, will be decided in one of the most brutal fights of the Normandy campaign, the battle for Hill 112.
Goldsworthy brings together one of his heaviest and moving novels yet with the incredible Hill 112. A gritty and realistic war story that seeks to capture the experiences of young soldiers during Normandy, Hill 112 was a fantastic and moving novel that drags readers right into the heart of the fighting.
To see the full review, click on the link below:
https://unseenlibrary.com/2024/06/30/...
For other exciting reviews and content, check out my blog at:
https://unseenlibrary.com/
Rating of 4.75.
Prepare to dive headfirst into the deadliest of struggles as acclaimed historical fiction author Adrian Goldsworthy provides a captivating look at the Normandy invasions with his epic novel, Hill 112.
June 6th, 1944. After years of enduring the Nazi onslaught, the Allies are finally ready to begin their campaign to invade occupied France. But to liberate France and free all of Europe, the Allies first must make a perilous landing and brave the full force of the German army waiting for them. The destination for their fateful landing: Normandy!
As the Allies begin their invasion, three young soldiers, former classmates from south Wales, are amongst the troops landing in Normandy. The charismatic James must put his previous experience as cricket captain into practice by leading a troop of Sherman tanks into fray. The athletic Mark is forced to prove himself as the young officer in charge of a platoon of infantrymen, while Bill, the group’s resident firebrand, finds himself in the middle of the fighting as he serves as a private soldier. However, none of these young men are truly prepared for the carnage to come.
The battle-hardened German army is determined to push the Allies back into the sea, and soon both sides find themselves caught up in a brutal battle for survival. Into the middle of this, James, Mark and Bill find their courage and luck tested like never before as they finally experience the horrors of war and the seemingly unbeatable Germans. Their fates, and that of the entire Allied war effort, will be decided in one of the most brutal fights of the Normandy campaign, the battle for Hill 112.
Goldsworthy brings together one of his heaviest and moving novels yet with the incredible Hill 112. A gritty and realistic war story that seeks to capture the experiences of young soldiers during Normandy, Hill 112 was a fantastic and moving novel that drags readers right into the heart of the fighting.
To see the full review, click on the link below:
https://unseenlibrary.com/2024/06/30/...
For other exciting reviews and content, check out my blog at:
https://unseenlibrary.com/
December 24, 2024
Wow, what a tour de force. This book tells the story of the battle of Normandy, following the D-Day landings in the Second World War. We've all studied them at school, and generally we've concentrated on the famous landings, but not really taken in the detail (and horror) of the subsequent battle to drive the Germans back.
This book tells that story, through the eyes of three young men : James Taylor, Mark Crawford and Bill Judd. The author says he aimed to show what the war was like for the young men who did the fighting in Normandy and he certainly achieves that. Carefully researched, it takes us through the battle from the point of view of a tank man, an infantry officer and low ranking soldier. He doesn't glamourise, or try to sensationalise. He doesn't need to. He has carefully researched the events, using original sources, and the result is an incredibly readable book, even for a non-militarian like myself. I'd never really thought about what it was like to fight a war from a tank, and this reveals the horror and bravery involved.
The result is a book that I feel will become a classic - it stands firmly alongside works like 'Journey's End' and indeed surpasses many of the books so beloved of Hollywood with chiselled heroes so unlike real life.
My only problem was that the version I read needed some more serious proof reading - there were typos that a spell check would not catch. But that's easily remedied.
I feel this powerful book will become required reading for anyone remotely interested in the D-Day landings and beyond. Brilliant.
Thank you to NetGalley and Head of Zeus for allowing me access to the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
This book tells that story, through the eyes of three young men : James Taylor, Mark Crawford and Bill Judd. The author says he aimed to show what the war was like for the young men who did the fighting in Normandy and he certainly achieves that. Carefully researched, it takes us through the battle from the point of view of a tank man, an infantry officer and low ranking soldier. He doesn't glamourise, or try to sensationalise. He doesn't need to. He has carefully researched the events, using original sources, and the result is an incredibly readable book, even for a non-militarian like myself. I'd never really thought about what it was like to fight a war from a tank, and this reveals the horror and bravery involved.
The result is a book that I feel will become a classic - it stands firmly alongside works like 'Journey's End' and indeed surpasses many of the books so beloved of Hollywood with chiselled heroes so unlike real life.
My only problem was that the version I read needed some more serious proof reading - there were typos that a spell check would not catch. But that's easily remedied.
I feel this powerful book will become required reading for anyone remotely interested in the D-Day landings and beyond. Brilliant.
Thank you to NetGalley and Head of Zeus for allowing me access to the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
June 10, 2024
This is my first read by the author, Adrian Goldsworthy. It is a good read, but I'd say it's only a good read if WWII fiction is your choice of genre. Luckily, im a bit of a war geek.
The vivid descriptions of the battlefield made me feel as though I was there. Immersed in the action. Fighting the enemy. Dodging the bullets and artillery. Painting in words both the harsh reality of war and the camaraderie amonst the men. Terrific storytelling made for an entertaining read; but I felt some elements were not needed and didn't really serve a purpose to the story. I'd say there are better works in this particular genre, but it is good.
The character building was excellent, and by the middle of the book, I felt as though I knew them. Like they were my comrades.
Overall, good bur not excellent. I'd happily give this a 4 star rating.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
The vivid descriptions of the battlefield made me feel as though I was there. Immersed in the action. Fighting the enemy. Dodging the bullets and artillery. Painting in words both the harsh reality of war and the camaraderie amonst the men. Terrific storytelling made for an entertaining read; but I felt some elements were not needed and didn't really serve a purpose to the story. I'd say there are better works in this particular genre, but it is good.
The character building was excellent, and by the middle of the book, I felt as though I knew them. Like they were my comrades.
Overall, good bur not excellent. I'd happily give this a 4 star rating.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
April 29, 2025
A fictional account of a real battle from the Normandy campaign, this is a well researched book where the author takes great pains to get all the details historically accurate whilst also doing a good job of keeping the action and emotion at high tempo.
For me it just didn’t have that je ne sais quoi that elevated it to a 4 Star book, perhaps the dedication to accuracy made it plod a bit, or the switching between the different characters slowed it down but I found I just didn’t get into as much as I thought I would, though I still enjoyed it.
If you’re interested in the Second World War or the British experience of it this is worth a read. Recommended.
For me it just didn’t have that je ne sais quoi that elevated it to a 4 Star book, perhaps the dedication to accuracy made it plod a bit, or the switching between the different characters slowed it down but I found I just didn’t get into as much as I thought I would, though I still enjoyed it.
If you’re interested in the Second World War or the British experience of it this is worth a read. Recommended.
December 14, 2024
D-Day. June 6th, 1944. The trajectory of the Second World War – and with it the course of modern history – is changed for ever. For three young former schoolmates from South Wales, their war is only just beginning.
I found this book good in places but there was far too much detail for me. Call signs back and forth just slowed the tempo of the story. Several back stories proved to be unwarranted and pointless. It started well enough but as the story progressed I found it slow and difficult to keep going.
I found this book good in places but there was far too much detail for me. Call signs back and forth just slowed the tempo of the story. Several back stories proved to be unwarranted and pointless. It started well enough but as the story progressed I found it slow and difficult to keep going.
January 19, 2025
I pre ordered this and couldn’t wait to get in to it when it arrived.
I’m absolutely amazed at all the 5 star reviews. I’m so disappointed!
The personalities don’t feel real, the dialogue is just boring and not engaging at all. Especially when it’s radio traffic back and forward.
Each chapter feels like Deja Vu.
I’m absolutely amazed at all the 5 star reviews. I’m so disappointed!
The personalities don’t feel real, the dialogue is just boring and not engaging at all. Especially when it’s radio traffic back and forward.
Each chapter feels like Deja Vu.
June 8, 2024
The days and weeks after D Day chronicled as fiction but very factual and well researched.
It’s fascinating and hard to comprehend the sacrifice these boys made.
Lots of characters so I found it a complicated read at times.
Well worth it though.
It’s fascinating and hard to comprehend the sacrifice these boys made.
Lots of characters so I found it a complicated read at times.
Well worth it though.
January 6, 2025
I’m thinking I’m probably too lazy a reader for this genre of war story. Too much technical detail slowed it down and lost the tension. I’m not denying that the story is accurate and a sad reminder of the true agony of war but for a fiction book it wasn’t for me.
February 12, 2025
An excellent book, which tries and successfully tells of the stress and strain of an infantryman during the Normandy campaign.
June 6, 2025
Adrian Goldsworthy’s Hill 112 is a phenomenal read, delivering meticulously detailed storytelling that immerses the reader in the intensity of World War II. The battle sequences are vivid and gripping, capturing both the brutal realities of war and the human resilience within it.
What truly sets this book apart is how the characters feel deeply lived-in—almost as if their voices echo straight from history. Their struggles, growth, and emotions are so authentic that it’s easy to forget this is historical fiction rather than firsthand testimony. The realism doesn’t just rest in the action but in the weight of their decisions, the camaraderie, and the emotional toll of war.
An absolute must-read, especially for WWII fanatics who crave both strategic insights and compelling personal journeys. Goldsworthy’s craftsmanship makes this book a standout in the genre.
What truly sets this book apart is how the characters feel deeply lived-in—almost as if their voices echo straight from history. Their struggles, growth, and emotions are so authentic that it’s easy to forget this is historical fiction rather than firsthand testimony. The realism doesn’t just rest in the action but in the weight of their decisions, the camaraderie, and the emotional toll of war.
An absolute must-read, especially for WWII fanatics who crave both strategic insights and compelling personal journeys. Goldsworthy’s craftsmanship makes this book a standout in the genre.
November 16, 2024
I would firstly like to Thank NetGalley and the publisher Head of Zeus for a copy of this book to read and review. This is the story of the preparations, landings and the first Thirty Days of the Normandy Campaign as seen through the eyes of three school friends from South Wales who participate in the D-Day landings.
We accompany them through training , landing in Normandy there push inland until they reach Hill 112. This is not the boys own telling of this moment in history it feels like the author was there to witness this horrendous battle.
So well written and researched this is a must read for lovers of realistic fiction based on real events.
Another triumph for Mr Goldsworthy.
We accompany them through training , landing in Normandy there push inland until they reach Hill 112. This is not the boys own telling of this moment in history it feels like the author was there to witness this horrendous battle.
So well written and researched this is a must read for lovers of realistic fiction based on real events.
Another triumph for Mr Goldsworthy.
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