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Brought To Battle: A Novel of World War II
After Rommel’s Afrika Korps wounds him, Corporal Alan Dudley is sent home to a training post. Now a sergeant, he’s saddled with know-it-all college draftees whom he strives to transform into effective mortar crewmen. After further training in England, ‘Dud’ leads his men ashore on D-Day at Utah Beach. In minutes, the Wehrmacht hands out some of its own bloody lessons, killing one of his men and wounding a second. The next ten horrific months take them from Normandy’s hedgerows to the crossing of the Rhine. As honor graduates of the toughest of all schools, combat itself, the sergeant and his survivors help crush a skilled veteran enemy. If Uris’s Battle Cry or Jones’s The Thin Red Line captivated your imagination, you should try Brought To Battle. Buy this story of what it was like at the spear’s point in the European Theater.
292 pages, Kindle Edition
Published May 3, 2016
233 people are currently reading
31 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 37 reviews
October 25, 2018
Good, but could have been great
This is a good story of a corporal in the Army at the precipice of World War II. The battle scenes are well done and the book does not drag. Dialogue is credible and the depiction of life as a mortar man is nicely portrayed. The protagonist is drawn well. The other characters who enjoy prominence in this historical novel, are not. We know little to nothing about what they think, feel or, in many cases, who they are as an individual. With a bit of added characterization, this could have been a better tale.
This is a good story of a corporal in the Army at the precipice of World War II. The battle scenes are well done and the book does not drag. Dialogue is credible and the depiction of life as a mortar man is nicely portrayed. The protagonist is drawn well. The other characters who enjoy prominence in this historical novel, are not. We know little to nothing about what they think, feel or, in many cases, who they are as an individual. With a bit of added characterization, this could have been a better tale.
May 17, 2025
Against all odds, “Brought to Battle” kind of works. Not in a “literary triumph” kind of way. More like a “you order a beer and it turns out to be decent despite being poured from a sticky tap in a RSL” kind of way. It’s cliched, overstuffed, narratively predictable and stylistically limp, and yet, I kept turning the pages. I don’t know what that says about me, or about the novel, but there we are.
Let’s be honest: this is boilerplate historical war fiction. If you’ve ever seen a matinee screening of Saving Private Ryan and thought, “Yes, but what if we added more exposition and made the villain a cartoon,” congratulations, you’ve already mentally read most of this book. It’s got all the usual suspects: the square-jawed protagonist with a jawline forged in the fires of liberty, the gruff but noble comrades, the obligatory love interest with all the depth of a soggy napkin, and a bad guy so ludicrously evil he may as well twirl a sabre and cackle.
The bastard thing moves. The battle scenes, while occasionally straying into Boys' Own fantasy territory, are compelling. Gruesome without descending into blood-fetishism and delivered with a kind of breezy competence that reminds you Payne’s less interested in trauma theory and more in keeping the bullets flying and the plot lurching forward. There's plenty of action. Men shout, shoot, die and complain. There's bitching, yes, but refreshingly little whining. Somehow, that matters.
The narrator is absurdly clean-cut. A bit too noble, a bit too decent, like someone built a soldier from leftover honour and polite stoicism. But here’s the twist: I didn’t mind him. His earnestness has a weird gravitational pull. You keep expecting to hate him, but instead you just nod along, as if to say, "Alright mate, you do your thing."
Payne lobs in historical detail like a man shovelling coal into a furnace: lots of it, often unnecessary, but somehow it keeps the thing moving. The technical bits are there to keep the re-enactment crowd happy, but miraculously, they don’t bog the whole thing down. It's not exactly War and Peace, more like Call of Duty: The Novel.
Now, the love story. Look, I’ve had more emotionally engaging moments with my dentist. It’s serviceable, uninspired and about as essential as garnish on a meat pie. It never quite clicks, and by the end you're not entirely sure why it was there, other than to tick the “romance” box and give our hero someone to dream about between gunfights.
Three stars, because it’s better than it has any right to be. It’s not well-written in the traditional sense, but it tells a rollicking yarn. It’s a book for people who like their war fiction straightforward, bloody and vaguely nostalgic for a time when Good and Evil were conveniently uniformed and shouting across a trench.
I expected to hate this. I didn’t.
Let’s be honest: this is boilerplate historical war fiction. If you’ve ever seen a matinee screening of Saving Private Ryan and thought, “Yes, but what if we added more exposition and made the villain a cartoon,” congratulations, you’ve already mentally read most of this book. It’s got all the usual suspects: the square-jawed protagonist with a jawline forged in the fires of liberty, the gruff but noble comrades, the obligatory love interest with all the depth of a soggy napkin, and a bad guy so ludicrously evil he may as well twirl a sabre and cackle.
The bastard thing moves. The battle scenes, while occasionally straying into Boys' Own fantasy territory, are compelling. Gruesome without descending into blood-fetishism and delivered with a kind of breezy competence that reminds you Payne’s less interested in trauma theory and more in keeping the bullets flying and the plot lurching forward. There's plenty of action. Men shout, shoot, die and complain. There's bitching, yes, but refreshingly little whining. Somehow, that matters.
The narrator is absurdly clean-cut. A bit too noble, a bit too decent, like someone built a soldier from leftover honour and polite stoicism. But here’s the twist: I didn’t mind him. His earnestness has a weird gravitational pull. You keep expecting to hate him, but instead you just nod along, as if to say, "Alright mate, you do your thing."
Payne lobs in historical detail like a man shovelling coal into a furnace: lots of it, often unnecessary, but somehow it keeps the thing moving. The technical bits are there to keep the re-enactment crowd happy, but miraculously, they don’t bog the whole thing down. It's not exactly War and Peace, more like Call of Duty: The Novel.
Now, the love story. Look, I’ve had more emotionally engaging moments with my dentist. It’s serviceable, uninspired and about as essential as garnish on a meat pie. It never quite clicks, and by the end you're not entirely sure why it was there, other than to tick the “romance” box and give our hero someone to dream about between gunfights.
Three stars, because it’s better than it has any right to be. It’s not well-written in the traditional sense, but it tells a rollicking yarn. It’s a book for people who like their war fiction straightforward, bloody and vaguely nostalgic for a time when Good and Evil were conveniently uniformed and shouting across a trench.
I expected to hate this. I didn’t.
November 4, 2019
Much better than I expected!
I found this novel to seem to chronicle how brutal and terrifying WWII was for ground troops. How expendable soldier's lives really were, but most still have it their all. I remember that I read once that the soldiers who landed on D-Day and made it to V-E Day were wounded over three time and most never survived to that point. This book made we respect our troops even more. Most of the men in my neighborhood were vets as I was growing up 20 years later. My own father was a Marine Corpsman in the S. Pacific who had joined when He was 16 (as an orphan). The only thing he told me were the funny stories and just a very slight amount about anything else. The men who coached me and were my neighbors never mentioned anything about the war. I just wonder how many suffered PTSD? But, they did their duty and raised families and made the U.S. what it is today. This book helped highlight that better than some first hand reports I've read.
I found this novel to seem to chronicle how brutal and terrifying WWII was for ground troops. How expendable soldier's lives really were, but most still have it their all. I remember that I read once that the soldiers who landed on D-Day and made it to V-E Day were wounded over three time and most never survived to that point. This book made we respect our troops even more. Most of the men in my neighborhood were vets as I was growing up 20 years later. My own father was a Marine Corpsman in the S. Pacific who had joined when He was 16 (as an orphan). The only thing he told me were the funny stories and just a very slight amount about anything else. The men who coached me and were my neighbors never mentioned anything about the war. I just wonder how many suffered PTSD? But, they did their duty and raised families and made the U.S. what it is today. This book helped highlight that better than some first hand reports I've read.
August 31, 2017
Great storytelling about what's it's like to be in a mortar crew
A hard hitting story about a mortar crew during the end of WWII. Usually d stories are about infantrymen, This one has a different perspective about soldiers providing crucial support but are largely viewed as sidebars . Realistic n historically accurate. Thankfully d back stories r kept to a minimum. Not too sugary but informative. The exoneration of "The Dick" crimes may be a little bit implausible but hopefully he gets his just desserts. Maybe bamboo slivers up his nails or better yet up his nonexistent manhood.
A hard hitting story about a mortar crew during the end of WWII. Usually d stories are about infantrymen, This one has a different perspective about soldiers providing crucial support but are largely viewed as sidebars . Realistic n historically accurate. Thankfully d back stories r kept to a minimum. Not too sugary but informative. The exoneration of "The Dick" crimes may be a little bit implausible but hopefully he gets his just desserts. Maybe bamboo slivers up his nails or better yet up his nonexistent manhood.
January 29, 2019
This is another story about combat during WW II; however, it a previously untold adventure in this manner: It is a account of one unit which had its adventures, deaths, and victories from our invasion of Rommel-occupied North Africa through final victory in Germany, told through the eyes of one soldier, who was in a mortar company practically throughout the campaigns. The story is somewhat specialized from the viewpoint of this mortar company, and very hard to put down, with one caveat: Spelling and grammatical editing mistakes are scattered throughout. With a little care, it would have emerged as a first-class edition.
September 7, 2017
Sorry to see it end
Not what I expected, I expected a good book and got an excellent one. Didn't know much about mortar crews in WWII and found it fascinating. Loved the characters and loved the action. I also loved (and hated) that it wasn't Book 1 of_. I cared enough of the 'cast' to want more but don't like chapters turned into a series of novels. Well done.
Not what I expected, I expected a good book and got an excellent one. Didn't know much about mortar crews in WWII and found it fascinating. Loved the characters and loved the action. I also loved (and hated) that it wasn't Book 1 of_. I cared enough of the 'cast' to want more but don't like chapters turned into a series of novels. Well done.
January 4, 2019
Entertaning
Fast action ,with an education thrown in. This was a real war . Unlike Viet Nam, the U.S. fought to win.. As a veteran of that fiasco, I did my best knowing in my heart that we were destined to fail. Lucky me, I returned to look at the wall in Washington and wept for those who were not so fortunate.
Fast action ,with an education thrown in. This was a real war . Unlike Viet Nam, the U.S. fought to win.. As a veteran of that fiasco, I did my best knowing in my heart that we were destined to fail. Lucky me, I returned to look at the wall in Washington and wept for those who were not so fortunate.
April 23, 2020
A excellent book
One of the best books that I have read. The whole time that I was treading it I felt that I was in every battle. When I finished, I O had to check to make sure that the author was not writing of his experiences. I will recommend this book to all of my reading friends
One of the best books that I have read. The whole time that I was treading it I felt that I was in every battle. When I finished, I O had to check to make sure that the author was not writing of his experiences. I will recommend this book to all of my reading friends
September 27, 2020
Well-written and hard to put down!
Mr. Payne has a writing style that brings the reader into the action and the emotions of this trying time. Characters are believable and the situations both on the battlefield and away are memorable as well. I read a lot and this is one of the best books I can remember reading for a long time!
Mr. Payne has a writing style that brings the reader into the action and the emotions of this trying time. Characters are believable and the situations both on the battlefield and away are memorable as well. I read a lot and this is one of the best books I can remember reading for a long time!
November 6, 2020
A great read of combat soldiers in WWII in the European theater. Told from the personal experience of one soldier with such descriptive detail, humor, horror and the edge of your seat changing pallet of combat from day to day that makes you feel like you are right there so seeing, smelling, hearing and feeling every moment with the main character. An excellent book and must read for anyone!!
January 20, 2017
Highly entertaining almost biographical essay on wartime experiences.
Romanticism coupled with reality and integrity. Excellent character development with plausible historical accuracy complements an exciting plot resolved with visceral expectations.
Romanticism coupled with reality and integrity. Excellent character development with plausible historical accuracy complements an exciting plot resolved with visceral expectations.
April 3, 2018
Great read
If you enjoyed band of brothers, then you will enjoy this. Even though it is a novel I felt the intimacy that I felt reading and then watching band of brothers. And to those have read and or seen it, I’m sure Major “Dick” will remind you of a certain company commander.
If you enjoyed band of brothers, then you will enjoy this. Even though it is a novel I felt the intimacy that I felt reading and then watching band of brothers. And to those have read and or seen it, I’m sure Major “Dick” will remind you of a certain company commander.
May 24, 2018
Informative
I enjoyed following along with the day to day activities along with the history lesson in what our soldiers went through. I was happy they introduced a portion that involved finding love.
I enjoyed following along with the day to day activities along with the history lesson in what our soldiers went through. I was happy they introduced a portion that involved finding love.
March 13, 2020
Top Notch 10+
I have probably read more than 1,500 novels and am happy to say Brought to Battle by J Scott Payne is in the top 5%. Reading it was like being there. I could hardly put it down.
I have probably read more than 1,500 novels and am happy to say Brought to Battle by J Scott Payne is in the top 5%. Reading it was like being there. I could hardly put it down.
April 17, 2021
The soldiers ground level view of fighting in Europe.
The the, the drama, the heartbreak, the reality of WWII. This book the you into battle, and includes the human side. Very good, no, excellent read.
The the, the drama, the heartbreak, the reality of WWII. This book the you into battle, and includes the human side. Very good, no, excellent read.
July 20, 2022
Excellent Work
A great storytelling, shows you what our greatest generation was all about. Just unbelievable how our front line troops were treated so shagging by their "superiors"...
A great storytelling, shows you what our greatest generation was all about. Just unbelievable how our front line troops were treated so shagging by their "superiors"...
May 9, 2018
Attractive
Could never set the book down after I started, gotta love the attention to detail and the constant action just love it.
Could never set the book down after I started, gotta love the attention to detail and the constant action just love it.
November 9, 2018
Great World War Ii novel
This is one of the best World War ll novels that I have read in along time.. It was very discriptive and a great story.
This is one of the best World War ll novels that I have read in along time.. It was very discriptive and a great story.
March 19, 2019
Great book
A very good story and characters it was hard to put this book down until it was done one of the best. I've read
A very good story and characters it was hard to put this book down until it was done one of the best. I've read
December 13, 2019
excellent bok
You know a book is good when you see the denoument coming, and try to resist, you don't want the book to end.This is one of those tales...
You know a book is good when you see the denoument coming, and try to resist, you don't want the book to end.This is one of those tales...
January 23, 2020
Up and down story.
Ok, not great, had hoped for a little better. Started off well, but seemed like author got tired of telling story halfway through.
Ok, not great, had hoped for a little better. Started off well, but seemed like author got tired of telling story halfway through.
May 9, 2020
Action
Great WWII book, realistic and well written, great for war action fans. Looking forward to more books, I recommend it.
Great WWII book, realistic and well written, great for war action fans. Looking forward to more books, I recommend it.
July 4, 2020
Well done
Well written and 95 % believable. Always true you have to listen to your sergeants and this was a sergeants tale
Well written and 95 % believable. Always true you have to listen to your sergeants and this was a sergeants tale
December 14, 2020
Good reading on how things are ran during the war.
Info on how the Army trains and moves personal around during war time.
Would recommend to anybody that is interested in WWII
Info on how the Army trains and moves personal around during war time.
Would recommend to anybody that is interested in WWII
February 2, 2021
Tough soldier
Keep you interested from the get go. Flows along with action and good insight to actual conditions. Would recommend to any student of WW2 history.
Keep you interested from the get go. Flows along with action and good insight to actual conditions. Would recommend to any student of WW2 history.
April 25, 2021
Heart wrenching
The hardships endured by our WWII forces were mind boggling. The mental and physical hardships that these men went through was debilitating.
The hardships endured by our WWII forces were mind boggling. The mental and physical hardships that these men went through was debilitating.
December 5, 2022
Great Historical Novel
Great history, geography, and a good story! Im still fascinated by WW2 stories...I'll read this Author again, looking for a sequel right now.
Great history, geography, and a good story! Im still fascinated by WW2 stories...I'll read this Author again, looking for a sequel right now.
December 2, 2024
[The author should read J Scott Payne]
Not a straightforward war story, there’s a vendetta and a bit of melodrama thrown in.
Not a straightforward war story, there’s a vendetta and a bit of melodrama thrown in.
February 12, 2025
Well written, very entertaining with plenty of excellent descriptions of battle scenes.
September 8, 2016
Great Read!
Most of the history of WWII I know is of the Pacific campaigns, as my father was part of that war. He was more than reticent to speak about his war, and so most of my knowledge came from books on the subject. His brother and all of my uncles were part of the European theater. No matter where they served, they were all part of The Greatest Generation, and I think they would be turning in their graves if they could see what the county they loved and fought for has devolved into.
Most of the history of WWII I know is of the Pacific campaigns, as my father was part of that war. He was more than reticent to speak about his war, and so most of my knowledge came from books on the subject. His brother and all of my uncles were part of the European theater. No matter where they served, they were all part of The Greatest Generation, and I think they would be turning in their graves if they could see what the county they loved and fought for has devolved into.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 37 reviews