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Monty #2
Monty, Vol. 2: Master of the Battlefield, 1942-1944
Traces the career of the British Field Marshal from his decisive victory at El Alamein to the Battle of Normandy and describes his relationships with other Allied military leaders
863 pages, Hardcover
First published June 1, 1987
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About the author
Nigel Hamilton
44 books87 followersNigel Hamilton is an award-winning British-born biographer, academic and broadcaster, whose works have been translated into sixteen languages.
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Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
January 8, 2017
This is the second of three volumes. The author was authorized by Montgomery to write the official autobiography. Hamilton had access to all of Montgomery's paper but has not confined himself to them. Official documents, and many interviews were also used. Meticulously researched, and scrupulously annotated. It is obvious that the author considers Monty to be the 20th century equivalent to Wellington, but it is not a hagiography. Character flaws and errors are laid out honestly.
A serious, scholarly work well worth reading.
For military historians, a very good series to understand the various campaigns of WW II in North Africa and Europe.
A serious, scholarly work well worth reading.
For military historians, a very good series to understand the various campaigns of WW II in North Africa and Europe.
September 19, 2022
This is the middle of a three-volume study of Field Marshal Sir Bernard Law Montgomery. It covers his military career from the highly successful conclusion of the battle of El Alamein, November 1942, to the (near) closing of the Falais pocket in August 1944. The major events of Monty’s campaigns covered here are the pursuit of Rommel’s army after El Alamein, the Tunisian campaign, Sicily, Italy, OVERLORD, and the Normandy Campaign. Monty’s strengths as a leader and campaign planner are shown, and his weaknesses of vanity and tactlessness (he would not have been comfortable in a human relations department).
The fact most impressing me was that the land component of the Normandy Campaign, from the landing to the liberation of Paris, was of his overall planning. The actions subordinate to it, such as COBRA, Patton’s drive to Alencon, the taking of Cherbourg, and GOODWOOD were executed by subordinates, but the overall orchestration was Monty’s. Author Hamilton takes the position that the British Second Army, by attacking Caen or around it, made the Americans’ job possible by attracting (or pinning) the Germans’ panzers formations to its area of operations (it’s hard to stop the Americans when you’re trying to defend the open country around Falais from the British). Other authors, one of whom is Carlo D’Este (Decision in Normandy) dispute this and I need to revisit that. Phase lines and their uses are involved. Whatever the particulars, the Allies broke through, broke out, and crossed the Seine.
The pursuit of Rommel to Tunisia didn’t seem to go as quickly as folks liked (fast enough for Rommel, I s’pose), and Hamilton assigns much of the blame to Lt. Gen. Lumsden, who, having died in a kamikaze attack in 1945, could not defend himself after this book came out (or when Monty’s own books came out). The battle of Medinene and the “left hook’ at Mareth get covered: Monty did what he set out to do. Coverage of the Sicily and mainland Italian campaigns concern themselves mainly with Monty’s disappointments with the prior planning of the campaigns. Patton’s side trip to Palermo is covered as a digression; he was consequently not available to assist with the drive to Massena.
Of Patton and Monty. Their supposed rivalry stems from the 1970 movie Patton. It looks to be invention. Hamilton doesn’t mention it and I doubt if Montgomery did. Now it’s time to read Farrago’s biography of Patton on which the movie is based.
Monty’s verbal blunders are covered as well as the bet with Bedel Smith in which Monty won a B17 for a while. We do learn that the British CIGS had to rake Monty over the coals more than once over such as this.
This, as are the other two books in the trilogy, is big (835 pp). By the time you’re approaching Paris, you may have forgotten North Africa. There’s a lot to learn, especially if your readings have been from the American movie-goers’ points of view.
The fact most impressing me was that the land component of the Normandy Campaign, from the landing to the liberation of Paris, was of his overall planning. The actions subordinate to it, such as COBRA, Patton’s drive to Alencon, the taking of Cherbourg, and GOODWOOD were executed by subordinates, but the overall orchestration was Monty’s. Author Hamilton takes the position that the British Second Army, by attacking Caen or around it, made the Americans’ job possible by attracting (or pinning) the Germans’ panzers formations to its area of operations (it’s hard to stop the Americans when you’re trying to defend the open country around Falais from the British). Other authors, one of whom is Carlo D’Este (Decision in Normandy) dispute this and I need to revisit that. Phase lines and their uses are involved. Whatever the particulars, the Allies broke through, broke out, and crossed the Seine.
The pursuit of Rommel to Tunisia didn’t seem to go as quickly as folks liked (fast enough for Rommel, I s’pose), and Hamilton assigns much of the blame to Lt. Gen. Lumsden, who, having died in a kamikaze attack in 1945, could not defend himself after this book came out (or when Monty’s own books came out). The battle of Medinene and the “left hook’ at Mareth get covered: Monty did what he set out to do. Coverage of the Sicily and mainland Italian campaigns concern themselves mainly with Monty’s disappointments with the prior planning of the campaigns. Patton’s side trip to Palermo is covered as a digression; he was consequently not available to assist with the drive to Massena.
Of Patton and Monty. Their supposed rivalry stems from the 1970 movie Patton. It looks to be invention. Hamilton doesn’t mention it and I doubt if Montgomery did. Now it’s time to read Farrago’s biography of Patton on which the movie is based.
Monty’s verbal blunders are covered as well as the bet with Bedel Smith in which Monty won a B17 for a while. We do learn that the British CIGS had to rake Monty over the coals more than once over such as this.
This, as are the other two books in the trilogy, is big (835 pp). By the time you’re approaching Paris, you may have forgotten North Africa. There’s a lot to learn, especially if your readings have been from the American movie-goers’ points of view.
May 27, 2013
This is volume 2 of Hamilton's 3 volume set on the life of Bernard Montgomery. Painstakingly researched, it offers a very thorough account of Monty's war years, up until his promotion to Field Marshal in September 1944. Likemost biographies, this work is not free of bias in favor of the subject. Hamilton recognizes most of the controversies involving Montgomery and his relations with this American commanders and peers, but tends to default judgments in Montgomery's favor, rather than dig to find a balance of truth. For example, with regards to Operation Goodwood Hamilton completely supports Monty 's position that the operational plan never intended to achieve a breakthrough. He supports Monty's position that any and all statements addressing a breakthrough were either to deceive the press or were necessary to gain the required air support from SHAEF headquarters. Hamilton does not address Monty's messages to Alan Brooke (CIGS) nor to Eisenhower which clearly indicate that he intended more than just a fixing attack.
All in all, this is a good narrative of Monty's war years, but readers should read with some skepticism. Hamilton seeks to tell Montgomery's story, but does not necessarily seek to tell history. One further note - Hamilton wrote this book before much was known about the ULTRA secret, knowledge of which can account for some degree on Montgomery's genius on the battlefield... especially at Alam Halfa and at Alamein.
All in all, this is a good narrative of Monty's war years, but readers should read with some skepticism. Hamilton seeks to tell Montgomery's story, but does not necessarily seek to tell history. One further note - Hamilton wrote this book before much was known about the ULTRA secret, knowledge of which can account for some degree on Montgomery's genius on the battlefield... especially at Alam Halfa and at Alamein.
August 7, 2017
Montgomery stood at the centre of some of the greatest battles of the Second World War. He was often crucially successful but at times fell short. Hamilton does a very well researched job of describing both the military events and the problems created by Montgomery's ego. He tends to give his subject the benefit of doubt in controversies, probably more benefit than is sometimes due. But he also acknowledges Montgomery's weaknesses and occasionally eccentric ideas, while explaining in detail why Montgomery's contributions may not have been fully recognized. In particular, although the details remain sketchy, it's quite possible that Montgomery's insistence on the largest possible invasion force at Normandy prevented what could have become a colossal disaster. Too many other assessments of his role seem influenced by dislike of his personality (and in American writers' case by simple recycling of attitudes) rather than by objective observation. The denouement in late 1944 is the rather sad tale of Montgomery's clashes with Eisenhower and eventual climbdown. That also serves effectively as a symbol for the overall retreat of Britain's role in the world before the reality of American pragmatism and power.
June 9, 2011
One of the best WW2 books I have ever read. Superbly researched by Nigel Hamilton and written in a most readable style. Monty may have been an eccentric, but this book convinced me that he was most certainly the finest General of WW2. He seemed, however, almost to have more enemies on his own side than those he was fighting. Tedder and Cunninham appear particularly bad with their plotting and blinkered attitude. They did not even have the excuse of being American and thus subject to political pressure from home. If you are interested in Allied strategy in the European Theatre from 1942 to 1944 this book is a must. It also convincingly debunks many of the myths surrounding the Overlord strategy and the taking of Caen, showing, with evidence, that Monty stuck to his pre-operation strategy throughout, leading to the capture of up to 500,000 of Germany's finest troops and equipment. Hitler called it his 'darkest hour' and the turning point of the war.
March 19, 2013
Well,I did like it but it had so much info and it took a week to read as i kept putting it down to read other things which interested me more. Certainly did give Monty's spin on things but i think the author was fair, very fair. Would like to read more of this author.
February 11, 2018
821 pages
May 30, 2025
The second volume of Bernard Law Montgomery's biography by Nigel Hamilton beginning with the aftermath of Al Alamein, continuing through the North African and Italian campaigns, and ending with the success of the D-Day landings. The prose of the text is well done so you do not get bored wading through this monstrously long biography (there are two other volumes) but it is best to not even treat this as a biography since Hamilton goes through so much information and focuses more on the battles in WWII than anything else. He presents the history from multiple angles (including Rommel's during the North African campaign, although I wish there was more of Rommel's insights to juxtapose the two commanders) and gets into the ideas and viewpoints of many different persons during the various battles.
October 18, 2024
Excellent Pro-Montgomery bio covering the years from El Alaemin to Normandy. A good corrective to the massive number of anti-Monty stuff we get from American authors. Hamilton is willing criticize Monty - the MAN - and his inability to get along with people. However, He gives a Pro-Monty slant to every military situation.
Full of detailed information and Hamilton uses Monty's papers/letters and papers/diaries of others. Hamilton gives some information on Bradley and Ike, you don't get from other books.
Full of detailed information and Hamilton uses Monty's papers/letters and papers/diaries of others. Hamilton gives some information on Bradley and Ike, you don't get from other books.
June 15, 2021
The second of three volumes and like it’s predecessor, I struggled to get through it. Again I ended up rather disappointed especially since these are the prime years in terms of his military career. It has its moments, but most of it was irrelevant and wasn’t necessary for the narrative being told. This did bring back a good travel memory for me as I have personally visited Southwick House which was the headquarters for SHAEF during WWII
January 13, 2020
A great insight into the mind of the man American history buffs love to hate.
January 18, 2021
Covering Monty's finest hour. The detail is quite incredible.
May 29, 2015
I'll save the big review for the last volume of the trilogy. This one covers Monty's battles in North Africa after Alamein, Sicily, Italy and Normandy. Overlord and the resulting campaign is Monty's masterpiece, and it was the battle that won the Second World War in the West.
May 26, 2011
Informative aand all encompassing biography
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews