Montgomery: Lessons in Leadership from the Soldier's General

World Generals Series

by Trevor Royle, Wesley K. Clark (Foreword)

Bernard Law Montgomery was a dedicated battlefield tactician, though a controversial one. In North Africa in 1942, he commanded the Eighth Army to a great triumph against Rommel at El Alamein, which Churchill hailed as the beginning of the end of the war. During the planning stages for the invasion of Sicily, Montgomery proved himself to be a splendid organizer and a great believer in simplicity. But he was also known as a complicated man whose legacy remains tainted by his insensitive and boastful nature and desire for personal glory€”all of which can have dangerous consequences on the battlefield. In the end, though, it was only due to Montgomery€™s influence that the weight of the Allied attack at Normandy was increased, and the Allied success of D-Day owes much to his far-sightedness. In the field, especially during the planning stages, he was at his best. An inspirational commander whose self-confidence was legendary, Montgomery€™s military life has proved to

Genres: History

224 pages, Hardcover

First published November 23, 2010

About the author

Trevor Royle is a broadcaster and author specialising in the history of war and empire. He is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Edinburgh and was a member of the Scottish Government’s Advisory Panel for Commemorating the First World War.

Reviews

[Mahbob Abdullah · Rating 5 out of 5]

I bought the book because of the information that added to what I had read about him.

His early life and colourful career are laid out in the book without embellishment. There is an Index.

Montgomery had a huge following of admirers for raising the spirits of his men, trained them and went into battle fully prepared and confident, helped by a big ego.

The book also showed what his detractors had to say. But no one can deny that he delivered the victories when his countrymen needed them most.

Mahbob Abdullah