Arnhem: Nine Days of Battle

Thoroughly enjoyed reading this account of Arnhem. Thank you Chris Brown.

Bought it for my Grandson who is in the Paratroop Regiment he was really pleased with it.

The preamble to this book promised much - but sadly it failed to deliver on every level. Mr Brown provides nothing new to the analysis of the battle. His story telling was often difficult to follow and his all-too-brief descriptions of the actions did not do justice to actual events. There are only two 'battle maps' to describe his narrative and they are not very good. Indeed, the main map only shows the first day’s movements and you need a microscope to see it! Similarly, the claim that the book draws 'extensively' on eye-witness accounts is also somewhat exaggerated and references only a few key sources.This is certainly not "the perfect companion for the armchair historian or the intrepid battlefield traveller". In my humble view you would be far better off spending your money on Martin Middlebrook's 'Arnhem 1944' or the Battleground Europe 'Arnhem: The Bridge' & 'Arnhem: The Landing Grounds and Oosterbeek' guidebooks.

The author claims to be enthralled and fascinated by this battle - but in my view he fails to properly analyse the book, does not clarify the force structure on both side sufficiently, and really fails to fully examine the last roll of the Allied dice during 1944 in which a rapid advance across the Rhine gateway to the North German plain could be created (and that concept was of course subject to logistical issues not really covered in sufficient depth in this book).Worth consideration but to be honest other sources provide a better view of this battle in my opinion.

Bought as a gift for an ex-military man who reassured me that it was accurate and authentic and brought tears to his eyes. Enough said.