Field marshal montgomery biography book

In the author’s words, Field Marshal Montgomery was “arrogant, vain, boastful, boorish and bigoted” yet, “a great soldier.” While showing how the field marshal was all too often his own worst enemy, the 628-page narrative comes down on Monty’s side in the question of the strategy of how to conquer Germany.

While the author (and Monty) regards General Eisenhower as having “powers of leadership and inspiration” as Supreme Commander, he (they) deplore him as a combat commander.

The book starts with General Montgomery taking command of the British Eighth Army.

From the descriptions of the Alam Halfa and El Alamein battles, I got a good inkling of Monty’s strengths: buoyant leadership, optimism, planning, and tactical flexibility. Disturbingly, Hamilton is a bit savage at times in his criticisms: “…Monty had for years scorned incompetent generals such as Lord Gort at Dunkirk or General Auchinleck in the desert.” Gene