Overlord

A compelling and masterly account of the D-Day landings from the No. 1 bestselling historian Max Hastings, author of Vietnam and Operation Pedestal . 'Max Hastings stands in the first rank of writers on modern war' – Financial Times On 6 June 1944 – D-Day – British, Canadian and American troops staged the greatest amphibious landing in history. It was the start of Operation Overlord, the battle to take Normandy from the Third Reich. Over ten gruelling weeks, the Allies fought the entrenched German army, some infantry units suffering an almost 100 per cent casualty rate. In Overlord , acclaimed historian Max Hastings has drawn on eyewitness accounts of survivors from both sides, plus a wealth of previously untapped World War 2 sources and documents, to write a gripping and authoritative account of the devastating fighting that paved the way for the liberation of north-west Europe. 'A book which combines serious historical and critical comment with brilliant reportage. He brings both the arguments between higher commanders and the fighting on the battlefield itself to life' – Times Literary Supplement

Max Hastings's "exceptional" ( Kirkus Reviews , starred review) account of the famous World War II D-Day landings " will] stand with that of the best journalists and writers who witnessed it" ( The New York Times Book Review ). On June 6, 1944, the American and British armies staged the greatest amphibious landing in history--called Operation Overlord--the battle for the liberation of Europe. Despite the Allies' absolute command of sea and air and vast firepower, it took ten weeks of fierce fighting for them to overpower the tenacious, superbly skilled German army. Forty years later, British war correspondent and military historian Max Hastings shares a dense, dramatic portrait of the Normandy invasion that overturns the traditional legends. First published in 1984, Overlord "will shock those who regard the invasion of Normandy and the subsequent battles as triumphs of American, British, and Canadian military heroism" ( The New York Times ). Instead, Hastings provides a brilliant, controversial perspective on the devastating battles, based on the eyewitness accounts of survivors from both sides, plus a wealth of previously untapped sources and documents. "A masterly book, rich in insight, shrewd and weighty in judgement...Max Hastings stands in the first rank of writers on modern war" ( Financial Times ).

Max Hastings's "exceptional" ( Kirkus Reviews , starred review) account of the famous World War II D-Day landings " will] stand with that of the best journalists and writers who witnessed it" ( The New York Times Book Review ). On June 6, 1944, the American and British armies staged the greatest amphibious landing in history--called Operation Overlord--the battle for the liberation of Europe. Despite the Allies' absolute command of sea and air and vast firepower, it took ten weeks of fierce fighting for them to overpower the tenacious, superbly skilled German army. Forty years later, British war correspondent and military historian Max Hastings shares a dense, dramatic portrait of the Normandy invasion that overturns the traditional legends. First published in 1984, Overlord "will shock those who regard the invasion of Normandy and the subsequent battles as triumphs of American, British, and Canadian military heroism" ( The New York Times ). Instead, Hastings provides a brilliant, controversial perspective on the devastating battles, based on the eyewitness accounts of survivors from both sides, plus a wealth of previously untapped sources and documents. "A masterly book, rich in insight, shrewd and weighty in judgement...Max Hastings stands in the first rank of writers on modern war" ( Financial Times ).