recommend me a book about d-day/normandy

[Steve the Kiwi]

I'm off to Normandy with the family in May so would like to do the obligatory battlefield tour. I'd look to do some reading up before I go so I've got some background info about what I'm looking at.

Does anyone have a recommendation for a good book?

 

[Bryn]

Band of Brothers

Pegasus Bridge

There's a good one entitled 'D Day' Anthony Beevor http://www.amazon.co.uk/D-Day-Battl...=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1359826365&sr=1-1
PS I'm doing the same thing in June

 

[oblertone]

There are many ...

... but close to the top of the list must be Ambrose, very readable stuff

 

[Steve the Kiwi]

thanks guys both books are in the amazon basket

 

[MikeH]

Antony Beevor - D-Day and the battle for Normandy - http://www.amazon.co.uk/D-Day-Battl...5865/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1359835581&sr=8-2

 

[DavidHale]

A bigger tome, Antony Beevor "D-Day the battle for Normady" but pretty definitive. Osprey do some decent illustrated books such as this one.

 

[aligar1]

50 shades of grey??

 

[stephen.stallebrass]

It really depends what you want to read about, at what level and from what and whose perspective, but some generally well know overall writers on the subject are:

Max Hastings
Carlo D'este
John Keegan
Stephen Ambrose
Antony Beevor
Robert Kershaw

Less well known but excellent writers who are more modern, focused and take a revisionist slant are

John Buckley
Terry Copp
Stephen Hart
Lloyd Clarke
Ian Dalish
Stephen Badsey

If you just want something to take with you when touring I suggest you just go with Major & Mrs Holts Battlefield Guide book, it comes with a great map and it's more than you'll need. Both 'Battlezone Normandy' and 'Battleground Europe' do a great series for battlefield touring they're more detailed, interesting and better illustrated. They usually look more at tactics, operational art and the personal experience rather than most of the general books, which usually look at the overall picture and grand strategy (for some they can be a bit dry and uninspiring). My particular interest is British Airborne Warfare.

If you have an aspect that you're particularly interested in let me know and I can make a better recommendation. For example if you're interested in airborne warfare, commando's, armour tactics, the Canadian effort or a particular operation. If you haven't already seen it watch Band of Brothers. The Longest Day is a great film that hits on most of the big events of the first days assault on Normandy. But remember the battle of Normandy was more than the beaches and the first days assault.

Have fun & bon voyage

 

[stephen.stallebrass]

Have you though about a battlefield guide? If so Paul Woodadge is the best, tell him I sent you. What he don't know aint worth knowing. All the TV historians celebs go to him... He'll take you to places not in the guide books and not in most of the history books. Plus he's a top fella: "British by birth, English by heart, Norman by choice".

Paul Woodadge D Day Historian and Battlefield Guide extraordinaire.

Here's his Battlefield Facebook thingy.

Lots of great reviews on Trip Advisor too if that's your thing

 

[Mick-B]

AMAZON - please access via RNLI

Can I add the request that if you're ordering from Amazon, can you please access their site via that of the Royal National Lifeboat Institute - it makes no difference to what you pay but when you access via this page, on every purchase you make, Amazon make a donation to the RNLI

Here's the link to RNLI:

http://rnli.org/howtosupportus/otherwaystohelp/Pages/Amazon.aspx

Then just click on the Amazon logo and start shopping as normal

PS - any chance this could be added as a sticky somewhere?

 

[Blue Sweeper]

There's a good one entitled 'D Day' Anthony Beevor http://www.amazon.co.uk/D-Day-Battl...=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1359826365&sr=1-1

Antony Beevor - D-Day and the battle for Normandy - http://www.amazon.co.uk/D-Day-Battl...5865/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1359835581&sr=8-2

A bigger tome, Antony Beevor "D-Day the battle for Normady"

Just finished reading this book. You couldn't ask for a more comprehensive account of the D-Day landings from both the Allied & German point of view right up to recapturing Paris. Lots of things included like the the Battle for Caen, Battle-of-the-Bulge and harrowing accounts like taking Hill 262. Recommended read.

 

[76stag]

There is a series of books called Battleground Europe Normandy. Search Amazon under that title. These are 'walkthrough' guides for use on location. I have the Pegasus Bridge Merville Battery. The best book is Pegasus Bridge by Stephen Ambrose but this is better as a guide.

Dave

 

[Bury_Dave]

"The Longest Day" by Cornelius Ryan is still a very relevant book. Perhaps the first modern history book where the author strove to speak with veterans relatively soon after the event.

Ryan got to speak with commanders of all levels. Most recent books on D-Day are only able to quote the same small group of surviving vets. Not that they aren't worthy, just that they represent a much smaller pool of memories.

"A Bridge Too Far" is another cracking read.

You won't find better background reading

 

[jasperthehorse]

holts

Hi mate
If you want a great tour guide book you need to seek out major holts guide to the normandy landings. Well written with solid directions and will save u a lot of time in the long run.

 

[Rushy]

Start at the beginning .....Have you read Mein Kampf ?