Thomas F. (hardtack) -
The book provides a very good synopsis of the battles. I say this because all five battles have entire, much longer books written on them. In fact, some of the battles featured have scores of books written about them.
But, if you are not interested in reading one or more books on each, or some, of these battles, this one is a good choice. The text for each is well written, and the author also covers the strategic implications of each battle as well as the tactics involved. He enlivens the text with personal accounts of the important players involved.
What really adds value to the book are the numerous maps explaining the action. I wish many other, more detailed books did the same. Particularly excellent are the maps dealing with the naval battles.
The author comments that Dudley Pope's "73 North," a much longer account of the Barents Sea action is "...as exciting as any of C.S. Forester's stories of Horatio Hornblower." I read Pope's book and fully agree.
But, if you are not interested in reading one or more books on each, or some, of these battles, this one is a good choice. The text for each is well written, and the author also covers the strategic implications of each battle as well as the tactics involved. He enlivens the text with personal accounts of the important players involved.
What really adds value to the book are the numerous maps explaining the action. I wish many other, more detailed books did the same. Particularly excellent are the maps dealing with the naval battles.
The author comments that Dudley Pope's "73 North," a much longer account of the Barents Sea action is "...as exciting as any of C.S. Forester's stories of Horatio Hornblower." I read Pope's book and fully agree.
