Monty and Rommel: Parallel Lives

Two men came to personify British and German generalship in the Second World War: Bernard Montgomery and Erwin Rommel. They fought a series of extraordinary duels across several theatres of war which established them as two of the greatest captains of their age. Our understanding of leadership in battle was altered for ever by their electrifying personal qualities. Ever since, historians have assessed their outstanding leadership, personalities and skill.The careers of both began on the periphery of the military establishment and represent the first time military commanders proactively and systematically used (and were used by) the media as they came to prominence, first in North Africa, then in Normandy. Dynamic and forward-thinking, their lives also represent a study of pride, propaganda and nostalgia. Caddick-Adams tracks and compares their military talents and personalities in battle. Each brought something special to their commands. Rommel's breathtaking advance in May-June 1940 was nothing less than inspired. Montgomery is a gift for leadership gurus in the way he took over a demoralised Eighth Army in August 1942 and led it to victory just two months later. This compelling work is both scholarly and entertaining and marks the debut of a major new talent in historical biography.

Préface
A stunning debut by a major new historian. Described by BBC History Magazine as 'A quite brilliant piece of writing ... a brilliant book written with passion and verve ...' The first comparative biography of two of the most charismatic, and strategically important, military leaders of the Second World War.

Auteur

Peter Caddick-Adams is a Lecturer at the UK Defence Academy specialising in military history and media operations working alongside the late Richard Holmes. His special areas of interest are battlefield history and he researches in Military Doctrine and Leadership. He has led over 200 visits to more than 50 battlefields around the world. He joined the Territorial Army in 1985 and serves as a military media advisor in the rank of major.

Texte du rabat

'Impressive ... one of the best military histories of the year' Richard Holmes

'First-class' Military Illustrated

'A first-class work of scholarly and entertaining history' Andrew Roberts

Two men came to personify British and German generalship in the Second World War: Bernard Montgomery and Erwin Rommel. They fought a series of extraordinary duels across several theatres of war which established them as two of the greatest captains of their age. Our understanding of leadership in battle was altered for ever by their electrifying personal qualities.

This compelling work is the first comparative biography of these two charismatic and strategically important military leaders and marks the debut of a major new talent in historical biography.

'[Caddick-Adams] succeeds in contextualising these two commanders and in analysing the contributions each made to the art of military leadership. The use of the comparative method enables us to see not only how different these two men were, but also how difficult it remains to define what successful military leadership is all about' Tablet