Michael Reynold's account compares the lives of Allied generals Bernard Montgomery and George Patton. Born two tears apart, both were commissioned within a year of each other and both were wounded in France in the First World War. Both encompassed very different but very valuable characteristics in combat: Monty ? careful and meticulous, Patton ? dashing and diplomatic. Despite the differences, both generals demonstrated striking similarities: commitment to their careers, a ruthless egotism, interesting when you consider neither held superior command. This did not impeach their desire for the limelight and fame in warfare, arrogance and the manipulation of colleagues in high places to advance their careers. Both were Machiavellian in their own affairs and self-interested in their own personal progression. Neither Monty nor Patton were pleasant people, they did not like the other very much, but their ambitious and calculating personalities make them fantastic subject material. Reynolds includes their contributions to the victory in North Africa and Europe as well as a superb overview of their respective command. AUTHOR: Michael Reynolds is a former British infantryman who finished his career as Director of the Plans and Policy Division in NATO HQ Brussels. He is a recognized authority on Second World War operations in Europe. SELLING POINTS: ? Monty and Patton were iconic leaders who possessed both flair and magnetism that set them apart from their contemporaries and ensured a long-lived popularity with historians and enthusiasts ? Both committed erroneous mistakes on the battlefield which attracted adverse publicity ? High quality black and white photographs illustrate the careers of the infantryman and the cavalryman ? Encapsulates their prowess as commanders as well as their fallibility ILLUSTRATIONS 32 pages of mono plates *
