As grippingly as any novelist, preeminent World War II historian Stephen Ambrose uses Band of Brothers to tell the horrifying, hallucinatory saga of Easy Company, whose 147 members he calls the nonpareil combat paratroopers on earth circa 1941-45. Ambrose takes us along on Easy Company's trip from gruelling basic training to Utah Beach on D-day, where a dozen of them turned German cannons into dynamited ruins resembling "half-peeled bananas", on to the Battle of the Bulge, the liberation of part of the Dachau concentration camp, and a large party at Hitler's "Eagle's Nest", where they drank the his (surprisingly inferior) champagne. Of Ambrose's main sources, three soldiers became rich civilians; at least eight became teachers; one became Albert Speer's jailer; one prosecuted Robert Kennedy's assassin; another became a mountain recluse; the despised, sadistic CO who first trained Easy Company (and to whose strictness many soldiers attributed their survival of the war) wound up a suicidal loner whose own sons skipped his funeral. The Easy Company survivors describe the hell and confusion of any war: the senseless death of the nicest kid in the company when a souvenir Luger goes off in his pocket; the execution of a GI by his CO for disobeying an order not to get drunk. Despite the gratuitous horrors it relates, Band of Brothers illustrates what one of Ambrose's sources calls "the secret attractions of war ... the delight in comradeship, the delight in destruction ... war as spectacle". --Tim Appelo

Stick to the TV series..................., 03 Oct 2008
I came to this after watching (and re-watching) the TV series.

As military history is a favourite subject of mine I thought I'd give the book on which the series is based a go, and? Well, I wish I hadn't bothered.

Firstly the book is written by an American, and is written, very much, from the American standpoint - need not have been a problem but as Ambrose would have it, the 'Band of Brothers' won the war single handedly and despite the assistance of the British (characterised, when they are very rarely mentioned, as incompetent, upper class toffs), the French (cowardly, untrustworthy etc). Actually Stephen, the war had been going on quite a while before D-Day (the first action of the 'screaming eagles').

The training camp may have been hard work but I'm sure it was infinitely better than actually doing something, you know, dangerous? fighting perhaps?, maybe Dunkirk?? Oh, but your boys had to run up Currahee in 40 minutes............

Then back to England for a bit of R&R

So where else did they see action? The Battle of the Bulge, horrific yes, but there own incompetence and lack of reconassaince almost certainly contributed to the situation they found themselves in - no mention of this, however.

Now, the big claim to fame - capturing the Eagles Nest - fine, I'll give them that one (although mention should be made of the fact that they put up roadblocks and stopped troops of other nations getting there), but in reality what did capturing this really involve? the Germans had virtually abandoned the place and the few remaining troops were hardly front line and ill prepared to meet any serious opposition. They turned up, looted the place, got drunk and that's about it...........

We spend most of the book in the company of Major Winters, and as mentioned in other reviews, he comes accross as rather self regarding, pompous and arrogant (fit's in well with Ambrose's attitude).

All in all, not worth bothering with if your interested in serious, unbiased military history.

Yes, they were a well trained group of fighting men, are they worthy of all the adulation? probably not in my opinion, or if they are, so are a lot of other people/squadrons/units that fought and suffered (a lot more in most cases) in the war



Dull - a wasted opportunity........., 14 Sep 2008
Hugely disappointed after seeing the fantastic HBO series on TV. It whetted my appetite and I was approaching this book in a postive frame of mind.

Ambrose's work is barely saved by the fascinating subject matter, failing to pull together anything remotely readable. Throughout the book the reader remains on the outside, the author makes no attempt to engage his audience. We are left with a bare shell of a book, with a painfully weak narrative.

There is no sense of connection with the men of Easy Company, except Winters who he clearly hero worships. It lacks any sense of tension and passion and is written in a strangely detached style. This is rich, vivid material which a talented writer would have turned into a masterpiece. Ambrose fails to capture the raw human emotion of battle and any sense of humanity. As a result its a cold and hollow book.

I'm thinking of Beevor's "Stalingrad" a far superior and readable book, it will take your breath away. One can only imagine what Beevor would have done with this material.

In comparison Band of Brothers lacks range, depth and compassion. None of the bravery and self sacrifice of the ordinary soldier is captured, made worse by some sloppy research......





Good accounts peppered with problems, 12 Aug 2008
Stephen Ambrose presents an account of an American paratrooper company in the Second World War. Solely focusing on Easy from beginning to end allows you to really get to know individual members how they lived and as another reviewer said gives you a real insight of stepping out into battle from beginning to end.

My first criticism of the book would be the contribution; it seems those who contributed get put forward in a hero like manner with others who sadly could not contribute sometimes getting portrayed in a very bad light at times. There are times Ambrose goes over board with praise such as Winters quipped this, Winters commanded that and everybody loved Winters. Don't get me wrong I'm not doubting what he did but there are few times in the book the author prioritizes showing Winters and co in a positive light before telling a balanced story (as there are many times often when Easy make mistakes or decisions go wrong usually which result in only a couple of lines explanation) whereas when describing the exploits of the company many more lines are rationed.
Secondly the book is written as if America won the war single handedly there is little mention of the allied troops and when it is it seems to be full of cheap shots towards the English. Ambrose portrays the English as badly trained, cowards in battle with Easy Company saving there day. Like another reviewer said although you can't question their achievements Easy were still a small cog in a very very big machine.

In general a very enjoyable book which if written with less bias showing more angles could have been a 5 star.



Interesting, 13 Aug 2007
A good read after watching the HBO series, I would recommend "Beyond Band of Brothers" by Maj Dick Winters, Covers some areas not included in the film or the Book by Ambrose.

Solid but sadly sparse, 26 Mar 2007
Having quite recently thoroughly enjoyed the HBO series of the same name, Ambrose's book comes as pleasantly familiar territory, acting to fill in gaps and flesh out characters I had encountered in the series.

The story of Easy Company is an extraordinary one and Ambrose has clearly done them a great service in delivering this history in a reasonably accessible format but before I place too much praise upon the late Ambrose, the book is somewhat flawed in places.

When I watched the Band of Brothers mini-series I found myself extremely moved by the intimate bond that these real comrades in arms build as they progress from their training at Curahee, through their battles at Normandy on D-Day, Carentan, Bastogne and others to finally arrive at Hitler's Eagle's Nest. The book however, whilst providing the basis for the series, feels much sparser and is written in a much more matter-of-fact style that very rarely evoked an emotional connection to those same soldiers.

I found it disappointing that some significant events were covered in very little detail and almost glossed over completely, for example the discovery of the concentration camp. Ambrose's style comes across as almost self-congratulatory and is occasionally brazen enough to quarrel with his interviewees over the fairness of their statements which somewhat diminishes his credibility. Also, for someone who has written a good number of books the level of grammatical accuracy was considerably lacking and I often found myself re-reading sections because an obvious slap-dash attempt at spell checking and too little proof reading had left the wrong words in place which by professional author standards should be considered a particularly unforgivable error.

Overall, whilst somewhat disappointed that I was given a more diminished insight into the lives of Easy company than expected, I should note that I was often glued for several chapters at a time and read the book in a short space of time as I felt drawn back to these real accounts of American soldier's experiences of WWII. I would recommend this book to anyone who, like myself, has seen the series and wishes to learn more but would caution complete newcomers that the experience may be less than overwhelming.

Stick to the TV series..................., 03 Oct 2008
I came to this after watching (and re-watching) the TV series.

As military history is a favourite subject of mine I thought I'd give the book on which the series is based a go, and? Well, I wish I hadn't bothered.

Firstly the book is written by an American, and is written, very much, from the American standpoint - need not have been a problem but as Ambrose would have it, the 'Band of Brothers' won the war single handedly and despite the assistance of the British (characterised, when they are very rarely mentioned, as incompetent, upper class toffs), the French (cowardly, untrustworthy etc). Actually Stephen, the war had been going on quite a while before D-Day (the first action of the 'screaming eagles').

The training camp may have been hard work but I'm sure it was infinitely better than actually doing something, you know, dangerous? fighting perhaps?, maybe Dunkirk?? Oh, but your boys had to run up Currahee in 40 minutes............

Then back to England for a bit of R&R

So where else did they see action? The Battle of the Bulge, horrific yes, but there own incompetence and lack of reconassaince almost certainly contributed to the situation they found themselves in - no mention of this, however.

Now, the big claim to fame - capturing the Eagles Nest - fine, I'll give them that one (although mention should be made of the fact that they put up roadblocks and stopped troops of other nations getting there), but in reality what did capturing this really involve? the Germans had virtually abandoned the place and the few remaining troops were hardly front line and ill prepared to meet any serious opposition. They turned up, looted the place, got drunk and that's about it...........

We spend most of the book in the company of Major Winters, and as mentioned in other reviews, he comes accross as rather self regarding, pompous and arrogant (fit's in well with Ambrose's attitude).

All in all, not worth bothering with if your interested in serious, unbiased military history.

Yes, they were a well trained group of fighting men, are they worthy of all the adulation? probably not in my opinion, or if they are, so are a lot of other people/squadrons/units that fought and suffered (a lot more in most cases) in the war



Dull - a wasted opportunity........., 14 Sep 2008
Hugely disappointed after seeing the fantastic HBO series on TV. It whetted my appetite and I was approaching this book in a postive frame of mind.

Ambrose's work is barely saved by the fascinating subject matter, failing to pull together anything remotely readable. Throughout the book the reader remains on the outside, the author makes no attempt to engage his audience. We are left with a bare shell of a book, with a painfully weak narrative.

There is no sense of connection with the men of Easy Company, except Winters who he clearly hero worships. It lacks any sense of tension and passion and is written in a strangely detached style. This is rich, vivid material which a talented writer would have turned into a masterpiece. Ambrose fails to capture the raw human emotion of battle and any sense of humanity. As a result its a cold and hollow book.

I'm thinking of Beevor's "Stalingrad" a far superior and readable book, it will take your breath away. One can only imagine what Beevor would have done with this material.

In comparison Band of Brothers lacks range, depth and compassion. None of the bravery and self sacrifice of the ordinary soldier is captured, made worse by some sloppy research......





Good accounts peppered with problems, 12 Aug 2008
Stephen Ambrose presents an account of an American paratrooper company in the Second World War. Solely focusing on Easy from beginning to end allows you to really get to know individual members how they lived and as another reviewer said gives you a real insight of stepping out into battle from beginning to end.

My first criticism of the book would be the contribution; it seems those who contributed get put forward in a hero like manner with others who sadly could not contribute sometimes getting portrayed in a very bad light at times. There are times Ambrose goes over board with praise such as Winters quipped this, Winters commanded that and everybody loved Winters. Don't get me wrong I'm not doubting what he did but there are few times in the book the author prioritizes showing Winters and co in a positive light before telling a balanced story (as there are many times often when Easy make mistakes or decisions go wrong usually which result in only a couple of lines explanation) whereas when describing the exploits of the company many more lines are rationed.
Secondly the book is written as if America won the war single handedly there is little mention of the allied troops and when it is it seems to be full of cheap shots towards the English. Ambrose portrays the English as badly trained, cowards in battle with Easy Company saving there day. Like another reviewer said although you can't question their achievements Easy were still a small cog in a very very big machine.

In general a very enjoyable book which if written with less bias showing more angles could have been a 5 star.



Interesting, 13 Aug 2007
A good read after watching the HBO series, I would recommend "Beyond Band of Brothers" by Maj Dick Winters, Covers some areas not included in the film or the Book by Ambrose.

Solid but sadly sparse, 26 Mar 2007
Having quite recently thoroughly enjoyed the HBO series of the same name, Ambrose's book comes as pleasantly familiar territory, acting to fill in gaps and flesh out characters I had encountered in the series.

The story of Easy Company is an extraordinary one and Ambrose has clearly done them a great service in delivering this history in a reasonably accessible format but before I place too much praise upon the late Ambrose, the book is somewhat flawed in places.

When I watched the Band of Brothers mini-series I found myself extremely moved by the intimate bond that these real comrades in arms build as they progress from their training at Curahee, through their battles at Normandy on D-Day, Carentan, Bastogne and others to finally arrive at Hitler's Eagle's Nest. The book however, whilst providing the basis for the series, feels much sparser and is written in a much more matter-of-fact style that very rarely evoked an emotional connection to those same soldiers.

I found it disappointing that some significant events were covered in very little detail and almost glossed over completely, for example the discovery of the concentration camp. Ambrose's style comes across as almost self-congratulatory and is occasionally brazen enough to quarrel with his interviewees over the fairness of their statements which somewhat diminishes his credibility. Also, for someone who has written a good number of books the level of grammatical accuracy was considerably lacking and I often found myself re-reading sections because an obvious slap-dash attempt at spell checking and too little proof reading had left the wrong words in place which by professional author standards should be considered a particularly unforgivable error.

Overall, whilst somewhat disappointed that I was given a more diminished insight into the lives of Easy company than expected, I should note that I was often glued for several chapters at a time and read the book in a short space of time as I felt drawn back to these real accounts of American soldier's experiences of WWII. I would recommend this book to anyone who, like myself, has seen the series and wishes to learn more but would caution complete newcomers that the experience may be less than overwhelming.



Joint Force harrier Review, 04 Oct 2008
Such an immature book, almost like boys own, one of the worst military history books I have read. I am sure that it will not be missed.

As good as it gets in a Harrier., 10 Sep 2008
First of all I would like to thank Peter Thompson for his review which prompted me to purchase and read this account by Commander Ade Orchard on the part played by the Gr7 crews in the Afghan theatre of war.
It has been well written and is a documented account of the time spent by the Royal Navy on a land based, ground attack tour of duty.
This is a very educated read and comes without all the humerous anecdotes of life in the mess rooms and bunk houses. No accounts of wives, children or what they are missing back home.
This is what the reader wants to hear...scrambles to get airborne, pressure on crews to direct attacks at the right targets, life in the cockpit of a Harrier jump jet and what happens when the going gets tough and things go wrong....this hero stayed cool, calm and collected under immense pressures and it is an honour to have read his book.
Much like the pilots during WW2 they remain a cut above the rest and have a quality that few of us share.
A damm good read...this will become essential reading for many many years to come.

An excellent read, un-put-downable!, 04 Sep 2008

An excellent book that will appeal to military historians and those just looking for a good, genuine read. The pace and detail is just right, a real human story.

Joint Force Harrier, 01 Sep 2008
Joint Force Harrier is the personal story of Commander Ade Orchard the first Officer Commanding 800 Naval Air Squadron following its transition from the Sea Harrier FA2 to the Harrier GR7. Commander Orchard details the Squadrons highs and lows from standing up on 3rd April 2006, through a work up on HMS Illustrious, to deployment to the Afghan airbase of Khandahar, and goes on in depth to outline the trials, tribulations, and fears of a commanding officer, and his personnel on a front line ground attack squadron, in an all to real shooting war.

The book is a gripping read throughout; putting it down almost became a chore. Commander Orchard details in an easily digestible manner the preparations for, and the detail in which, every sortie is planned and executed, and the level of professionalism that is inherent in ensuring that the right target is accurately identified even in the heat of the battle, both by those in the air and those on the ground.

If you enjoy reading about military history, military aviation, just like the Harrier, or simply want to try to understand what the pressures and conditions in Afghanistan are like for the men and women that serve there, then in my opinion you really should add this fine book to your bookshelves, and I can assure that you will read it again and again.

Stick to the TV series..................., 03 Oct 2008
I came to this after watching (and re-watching) the TV series.

As military history is a favourite subject of mine I thought I'd give the book on which the series is based a go, and? Well, I wish I hadn't bothered.

Firstly the book is written by an American, and is written, very much, from the American standpoint - need not have been a problem but as Ambrose would have it, the 'Band of Brothers' won the war single handedly and despite the assistance of the British (characterised, when they are very rarely mentioned, as incompetent, upper class toffs), the French (cowardly, untrustworthy etc). Actually Stephen, the war had been going on quite a while before D-Day (the first action of the 'screaming eagles').

The training camp may have been hard work but I'm sure it was infinitely better than actually doing something, you know, dangerous? fighting perhaps?, maybe Dunkirk?? Oh, but your boys had to run up Currahee in 40 minutes............

Then back to England for a bit of R&R

So where else did they see action? The Battle of the Bulge, horrific yes, but there own incompetence and lack of reconassaince almost certainly contributed to the situation they found themselves in - no mention of this, however.

Now, the big claim to fame - capturing the Eagles Nest - fine, I'll give them that one (although mention should be made of the fact that they put up roadblocks and stopped troops of other nations getting there), but in reality what did capturing this really involve? the Germans had virtually abandoned the place and the few remaining troops were hardly front line and ill prepared to meet any serious opposition. They turned up, looted the place, got drunk and that's about it...........

We spend most of the book in the company of Major Winters, and as mentioned in other reviews, he comes accross as rather self regarding, pompous and arrogant (fit's in well with Ambrose's attitude).

All in all, not worth bothering with if your interested in serious, unbiased military history.

Yes, they were a well trained group of fighting men, are they worthy of all the adulation? probably not in my opinion, or if they are, so are a lot of other people/squadrons/units that fought and suffered (a lot more in most cases) in the war



Dull - a wasted opportunity........., 14 Sep 2008
Hugely disappointed after seeing the fantastic HBO series on TV. It whetted my appetite and I was approaching this book in a postive frame of mind.

Ambrose's work is barely saved by the fascinating subject matter, failing to pull together anything remotely readable. Throughout the book the reader remains on the outside, the author makes no attempt to engage his audience. We are left with a bare shell of a book, with a painfully weak narrative.

There is no sense of connection with the men of Easy Company, except Winters who he clearly hero worships. It lacks any sense of tension and passion and is written in a strangely detached style. This is rich, vivid material which a talented writer would have turned into a masterpiece. Ambrose fails to capture the raw human emotion of battle and any sense of humanity. As a result its a cold and hollow book.

I'm thinking of Beevor's "Stalingrad" a far superior and readable book, it will take your breath away. One can only imagine what Beevor would have done with this material.

In comparison Band of Brothers lacks range, depth and compassion. None of the bravery and self sacrifice of the ordinary soldier is captured, made worse by some sloppy research......





Good accounts peppered with problems, 12 Aug 2008
Stephen Ambrose presents an account of an American paratrooper company in the Second World War. Solely focusing on Easy from beginning to end allows you to really get to know individual members how they lived and as another reviewer said gives you a real insight of stepping out into battle from beginning to end.

My first criticism of the book would be the contribution; it seems those who contributed get put forward in a hero like manner with others who sadly could not contribute sometimes getting portrayed in a very bad light at times. There are times Ambrose goes over board with praise such as Winters quipped this, Winters commanded that and everybody loved Winters. Don't get me wrong I'm not doubting what he did but there are few times in the book the author prioritizes showing Winters and co in a positive light before telling a balanced story (as there are many times often when Easy make mistakes or decisions go wrong usually which result in only a couple of lines explanation) whereas when describing the exploits of the company many more lines are rationed.
Secondly the book is written as if America won the war single handedly there is little mention of the allied troops and when it is it seems to be full of cheap shots towards the English. Ambrose portrays the English as badly trained, cowards in battle with Easy Company saving there day. Like another reviewer said although you can't question their achievements Easy were still a small cog in a very very big machine.

In general a very enjoyable book which if written with less bias showing more angles could have been a 5 star.



Interesting, 13 Aug 2007
A good read after watching the HBO series, I would recommend "Beyond Band of Brothers" by Maj Dick Winters, Covers some areas not included in the film or the Book by Ambrose.

Solid but sadly sparse, 26 Mar 2007
Having quite recently thoroughly enjoyed the HBO series of the same name, Ambrose's book comes as pleasantly familiar territory, acting to fill in gaps and flesh out characters I had encountered in the series.

The story of Easy Company is an extraordinary one and Ambrose has clearly done them a great service in delivering this history in a reasonably accessible format but before I place too much praise upon the late Ambrose, the book is somewhat flawed in places.

When I watched the Band of Brothers mini-series I found myself extremely moved by the intimate bond that these real comrades in arms build as they progress from their training at Curahee, through their battles at Normandy on D-Day, Carentan, Bastogne and others to finally arrive at Hitler's Eagle's Nest. The book however, whilst providing the basis for the series, feels much sparser and is written in a much more matter-of-fact style that very rarely evoked an emotional connection to those same soldiers.

I found it disappointing that some significant events were covered in very little detail and almost glossed over completely, for example the discovery of the concentration camp. Ambrose's style comes across as almost self-congratulatory and is occasionally brazen enough to quarrel with his interviewees over the fairness of their statements which somewhat diminishes his credibility. Also, for someone who has written a good number of books the level of grammatical accuracy was considerably lacking and I often found myself re-reading sections because an obvious slap-dash attempt at spell checking and too little proof reading had left the wrong words in place which by professional author standards should be considered a particularly unforgivable error.

Overall, whilst somewhat disappointed that I was given a more diminished insight into the lives of Easy company than expected, I should note that I was often glued for several chapters at a time and read the book in a short space of time as I felt drawn back to these real accounts of American soldier's experiences of WWII. I would recommend this book to anyone who, like myself, has seen the series and wishes to learn more but would caution complete newcomers that the experience may be less than overwhelming.



Joint Force harrier Review, 04 Oct 2008
Such an immature book, almost like boys own, one of the worst military history books I have read. I am sure that it will not be missed.

As good as it gets in a Harrier., 10 Sep 2008
First of all I would like to thank Peter Thompson for his review which prompted me to purchase and read this account by Commander Ade Orchard on the part played by the Gr7 crews in the Afghan theatre of war.
It has been well written and is a documented account of the time spent by the Royal Navy on a land based, ground attack tour of duty.
This is a very educated read and comes without all the humerous anecdotes of life in the mess rooms and bunk houses. No accounts of wives, children or what they are missing back home.
This is what the reader wants to hear...scrambles to get airborne, pressure on crews to direct attacks at the right targets, life in the cockpit of a Harrier jump jet and what happens when the going gets tough and things go wrong....this hero stayed cool, calm and collected under immense pressures and it is an honour to have read his book.
Much like the pilots during WW2 they remain a cut above the rest and have a quality that few of us share.
A damm good read...this will become essential reading for many many years to come.

An excellent read, un-put-downable!, 04 Sep 2008

An excellent book that will appeal to military historians and those just looking for a good, genuine read. The pace and detail is just right, a real human story.

Joint Force Harrier, 01 Sep 2008
Joint Force Harrier is the personal story of Commander Ade Orchard the first Officer Commanding 800 Naval Air Squadron following its transition from the Sea Harrier FA2 to the Harrier GR7. Commander Orchard details the Squadrons highs and lows from standing up on 3rd April 2006, through a work up on HMS Illustrious, to deployment to the Afghan airbase of Khandahar, and goes on in depth to outline the trials, tribulations, and fears of a commanding officer, and his personnel on a front line ground attack squadron, in an all to real shooting war.

The book is a gripping read throughout; putting it down almost became a chore. Commander Orchard details in an easily digestible manner the preparations for, and the detail in which, every sortie is planned and executed, and the level of professionalism that is inherent in ensuring that the right target is accurately identified even in the heat of the battle, both by those in the air and those on the ground.

If you enjoy reading about military history, military aviation, just like the Harrier, or simply want to try to understand what the pressures and conditions in Afghanistan are like for the men and women that serve there, then in my opinion you really should add this fine book to your bookshelves, and I can assure that you will read it again and again.

Jack Tar, 13 Oct 2008
If you read only one book of history this year that commemorates the 250th anniversary of the birth of Nelson, read Jack Tar.
During the Great War (1793-1815), the Royal Navy was the backbone of the defence of the British Isles and took a major part in the final victory.
Just as the great battles from Valmi to Waterloo were won by the troops in the field, the naval battles were in the end won by the crews - and not by the Nelsons, Hoods or Cochranes.

Roy and Lesley Adkins have worked like the archaeologists they are, unearthing hundreds of sources, extracting hundreds of relevant pieces, then carefully glueing them together until the whole image is reconstructed: the portrait of rough, hard-working men (women and children) living a perilous life on board a primitive, claustrophobic machine in a hostile environment.
Apart from the constant danger from man and nature, ships' companies appear more like small rural communities than the "rum, lash and sodomy" society depicted in "miserabilist" books like Masefield's one.
Jack Tar was no saint but the product of the very harsh 18th-century society. His voice is seldom heard in history books.
When you turn the last page, you'll have envisioned the complete life of Jack Tar from his entry as Johnny Newcome to his later life in Greenwich hospital (if he was lucky), told in his own words.

If you have no previous knowledge of the naval history of the period, don't worry, Roy and Lesley have everything at hand for you: maps, diagrams, explanation of all the nautical terms you'll need.

Jack Tar; a man, women and child of many faces, 07 Oct 2008
This is a wonderful follow up to the Adkins' 2 previous books 'Trafalgar: Biography of a Battle' and 'War for all the Oceans', and I have thoroughly enjoyed all of them. In this volume the sailors take the limelight and history takes a step back to create the setting for their lives. And what lives they were!

I am always surprised how many sailors of all ranks were able to write journals and diaries about their time at sea, how literate they were, how perceptive and honest their observations were, and more surprisingly how those manuscripts have survived. The Adkins have carefully drawn from these and many other contemporary sources and woven them into their text to create a vivid picture of life in the British Navy at the time of Nelson and the war with France. A good selection of maps, and illustrations helps fuel the imagination, and, as ever, they have succeeded in presenting the flavour of the time, bring the people and events to life in such a way it is easy to suspend disbelief and fancy you are watching real time events

Electric fluid, birds of ill omen, ship wreck, coffee made from burnt bread, one armed cooks,rats in your pies, weevils in your biscuits, goats falling down the hatches, holystones, wash day, pay day, strong liquor, marriage certificates, wives, children, mistresses and dogs on board, volunteers and press gangs, hernias, amputations and disease, cockroaches like animated varnish on the walls, dancing, prize money, pensions and begging, betrayal, decency, heroism, births and deaths. They are all here, and more.

Anyone researching the life of an ancestor in Nelson's navy will find it an engrossing picture of their experiences, or if you just get jaded by the complacency of modern life, have watched one too many reality TV programs and read one too many dull blogs about the middle classes relocating to the country, immerse yourself in the true hardships these men and women suffered and emerge refreshed with your sense of perspective restored.

This is a good book in which to lose oneself on a winter's night in front of a warm fire while the storms rage outside.

Stick to the TV series..................., 03 Oct 2008
I came to this after watching (and re-watching) the TV series.

As military history is a favourite subject of mine I thought I'd give the book on which the series is based a go, and? Well, I wish I hadn't bothered.

Firstly the book is written by an American, and is written, very much, from the American standpoint - need not have been a problem but as Ambrose would have it, the 'Band of Brothers' won the war single handedly and despite the assistance of the British (characterised, when they are very rarely mentioned, as incompetent, upper class toffs), the French (cowardly, untrustworthy etc). Actually Stephen, the war had been going on quite a while before D-Day (the first action of the 'screaming eagles').

The training camp may have been hard work but I'm sure it was infinitely better than actually doing something, you know, dangerous? fighting perhaps?, maybe Dunkirk?? Oh, but your boys had to run up Currahee in 40 minutes............

Then back to England for a bit of R&R

So where else did they see action? The Battle of the Bulge, horrific yes, but there own incompetence and lack of reconassaince almost certainly contributed to the situation they found themselves in - no mention of this, however.

Now, the big claim to fame - capturing the Eagles Nest - fine, I'll give them that one (although mention should be made of the fact that they put up roadblocks and stopped troops of other nations getting there), but in reality what did capturing this really involve? the Germans had virtually abandoned the place and the few remaining troops were hardly front line and ill prepared to meet any serious opposition. They turned up, looted the place, got drunk and that's about it...........

We spend most of the book in the company of Major Winters, and as mentioned in other reviews, he comes accross as rather self regarding, pompous and arrogant (fit's in well with Ambrose's attitude).

All in all, not worth bothering with if your interested in serious, unbiased military history.

Yes, they were a well trained group of fighting men, are they worthy of all the adulation? probably not in my opinion, or if they are, so are a lot of other people/squadrons/units that fought and suffered (a lot more in most cases) in the war



Dull - a wasted opportunity........., 14 Sep 2008
Hugely disappointed after seeing the fantastic HBO series on TV. It whetted my appetite and I was approaching this book in a postive frame of mind.

Ambrose's work is barely saved by the fascinating subject matter, failing to pull together anything remotely readable. Throughout the book the reader remains on the outside, the author makes no attempt to engage his audience. We are left with a bare shell of a book, with a painfully weak narrative.

There is no sense of connection with the men of Easy Company, except Winters who he clearly hero worships. It lacks any sense of tension and passion and is written in a strangely detached style. This is rich, vivid material which a talented writer would have turned into a masterpiece. Ambrose fails to capture the raw human emotion of battle and any sense of humanity. As a result its a cold and hollow book.

I'm thinking of Beevor's "Stalingrad" a far superior and readable book, it will take your breath away. One can only imagine what Beevor would have done with this material.

In comparison Band of Brothers lacks range, depth and compassion. None of the bravery and self sacrifice of the ordinary soldier is captured, made worse by some sloppy research......





Good accounts peppered with problems, 12 Aug 2008
Stephen Ambrose presents an account of an American paratrooper company in the Second World War. Solely focusing on Easy from beginning to end allows you to really get to know individual members how they lived and as another reviewer said gives you a real insight of stepping out into battle from beginning to end.

My first criticism of the book would be the contribution; it seems those who contributed get put forward in a hero like manner with others who sadly could not contribute sometimes getting portrayed in a very bad light at times. There are times Ambrose goes over board with praise such as Winters quipped this, Winters commanded that and everybody loved Winters. Don't get me wrong I'm not doubting what he did but there are few times in the book the author prioritizes showing Winters and co in a positive light before telling a balanced story (as there are many times often when Easy make mistakes or decisions go wrong usually which result in only a couple of lines explanation) whereas when describing the exploits of the company many more lines are rationed.
Secondly the book is written as if America won the war single handedly there is little mention of the allied troops and when it is it seems to be full of cheap shots towards the English. Ambrose portrays the English as badly trained, cowards in battle with Easy Company saving there day. Like another reviewer said although you can't question their achievements Easy were still a small cog in a very very big machine.

In general a very enjoyable book which if written with less bias showing more angles could have been a 5 star.



Interesting, 13 Aug 2007
A good read after watching the HBO series, I would recommend "Beyond Band of Brothers" by Maj Dick Winters, Covers some areas not included in the film or the Book by Ambrose.

Solid but sadly sparse, 26 Mar 2007
Having quite recently thoroughly enjoyed the HBO series of the same name, Ambrose's book comes as pleasantly familiar territory, acting to fill in gaps and flesh out characters I had encountered in the series.

The story of Easy Company is an extraordinary one and Ambrose has clearly done them a great service in delivering this history in a reasonably accessible format but before I place too much praise upon the late Ambrose, the book is somewhat flawed in places.

When I watched the Band of Brothers mini-series I found myself extremely moved by the intimate bond that these real comrades in arms build as they progress from their training at Curahee, through their battles at Normandy on D-Day, Carentan, Bastogne and others to finally arrive at Hitler's Eagle's Nest. The book however, whilst providing the basis for the series, feels much sparser and is written in a much more matter-of-fact style that very rarely evoked an emotional connection to those same soldiers.

I found it disappointing that some significant events were covered in very little detail and almost glossed over completely, for example the discovery of the concentration camp. Ambrose's style comes across as almost self-congratulatory and is occasionally brazen enough to quarrel with his interviewees over the fairness of their statements which somewhat diminishes his credibility. Also, for someone who has written a good number of books the level of grammatical accuracy was considerably lacking and I often found myself re-reading sections because an obvious slap-dash attempt at spell checking and too little proof reading had left the wrong words in place which by professional author standards should be considered a particularly unforgivable error.

Overall, whilst somewhat disappointed that I was given a more diminished insight into the lives of Easy company than expected, I should note that I was often glued for several chapters at a time and read the book in a short space of time as I felt drawn back to these real accounts of American soldier's experiences of WWII. I would recommend this book to anyone who, like myself, has seen the series and wishes to learn more but would caution complete newcomers that the experience may be less than overwhelming.



Joint Force harrier Review, 04 Oct 2008
Such an immature book, almost like boys own, one of the worst military history books I have read. I am sure that it will not be missed.

As good as it gets in a Harrier., 10 Sep 2008
First of all I would like to thank Peter Thompson for his review which prompted me to purchase and read this account by Commander Ade Orchard on the part played by the Gr7 crews in the Afghan theatre of war.
It has been well written and is a documented account of the time spent by the Royal Navy on a land based, ground attack tour of duty.
This is a very educated read and comes without all the humerous anecdotes of life in the mess rooms and bunk houses. No accounts of wives, children or what they are missing back home.
This is what the reader wants to hear...scrambles to get airborne, pressure on crews to direct attacks at the right targets, life in the cockpit of a Harrier jump jet and what happens when the going gets tough and things go wrong....this hero stayed cool, calm and collected under immense pressures and it is an honour to have read his book.
Much like the pilots during WW2 they remain a cut above the rest and have a quality that few of us share.
A damm good read...this will become essential reading for many many years to come.

An excellent read, un-put-downable!, 04 Sep 2008

An excellent book that will appeal to military historians and those just looking for a good, genuine read. The pace and detail is just right, a real human story.

Joint Force Harrier, 01 Sep 2008
Joint Force Harrier is the personal story of Commander Ade Orchard the first Officer Commanding 800 Naval Air Squadron following its transition from the Sea Harrier FA2 to the Harrier GR7. Commander Orchard details the Squadrons highs and lows from standing up on 3rd April 2006, through a work up on HMS Illustrious, to deployment to the Afghan airbase of Khandahar, and goes on in depth to outline the trials, tribulations, and fears of a commanding officer, and his personnel on a front line ground attack squadron, in an all to real shooting war.

The book is a gripping read throughout; putting it down almost became a chore. Commander Orchard details in an easily digestible manner the preparations for, and the detail in which, every sortie is planned and executed, and the level of professionalism that is inherent in ensuring that the right target is accurately identified even in the heat of the battle, both by those in the air and those on the ground.

If you enjoy reading about military history, military aviation, just like the Harrier, or simply want to try to understand what the pressures and conditions in Afghanistan are like for the men and women that serve there, then in my opinion you really should add this fine book to your bookshelves, and I can assure that you will read it again and again.

Jack Tar, 13 Oct 2008
If you read only one book of history this year that commemorates the 250th anniversary of the birth of Nelson, read Jack Tar.
During the Great War (1793-1815), the Royal Navy was the backbone of the defence of the British Isles and took a major part in the final victory.
Just as the great battles from Valmi to Waterloo were won by the troops in the field, the naval battles were in the end won by the crews - and not by the Nelsons, Hoods or Cochranes.

Roy and Lesley Adkins have worked like the archaeologists they are, unearthing hundreds of sources, extracting hundreds of relevant pieces, then carefully glueing them together until the whole image is reconstructed: the portrait of rough, hard-working men (women and children) living a perilous life on board a primitive, claustrophobic machine in a hostile environment.
Apart from the constant danger from man and nature, ships' companies appear more like small rural communities than the "rum, lash and sodomy" society depicted in "miserabilist" books like Masefield's one.
Jack Tar was no saint but the product of the very harsh 18th-century society. His voice is seldom heard in history books.
When you turn the last page, you'll have envisioned the complete life of Jack Tar from his entry as Johnny Newcome to his later life in Greenwich hospital (if he was lucky), told in his own words.

If you have no previous knowledge of the naval history of the period, don't worry, Roy and Lesley have everything at hand for you: maps, diagrams, explanation of all the nautical terms you'll need.

Jack Tar; a man, women and child of many faces, 07 Oct 2008
This is a wonderful follow up to the Adkins' 2 previous books 'Trafalgar: Biography of a Battle' and 'War for all the Oceans', and I have thoroughly enjoyed all of them. In this volume the sailors take the limelight and history takes a step back to create the setting for their lives. And what lives they were!

I am always surprised how many sailors of all ranks were able to write journals and diaries about their time at sea, how literate they were, how perceptive and honest their observations were, and more surprisingly how those manuscripts have survived. The Adkins have carefully drawn from these and many other contemporary sources and woven them into their text to create a vivid picture of life in the British Navy at the time of Nelson and the war with France. A good selection of maps, and illustrations helps fuel the imagination, and, as ever, they have succeeded in presenting the flavour of the time, bring the people and events to life in such a way it is easy to suspend disbelief and fancy you are watching real time events

Electric fluid, birds of ill omen, ship wreck, coffee made from burnt bread, one armed cooks,rats in your pies, weevils in your biscuits, goats falling down the hatches, holystones, wash day, pay day, strong liquor, marriage certificates, wives, children, mistresses and dogs on board, volunteers and press gangs, hernias, amputations and disease, cockroaches like animated varnish on the walls, dancing, prize money, pensions and begging, betrayal, decency, heroism, births and deaths. They are all here, and more.

Anyone researching the life of an ancestor in Nelson's navy will find it an engrossing picture of their experiences, or if you just get jaded by the complacency of modern life, have watched one too many reality TV programs and read one too many dull blogs about the middle classes relocating to the country, immerse yourself in the true hardships these men and women suffered and emerge refreshed with your sense of perspective restored.

This is a good book in which to lose oneself on a winter's night in front of a warm fire while the storms rage outside.

Unassuming and understated, 05 Jun 2008
Much to the embarassment of many, including his superiors, Monsignor Hugh O'Flaherty rescued many from faschism and certain death in Rome during World War II. He did it all with a twinkle in his eye and a sense of humour that kept him sane throughout it all.

A man who is largely unrecognised in Ireland. I wonder if he would like the idea that he has a commemorative grove of trees and a poem dedicated to him by Brendan Kennelly. He was never a man who sought fame, just a man who thought he was doing a job, the job he became a priest to do and that it was only right to do it as best he could. With co-operation of many people around him he ensured the survival of many.

A touching portrait of a man who should be held as an example to many.

Stick to the TV series..................., 03 Oct 2008
I came to this after watching (and re-watching) the TV series.

As military history is a favourite subject of mine I thought I'd give the book on which the series is based a go, and? Well, I wish I hadn't bothered.

Firstly the book is written by an American, and is written, very much, from the American standpoint - need not have been a problem but as Ambrose would have it, the 'Band of Brothers' won the war single handedly and despite the assistance of the British (characterised, when they are very rarely mentioned, as incompetent, upper class toffs), the French (cowardly, untrustworthy etc). Actually Stephen, the war had been going on quite a while before D-Day (the first action of the 'screaming eagles').

The training camp may have been hard work but I'm sure it was infinitely better than actually doing something, you know, dangerous? fighting perhaps?, maybe Dunkirk?? Oh, but your boys had to run up Currahee in 40 minutes............

Then back to England for a bit of R&R

So where else did they see action? The Battle of the Bulge, horrific yes, but there own incompetence and lack of reconassaince almost certainly contributed to the situation they found themselves in - no mention of this, however.

Now, the big claim to fame - capturing the Eagles Nest - fine, I'll give them that one (although mention should be made of the fact that they put up roadblocks and stopped troops of other nations getting there), but in reality what did capturing this really involve? the Germans had virtually abandoned the place and the few remaining troops were hardly front line and ill prepared to meet any serious opposition. They turned up, looted the place, got drunk and that's about it...........

We spend most of the book in the company of Major Winters, and as mentioned in other reviews, he comes accross as rather self regarding, pompous and arrogant (fit's in well with Ambrose's attitude).

All in all, not worth bothering with if your interested in serious, unbiased military history.

Yes, they were a well trained group of fighting men, are they worthy of all the adulation? probably not in my opinion, or if they are, so are a lot of other people/squadrons/units that fought and suffered (a lot more in most cases) in the war



Dull - a wasted opportunity........., 14 Sep 2008
Hugely disappointed after seeing the fantastic HBO series on TV. It whetted my appetite and I was approaching this book in a postive frame of mind.

Ambrose's work is barely saved by the fascinating subject matter, failing to pull together anything remotely readable. Throughout the book the reader remains on the outside, the author makes no attempt to engage his audience. We are left with a bare shell of a book, with a painfully weak narrative.

There is no sense of connection with the men of Easy Company, except Winters who he clearly hero worships. It lacks any sense of tension and passion and is written in a strangely detached style. This is rich, vivid material which a talented writer would have turned into a masterpiece. Ambrose fails to capture the raw human emotion of battle and any sense of humanity. As a result its a cold and hollow book.

I'm thinking of Beevor's "Stalingrad" a far superior and readable book, it will take your breath away. One can only imagine what Beevor would have done with this material.

In comparison Band of Brothers lacks range, depth and compassion. None of the bravery and self sacrifice of the ordinary soldier is captured, made worse by some sloppy research......





Good accounts peppered with problems, 12 Aug 2008
Stephen Ambrose presents an account of an American paratrooper company in the Second World War. Solely focusing on Easy from beginning to end allows you to really get to know individual members how they lived and as another reviewer said gives you a real insight of stepping out into battle from beginning to end.

My first criticism of the book would be the contribution; it seems those who contributed get put forward in a hero like manner with others who sadly could not contribute sometimes getting portrayed in a very bad light at times. There are times Ambrose goes over board with praise such as Winters quipped this, Winters commanded that and everybody loved Winters. Don't get me wrong I'm not doubting what he did but there are few times in the book the author prioritizes showing Winters and co in a positive light before telling a balanced story (as there are many times often when Easy make mistakes or decisions go wrong usually which result in only a couple of lines explanation) whereas when describing the exploits of the company many more lines are rationed.
Secondly the book is written as if America won the war single handedly there is little mention of the allied troops and when it is it seems to be full of cheap shots towards the English. Ambrose portrays the English as badly trained, cowards in battle with Easy Company saving there day. Like another reviewer said although you can't question their achievements Easy were still a small cog in a very very big machine.

In general a very enjoyable book which if written with less bias showing more angles could have been a 5 star.



Interesting, 13 Aug 2007
A good read after watching the HBO series, I would recommend "Beyond Band of Brothers" by Maj Dick Winters, Covers some areas not included in the film or the Book by Ambrose.

Solid but sadly sparse, 26 Mar 2007
Having quite recently thoroughly enjoyed the HBO series of the same name, Ambrose's book comes as pleasantly familiar territory, acting to fill in gaps and flesh out characters I had encountered in the series.

The story of Easy Company is an extraordinary one and Ambrose has clearly done them a great service in delivering this history in a reasonably accessible format but before I place too much praise upon the late Ambrose, the book is somewhat flawed in places.

When I watched the Band of Brothers mini-series I found myself extremely moved by the intimate bond that these real comrades in arms build as they progress from their training at Curahee, through their battles at Normandy on D-Day, Carentan, Bastogne and others to finally arrive at Hitler's Eagle's Nest. The book however, whilst providing the basis for the series, feels much sparser and is written in a much more matter-of-fact style that very rarely evoked an emotional connection to those same soldiers.

I found it disappointing that some significant events were covered in very little detail and almost glossed over completely, for example the discovery of the concentration camp. Ambrose's style comes across as almost self-congratulatory and is occasionally brazen enough to quarrel with his interviewees over the fairness of their statements which somewhat diminishes his credibility. Also, for someone who has written a good number of books the level of grammatical accuracy was considerably lacking and I often found myself re-reading sections because an obvious slap-dash attempt at spell checking and too little proof reading had left the wrong words in place which by professional author standards should be considered a particularly unforgivable error.

Overall, whilst somewhat disappointed that I was given a more diminished insight into the lives of Easy company than expected, I should note that I was often glued for several chapters at a time and read the book in a short space of time as I felt drawn back to these real accounts of American soldier's experiences of WWII. I would recommend this book to anyone who, like myself, has seen the series and wishes to learn more but would caution complete newcomers that the experience may be less than overwhelming.



Joint Force harrier Review, 04 Oct 2008
Such an immature book, almost like boys own, one of the worst military history books I have read. I am sure that it will not be missed.

As good as it gets in a Harrier., 10 Sep 2008
First of all I would like to thank Peter Thompson for his review which prompted me to purchase and read this account by Commander Ade Orchard on the part played by the Gr7 crews in the Afghan theatre of war.
It has been well written and is a documented account of the time spent by the Royal Navy on a land based, ground attack tour of duty.
This is a very educated read and comes without all the humerous anecdotes of life in the mess rooms and bunk houses. No accounts of wives, children or what they are missing back home.
This is what the reader wants to hear...scrambles to get airborne, pressure on crews to direct attacks at the right targets, life in the cockpit of a Harrier jump jet and what happens when the going gets tough and things go wrong....this hero stayed cool, calm and collected under immense pressures and it is an honour to have read his book.
Much like the pilots during WW2 they remain a cut above the rest and have a quality that few of us share.
A damm good read...this will become essential reading for many many years to come.

An excellent read, un-put-downable!, 04 Sep 2008

An excellent book that will appeal to military historians and those just looking for a good, genuine read. The pace and detail is just right, a real human story.

Joint Force Harrier, 01 Sep 2008
Joint Force Harrier is the personal story of Commander Ade Orchard the first Officer Commanding 800 Naval Air Squadron following its transition from the Sea Harrier FA2 to the Harrier GR7. Commander Orchard details the Squadrons highs and lows from standing up on 3rd April 2006, through a work up on HMS Illustrious, to deployment to the Afghan airbase of Khandahar, and goes on in depth to outline the trials, tribulations, and fears of a commanding officer, and his personnel on a front line ground attack squadron, in an all to real shooting war.

The book is a gripping read throughout; putting it down almost became a chore. Commander Orchard details in an easily digestible manner the preparations for, and the detail in which, every sortie is planned and executed, and the level of professionalism that is inherent in ensuring that the right target is accurately identified even in the heat of the battle, both by those in the air and those on the ground.

If you enjoy reading about military history, military aviation, just like the Harrier, or simply want to try to understand what the pressures and conditions in Afghanistan are like for the men and women that serve there, then in my opinion you really should add this fine book to your bookshelves, and I can assure that you will read it again and again.

Jack Tar, 13 Oct 2008
If you read only one book of history this year that commemorates the 250th anniversary of the birth of Nelson, read Jack Tar.
During the Great War (1793-1815), the Royal Navy was the backbone of the defence of the British Isles and took a major part in the final victory.
Just as the great battles from Valmi to Waterloo were won by the troops in the field, the naval battles were in the end won by the crews - and not by the Nelsons, Hoods or Cochranes.

Roy and Lesley Adkins have worked like the archaeologists they are, unearthing hundreds of sources, extracting hundreds of relevant pieces, then carefully glueing them together until the whole image is reconstructed: the portrait of rough, hard-working men (women and children) living a perilous life on board a primitive, claustrophobic machine in a hostile environment.
Apart from the constant danger from man and nature, ships' companies appear more like small rural communities than the "rum, lash and sodomy" society depicted in "miserabilist" books like Masefield's one.
Jack Tar was no saint but the product of the very harsh 18th-century society. His voice is seldom heard in history books.
When you turn the last page, you'll have envisioned the complete life of Jack Tar from his entry as Johnny Newcome to his later life in Greenwich hospital (if he was lucky), told in his own words.

If you have no previous knowledge of the naval history of the period, don't worry, Roy and Lesley have everything at hand for you: maps, diagrams, explanation of all the nautical terms you'll need.

Jack Tar; a man, women and child of many faces, 07 Oct 2008
This is a wonderful follow up to the Adkins' 2 previous books 'Trafalgar: Biography of a Battle' and 'War for all the Oceans', and I have thoroughly enjoyed all of them. In this volume the sailors take the limelight and history takes a step back to create the setting for their lives. And what lives they were!

I am always surprised how many sailors of all ranks were able to write journals and diaries about their time at sea, how literate they were, how perceptive and honest their observations were, and more surprisingly how those manuscripts have survived. The Adkins have carefully drawn from these and many other contemporary sources and woven them into their text to create a vivid picture of life in the British Navy at the time of Nelson and the war with France. A good selection of maps, and illustrations helps fuel the imagination, and, as ever, they have succeeded in presenting the flavour of the time, bring the people and events to life in such a way it is easy to suspend disbelief and fancy you are watching real time events

Electric fluid, birds of ill omen, ship wreck, coffee made from burnt bread, one armed cooks,rats in your pies, weevils in your biscuits, goats falling down the hatches, holystones, wash day, pay day, strong liquor, marriage certificates, wives, children, mistresses and dogs on board, volunteers and press gangs, hernias, amputations and disease, cockroaches like animated varnish on the walls, dancing, prize money, pensions and begging, betrayal, decency, heroism, births and deaths. They are all here, and more.

Anyone researching the life of an ancestor in Nelson's navy will find it an engrossing picture of their experiences, or if you just get jaded by the complacency of modern life, have watched one too many reality TV programs and read one too many dull blogs about the middle classes relocating to the country, immerse yourself in the true hardships these men and women suffered and emerge refreshed with your sense of perspective restored.

This is a good book in which to lose oneself on a winter's night in front of a warm fire while the storms rage outside.

Unassuming and understated, 05 Jun 2008
Much to the embarassment of many, including his superiors, Monsignor Hugh O'Flaherty rescued many from faschism and certain death in Rome during World War II. He did it all with a twinkle in his eye and a sense of humour that kept him sane throughout it all.

A man who is largely unrecognised in Ireland. I wonder if he would like the idea that he has a commemorative grove of trees and a poem dedicated to him by Brendan Kennelly. He was never a man who sought fame, just a man who thought he was doing a job, the job he became a priest to do and that it was only right to do it as best he could. With co-operation of many people around him he ensured the survival of many.

A touching portrait of a man who should be held as an example to many.

Remarkable, 09 Jan 2008
I'm not much given to superlatives but this has to be the best Great War Unit history I've ever read, and I've read hundreds!! The immense wealth of information reflects clearly the huge research undertaken by the author. But it's not just that this is a war history; it's a social history of a capital city and an affectionate look at the trials and tribulations of a football club in the early years of the last century. Each of these 3 strands could almost stand alone as a separate work, but the author has woven them together with great literary skill which conveys his deep love of his subject. I defy anyone not to be moved by this awesome work

Wonderful thought provoking and moving piece of work, 19 Jul 2006
This book should be academic text for both universities and schools and I say this as a history graduate. I have been aware of this book for several years but only recently got round to reading it, after the 90th anniversary commemorations of the battle of the Somme. I always viewed the Somme as a disasterous, murderous scandal, but recently I have become aware of an apologist campaign that actually it wasnt so, and broke the back of the stalemate and turned the war. I was starting to see the merits in this argument - then I read this book. I once again hold firm that this particular battle was a murderous disgrace. However the beauty of this book is that it follows the battalion from raising to demobilisation and every event therein. I found a continual theme of incompetence and complete misunderstanding by the High Command '30 miles behind the lines'. My words dont do this book justice. It is a thoroughly thought provoking, moving, emotive book,for example, to find out the pipe major died a pauper is outrageous,(homes fit for heroes?), that appeals to the historian and sports fan equally. It is not a difficult read and you can see from the research alone how it took the author so long to complete.
A wonderful piece of work worthy of educating us.

Brilliant Military/Social History book, 01 Oct 2004
This is an excellent account of a long forgotten story and particulary odd behaviour by some sections of society during the Great War. Behaviour now largely forgotten. Who would know a stopper now!! This book is superbly written and a joy to read. Jack deserves a bestseller with this and anyone interested in the Great War, social history, military history or football have just got to read it.

A fitting tribute, 03 Aug 2004
As someone that found through tracing my family tree that I had distant relations who fought and died with the 16th Royal Scots, I was rather humbled by reading this book. It is extremely well written, appeals to the football fan, war historian and Scot alike. I was fortunate enough to get in touch with the author and am looking foirward to having a beer with him almost as much a I anticipate the follow up!

A very readable battalion history, 15 May 2004
In recent years a number of books have been written about particular battalions raised during the First World War. I have read many of them, and they are all make a valuable contribution to keeping the memory of the sacrifice of ordinary working men alive. You don't however, need a passionate interest in the Great War to want to read this book to the end. Anyone with a passing interest in the British in World War One, football history, or the social history of Edinburgh ( and I'm only 2 out those 3) should enjoy this book immensely.

Additionally for those of us with a deeper interest in the Somme battle, it's the clearest description I've yet read of events in Sausage Valley on a hot July Saturday in 1916.

Stick to the TV series..................., 03 Oct 2008
I came to this after watching (and re-watching) the TV series.

As military history is a favourite subject of mine I thought I'd give the book on which the series is based a go, and? Well, I wish I hadn't bothered.

Firstly the book is written by an American, and is written, very much, from the American standpoint - need not have been a problem but as Ambrose would have it, the 'Band of Brothers' won the war single handedly and despite the assistance of the British (characterised, when they are very rarely mentioned, as incompetent, upper class toffs), the French (cowardly, untrustworthy etc). Actually Stephen, the war had been going on quite a while before D-Day (the first action of the 'screaming eagles').

The training camp may have been hard work but I'm sure it was infinitely better than actually doing something, you know, dangerous? fighting perhaps?, maybe Dunkirk?? Oh, but your boys had to run up Currahee in 40 minutes............

Then back to England for a bit of R&R

So where else did they see action? The Battle of the Bulge, horrific yes, but there own incompetence and lack of reconassaince almost certainly contributed to the situation they found themselves in - no mention of this, however.

Now, the big claim to fame - capturing the Eagles Nest - fine, I'll give them that one (although mention should be made of the fact that they put up roadblocks and stopped troops of other nations getting there), but in reality what did capturing this really involve? the Germans had virtually abandoned the place and the few remaining troops were hardly front line and ill prepared to meet any serious opposition. They turned up, looted the place, got drunk and that's about it...........

We spend most of the book in the company of Major Winters, and as mentioned in other reviews, he comes accross as rather self regarding, pompous and arrogant (fit's in well with Ambrose's attitude).

All in all, not worth bothering with if your interested in serious, unbiased military history.

Yes, they were a well trained group of fighting men, are they worthy of all the adulation? probably not in my opinion, or if they are, so are a lot of other people/squadrons/units that fought and suffered (a lot more in most cases) in the war



Dull - a wasted opportunity........., 14 Sep 2008
Hugely disappointed after seeing the fantastic HBO series on TV. It whetted my appetite and I was approaching this book in a postive frame of mind.

Ambrose's work is barely saved by the fascinating subject matter, failing to pull together anything remotely readable. Throughout the book the reader remains on the outside, the author makes no attempt to engage his audience. We are left with a bare shell of a book, with a painfully weak narrative.

There is no sense of connection with the men of Easy Company, except Winters who he clearly hero worships. It lacks any sense of tension and passion and is written in a strangely detached style. This is rich, vivid material which a talented writer would have turned into a masterpiece. Ambrose fails to capture the raw human emotion of battle and any sense of humanity. As a result its a cold and hollow book.

I'm thinking of Beevor's "Stalingrad" a far superior and readable book, it will take your breath away. One can only imagine what Beevor would have done with this material.

In comparison Band of Brothers lacks range, depth and compassion. None of the bravery and self sacrifice of the ordinary soldier is captured, made worse by some sloppy research......





Good accounts peppered with problems, 12 Aug 2008
Stephen Ambrose presents an account of an American paratrooper company in the Second World War. Solely focusing on Easy from beginning to end allows you to really get to know individual members how they lived and as another reviewer said gives you a real insight of stepping out into battle from beginning to end.

My first criticism of the book would be the contribution; it seems those who contributed get put forward in a hero like manner with others who sadly could not contribute sometimes getting portrayed in a very bad light at times. There are times Ambrose goes over board with praise such as Winters quipped this, Winters commanded that and everybody loved Winters. Don't get me wrong I'm not doubting what he did but there are few times in the book the author prioritizes showing Winters and co in a positive light before telling a balanced story (as there are many times often when Easy make mistakes or decisions go wrong usually which result in only a couple of lines explanation) whereas when describing the exploits of the company many more lines are rationed.
Secondly the book is written as if America won the war single handedly there is little mention of the allied troops and when it is it seems to be full of cheap shots towards the English. Ambrose portrays the English as badly trained, cowards in battle with Easy Company saving there day. Like another reviewer said although you can't question their achievements Easy were still a small cog in a very very big machine.

In general a very enjoyable book which if written with less bias showing more angles could have been a 5 star.



Interesting, 13 Aug 2007
A good read after watching the HBO series, I would recommend "Beyond Band of Brothers" by Maj Dick Winters, Covers some areas not included in the film or the Book by Ambrose.

Solid but sadly sparse, 26 Mar 2007
Having quite recently thoroughly enjoyed the HBO series of the same name, Ambrose's book comes as pleasantly familiar territory, acting to fill in gaps and flesh out characters I had encountered in the series.

The story of Easy Company is an extraordinary one and Ambrose has clearly done them a great service in delivering this history in a reasonably accessible format but before I place too much praise upon the late Ambrose, the book is somewhat flawed in places.

When I watched the Band of Brothers mini-series I found myself extremely moved by the intimate bond that these real comrades in arms build as they progress from their training at Curahee, through their battles at Normandy on D-Day, Carentan, Bastogne and others to finally arrive at Hitler's Eagle's Nest. The book however, whilst providing the basis for the series, feels much sparser and is written in a much more matter-of-fact style that very rarely evoked an emotional connection to those same soldiers.

I found it disappointing that some significant events were covered in very little detail and almost glossed over completely, for example the discovery of the concentration camp. Ambrose's style comes across as almost self-congratulatory and is occasionally brazen enough to quarrel with his interviewees over the fairness of their statements which somewhat diminishes his credibility. Also, for someone who has written a good number of books the level of grammatical accuracy was considerably lacking and I often found myself re-reading sections because an obvious slap-dash attempt at spell checking and too little proof reading had left the wrong words in place which by professional author standards should be considered a particularly unforgivable error.

Overall, whilst somewhat disappointed that I was given a more diminished insight into the lives of Easy company than expected, I should note that I was often glued for several chapters at a time and read the book in a short space of time as I felt drawn back to these real accounts of American soldier's experiences of WWII. I would recommend this book to anyone who, like myself, has seen the series and wishes to learn more but would caution complete newcomers that the experience may be less than overwhelming.



Joint Force harrier Review, 04 Oct 2008
Such an immature book, almost like boys own, one of the worst military history books I have read. I am sure that it will not be missed.

As good as it gets in a Harrier., 10 Sep 2008
First of all I would like to thank Peter Thompson for his review which prompted me to purchase and read this account by Commander Ade Orchard on the part played by the Gr7 crews in the Afghan theatre of war.
It has been well written and is a documented account of the time spent by the Royal Navy on a land based, ground attack tour of duty.
This is a very educated read and comes without all the humerous anecdotes of life in the mess rooms and bunk houses. No accounts of wives, children or what they are missing back home.
This is what the reader wants to hear...scrambles to get airborne, pressure on crews to direct attacks at the right targets, life in the cockpit of a Harrier jump jet and what happens when the going gets tough and things go wrong....this hero stayed cool, calm and collected under immense pressures and it is an honour to have read his book.
Much like the pilots during WW2 they remain a cut above the rest and have a quality that few of us share.
A damm good read...this will become essential reading for many many years to come.

An excellent read, un-put-downable!, 04 Sep 2008

An excellent book that will appeal to military historians and those just looking for a good, genuine read. The pace and detail is just right, a real human story.

Joint Force Harrier, 01 Sep 2008
Joint Force Harrier is the personal story of Commander Ade Orchard the first Officer Commanding 800 Naval Air Squadron following its transition from the Sea Harrier FA2 to the Harrier GR7. Commander Orchard details the Squadrons highs and lows from standing up on 3rd April 2006, through a work up on HMS Illustrious, to deployment to the Afghan airbase of Khandahar, and goes on in depth to outline the trials, tribulations, and fears of a commanding officer, and his personnel on a front line ground attack squadron, in an all to real shooting war.

The book is a gripping read throughout; putting it down almost became a chore. Commander Orchard details in an easily digestible manner the preparations for, and the detail in which, every sortie is planned and executed, and the level of professionalism that is inherent in ensuring that the right target is accurately identified even in the heat of the battle, both by those in the air and those on the ground.

If you enjoy reading about military history, military aviation, just like the Harrier, or simply want to try to understand what the pressures and conditions in Afghanistan are like for the men and women that serve there, then in my opinion you really should add this fine book to your bookshelves, and I can assure that you will read it again and again.

Jack Tar, 13 Oct 2008
If you read only one book of history this year that commemorates the 250th anniversary of the birth of Nelson, read Jack Tar.
During the Great War (1793-1815), the Royal Navy was the backbone of the defence of the British Isles and took a major part in the final victory.
Just as the great battles from Valmi to Waterloo were won by the troops in the field, the naval battles were in the end won by the crews - and not by the Nelsons, Hoods or Cochranes.

Roy and Lesley Adkins have worked like the archaeologists they are, unearthing hundreds of sources, extracting hundreds of relevant pieces, then carefully glueing them together until the whole image is reconstructed: the portrait of rough, hard-working men (women and children) living a perilous life on board a primitive, claustrophobic machine in a hostile environment.
Apart from the constant danger from man and nature, ships' companies appear more like small rural communities than the "rum, lash and sodomy" society depicted in "miserabilist" books like Masefield's one.
Jack Tar was no saint but the product of the very harsh 18th-century society. His voice is seldom heard in history books.
When you turn the last page, you'll have envisioned the complete life of Jack Tar from his entry as Johnny Newcome to his later life in Greenwich hospital (if he was lucky), told in his own words.

If you have no previous knowledge of the naval history of the period, don't worry, Roy and Lesley have everything at hand for you: maps, diagrams, explanation of all the nautical terms you'll need.

Jack Tar; a man, women and child of many faces, 07 Oct 2008
This is a wonderful follow up to the Adkins' 2 previous books 'Trafalgar: Biography of a Battle' and 'War for all the Oceans', and I have thoroughly enjoyed all of them. In this volume the sailors take the limelight and history takes a step back to create the setting for their lives. And what lives they were!

I am always surprised how many sailors of all ranks were able to write journals and diaries about their time at sea, how literate they were, how perceptive and honest their observations were, and more surprisingly how those manuscripts have survived. The Adkins have carefully drawn from these and many other contemporary sources and woven them into their text to create a vivid picture of life in the British Navy at the time of Nelson and the war with France. A good selection of maps, and illustrations helps fuel the imagination, and, as ever, they have succeeded in presenting the flavour of the time, bring the people and events to life in such a way it is easy to suspend disbelief and fancy you are watching real time events

Electric fluid, birds of ill omen, ship wreck, coffee made from burnt bread, one armed cooks,rats in your pies, weevils in your biscuits, goats falling down the hatches, holystones, wash day, pay day, strong liquor, marriage certificates, wives, children, mistresses and dogs on board, volunteers and press gangs, hernias, amputations and disease, cockroaches like animated varnish on the walls, dancing, prize money, pensions and begging, betrayal, decency, heroism, births and deaths. They are all here, and more.

Anyone researching the life of an ancestor in Nelson's navy will find it an engrossing picture of their experiences, or if you just get jaded by the complacency of modern life, have watched one too many reality TV programs and read one too many dull blogs about the middle classes relocating to the country, immerse yourself in the true hardships these men and women suffered and emerge refreshed with your sense of perspective restored.

This is a good book in which to lose oneself on a winter's night in front of a warm fire while the storms rage outside.

Unassuming and understated, 05 Jun 2008
Much to the embarassment of many, including his superiors, Monsignor Hugh O'Flaherty rescued many from faschism and certain death in Rome during World War II. He did it all with a twinkle in his eye and a sense of humour that kept him sane throughout it all.

A man who is largely unrecognised in Ireland. I wonder if he would like the idea that he has a commemorative grove of trees and a poem dedicated to him by Brendan Kennelly. He was never a man who sought fame, just a man who thought he was doing a job, the job he became a priest to do and that it was only right to do it as best he could. With co-operation of many people around him he ensured the survival of many.

A touching portrait of a man who should be held as an example to many.

Remarkable, 09 Jan 2008
I'm not much given to superlatives but this has to be the best Great War Unit history I've ever read, and I've read hundreds!! The immense wealth of information reflects clearly the huge research undertaken by the author. But it's not just that this is a war history; it's a social history of a capital city and an affectionate look at the trials and tribulations of a football club in the early years of the last century. Each of these 3 strands could almost stand alone as a separate work, but the author has woven them together with great literary skill which conveys his deep love of his subject. I defy anyone not to be moved by this awesome work

Wonderful thought provoking and moving piece of work, 19 Jul 2006
This book should be academic text for both universities and schools and I say this as a history graduate. I have been aware of this book for several years but only recently got round to reading it, after the 90th anniversary commemorations of the battle of the Somme. I always viewed the Somme as a disasterous, murderous scandal, but recently I have become aware of an apologist campaign that actually it wasnt so, and broke the back of the stalemate and turned the war. I was starting to see the merits in this argument - then I read this book. I once again hold firm that this particular battle was a murderous disgrace. However the beauty of this book is that it follows the battalion from raising to demobilisation and every event therein. I found a continual theme of incompetence and complete misunderstanding by the High Command '30 miles behind the lines'. My words dont do this book justice. It is a thoroughly thought provoking, moving, emotive book,for example, to find out the pipe major died a pauper is outrageous,(homes fit for heroes?), that appeals to the historian and sports fan equally. It is not a difficult read and you can see from the research alone how it took the author so long to complete.
A wonderful piece of work worthy of educating us.

Brilliant Military/Social History book, 01 Oct 2004
This is an excellent account of a long forgotten story and particulary odd behaviour by some sections of society during the Great War. Behaviour now largely forgotten. Who would know a stopper now!! This book is superbly written and a joy to read. Jack deserves a bestseller with this and anyone interested in the Great War, social history, military history or football have just got to read it.

A fitting tribute, 03 Aug 2004
As someone that found through tracing my family tree that I had distant relations who fought and died with the 16th Royal Scots, I was rather humbled by reading this book. It is extremely well written, appeals to the football fan, war historian and Scot alike. I was fortunate enough to get in touch with the author and am looking foirward to having a beer with him almost as much a I anticipate the follow up!

A very readable battalion history, 15 May 2004
In recent years a number of books have been written about particular battalions raised during the First World War. I have read many of them, and they are all make a valuable contribution to keeping the memory of the sacrifice of ordinary working men alive. You don't however, need a passionate interest in the Great War to want to read this book to the end. Anyone with a passing interest in the British in World War One, football history, or the social history of Edinburgh ( and I'm only 2 out those 3) should enjoy this book immensely.

Additionally for those of us with a deeper interest in the Somme battle, it's the clearest description I've yet read of events in Sausage Valley on a hot July Saturday in 1916.

Stiring account of this ground breaking regiment, 08 Jul 2008
I would never thought of buying this book. I've never really been into the Napoleonic wars even though I only ever tend to read military history. However I was given this book as a surprise birthday present, which I read whilst on holiday. What a cracking read! A well written and researched account of this ground breaking regiments deeds during the peninsular war, and the final encounter at Waterloo. Mark urban does a grand job of putting across the feeling of regimental comradery that must have bonded this fighting elite. While reading you get the feeling the rifles were to all intense purposes modern day soldiers fighting in a 19th century war. This lot would 'soften up' the massive French columns before the ordinary soldiers of the line unleashed their murderous volleys at a closer range. The heroism displayed and told in actions and hand to hand is both immense and impressive. Brilliant stuff, and a poignant quote used in the last couple of paragraphs of this book left me tears.

The real Sharpe, 17 Jun 2007
Having been a student of military history at uni and having grown up reading Bernard Cornwell's adventures of Richard Sharpe it was very interesting to read the true life accounts of the men of the 95th (or at least the 1st Battalion). Urban manages to make his book both informative and interesting, there are enough first hand accounts to stop it reading like a text book but there is still a wealth of academic information to keep the military historian happy. It was very interesting to follow the lives of several key figures within the battalion watching as their careers developed or indeed ended abruptly on the battlefield (or in at least one case, in front of a firing squad).
This is not a campaign history of the Peninsular war, although there is plenty of information on the subject, nor is it a regimental history of the 95th; it is more a personal history of the men of the 1st battalion of that unit that followed Wellington from Talavera to Waterloo. It focuses not only on their experiences in battle, be in small skirmishes, large set piece battles or the storming of a breach but also on the day to day lives of the soldiers covering such topics as food, shelter, desertion, advancement, money and entertainment. All in all a great book and well worth a read for anyone wishing to find the true Richard Sharpes of Wellington's army.


Recommended, 28 Apr 2007
This is an enjoyable account of the 95th Rifles in the Peninsular war (with a final chapter covering Waterloo and later developments of the 95th). I'd recommend the book if you're at all interested in this period of history, military history in general or a fan of the Richard Sharpe books. A highlight of the book is the sketches of some of the characters - especially Robert Craufurd who is as memorable and paradoxical as any fictional character I've read. One minor problem is towards the end of the the battles (and some of the characters) tend to merge into one - I think this is due mainly to the nature of the subject and Urban in general has produced a very readable book.

Peninsular Historical work of art I reckon., 14 Apr 2007
If you're into this campaign era you have just got to read this book. Don't be concerned that it is focussed on the 95th Rifles; it gives absolutely essential background details into campaign life in the Napoleonic British Army of the time. First thing I realised is there isn't much difference to the modern era, officers are still the same (unfortunately - do you know the lighthouse joke?), similar traditions are all still current and regimental life amongst the ranks is basically the same as it was then. The book suggest this period of change of thought from mass unit movement and volley musket fire to skirmish tactics, aimed rifle fire and small team interaction (the thinking soldier) is the foundation of the Modern British Army. This is of course totally correct but it is really nice to read the various accounts of how these ideas were proven and came to be recognised by as usual those 'muppets' that always think they know better? Lots of accounts of personal bravery that I really have to take my hat off to, they were tough blokes indeed and a few mishaps that always leave a bitter taste in your mouth, normally to do with some lighthouse mentioned earlier. I'm sure if you even have a remote interest in Napoleonic warfare this will more than satisfy your needs.


The Legendary Sharpshooters, 27 Aug 2006
Mark Urban is a well known and well respected journalist. He has covered many wars in his role both as a newspaper and television journalist and has written several books including `The SAS and the Secret Struggle against the IRA,' and more recently the best seller `The Man Who Broke Napoleon's Codes.' For anyone with an interest in British military history this book is a must read.

For any readers who enjoy the Sharpe novels by Bernard Cornwell, this is the chance to read about the real thing as Mark Urban recounts the story of the 95th rifles, the regiment that provided the Duke of Wellington with his crack troops. These were the first riflemen to actually aim at their target. In the past riflemen had basically fired in volleys in the general direction of the enemy and just hoped that they hit someone or something.

These men are not the typical soldiers that were around at the time. They fight tactically and maneouvre. They are a complete new breed of men, creating what is the modern idea of the British infantryman.

The book is not some dour historical tome, but a vibrant, interesting insight into life in the British Army at the time of Wellington's greatest triumphs.