JasonC Posted November 8, 2007 Share Posted November 8, 2007 Atkinson wrote An Army At Dawn, focusing on the US in North Africa. His second in the planned trilogy is now out, covering Sicily and Italy. I've only read the prelude chapter so far but it looks good. Reminds me of The Glory and the Dream by William Manchester, actually, in its ability to convey atmosphere by peripheral anecdote. Parts are quite funny, characters vivid so far (though the early focus is on the high level pols and staff generals). I've ordered mine from Amazon after reading a bit in a bookstore. Don't pay the full bookstore $35, it is only $20 on line. Any others out there reading it yet? Will we see a round of Sicily and Italy scenarios? (If we ask nicely...) 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kawaiku Posted November 8, 2007 Share Posted November 8, 2007 I own it and it's quite a big BOOK!! I haven't had the time to read it, but I've read a few pages here and there just to wet my wistle and it seems to be pretty good. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David I Posted November 8, 2007 Share Posted November 8, 2007 Jason, Thanks for the head's up. Army at Dawn was awesome. My order goes in today. Also on my books to get list are "Peeling the Onion" by Gunter Gras and "Anthony and Cleopatra" by Colleen McCollough. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Philippe Posted November 8, 2007 Share Posted November 8, 2007 The Germans have just pulled back from Salerno, and from what I've seen so far this book is even better than an Army at Dawn. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alsatian Posted November 8, 2007 Share Posted November 8, 2007 I'm in step with Philippe. I'm up to November 1943 and engagement with the Winter Line. Pretty good so far. I appreciate all the endnotes and sources Atkinson provides. I recommend it. I wouldn't mind one or two Salerno scenarios to come from this. There aren't any Salerno scenarios as far as I've found. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scheer Posted November 8, 2007 Share Posted November 8, 2007 Bought it from Amazon, was here in germany in 13 days. I have also an Army at dawn, and both books are very good. Atkinson is an amazing writer. Highly recommended. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Leprechaun Posted November 14, 2007 Share Posted November 14, 2007 Just purchased Army at Dawn and eagerly awaiting its arrival. After reading this post, I'll make it my next read. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Broken Posted November 15, 2007 Share Posted November 15, 2007 Not finished yet but great read so far. Clark's mis-handling of Rapido river offence and Salerno, Churchill's micro-managing of Anzio and the poor tactical thinking all-around (by the Allies) is well covered. Atkinson presents the very human strength and weaknesses of the major figures in vivid color. Some great material for CMAK scenarios. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ParaBellum Posted November 15, 2007 Share Posted November 15, 2007 Just ordered it. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SgtMuhammed Posted November 15, 2007 Share Posted November 15, 2007 Nobody tell me how it ends, I won't be able to read it till after the semester ends. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
__Yossarian0815[jby] Posted November 15, 2007 Share Posted November 15, 2007 Just finished reading it Excellent book. Even better than Army at Dawn because Atkinson has reduced the number of boring home front stories. My only minor quibble would be that IMHO in 2007 one can dispense with calling the germans "grey wraiths" and "babarians" (when not citing historical documents). The true horror of nazism was that its crimes were commited by a civilized people, not barbarians. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mies Posted November 16, 2007 Share Posted November 16, 2007 Thanks for the heads up. It's on the wish list now. Mies 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Philippe Posted November 16, 2007 Share Posted November 16, 2007 I'm nowhere near finished, but I'm surprised that I haven't seen anything in it about actions involving the Nisei American units (100th Bn and 442 RCT). Probably not central to the outcome of the campaign, but very poignant. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SgtMuhammed Posted December 2, 2007 Share Posted December 2, 2007 Originally posted by Alsatian: I'm in step with Philippe. I'm up to November 1943 and engagement with the Winter Line. Pretty good so far. I appreciate all the endnotes and sources Atkinson provides. I recommend it. I wouldn't mind one or two Salerno scenarios to come from this. There aren't any Salerno scenarios as far as I've found. I think there were some Salerno scenarios at the old Scenario Depot. Not sure though. I'm sure if you say nice things to Kingfish or Treeburst they will whip you up one. As for the book, I had it on preorder and have had it sitting on my shelf for most of the semester. One last paper to finish and then I can start on it. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alsatian Posted December 3, 2007 Share Posted December 3, 2007 I'm slowly but surely up to Operation Diadem and the Anzio breakout. Still stellar in terms of the writing, except for two minor critiques. Atkinson should give his thesaurus a rest (too many oddball words), and for all the maps he has it would have been nice to have one that showed Anzio in relation to Cassino and Diadem. And the word Salerno is not found anywhere at the Scenario Depot. Nor Avalanche. Using google anyway. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JonS Posted December 3, 2007 Share Posted December 3, 2007 I've played several Salerno and Anzio scens for CMAK. One, IIRC, is on the original CD. "Beating them back", or sumfink. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Philippe Posted December 4, 2007 Share Posted December 4, 2007 You might want to take a look at the CMAK section of CMMODS and check out the zips of Sorted Scenarios. Anzio and Salerno scenarios would both be in the Italian section of the sort. To find the actual scenarios you would have to load the folder of Italian scenarios and eyeball the scenario descriptions in the scenario menu. They shouldn't be too hard to find if you don't have to sift through all the other theaters. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andreas Posted December 4, 2007 Share Posted December 4, 2007 'The Creek' from the CD is set at Salerno, but it is not a historical engagement. All the best Andreas 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alsatian Posted December 5, 2007 Share Posted December 5, 2007 Originally posted by Philippe: You might want to take a look at the CMAK section of CMMODS and check out the zips of Sorted Scenarios. ... Thanks for the reminder. I checked it out, but it's still skimpy. Six scenarios (5 Brits, 1 Ami); mostly fictionals. Considering the strategic consequences and the see-sawing tactical events, I still think Salerno is overlooked in general. And who wouldn't be interested in a scenario based on this guy, the pre-Audie Murphy Audie Murphy, awarded the CMOH for actions at Altavilla and sent on a homefront publicity tour during the war. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
1stUkrainianFront Posted December 15, 2007 Share Posted December 15, 2007 Y'all would probably like David Halberstam's *The Coldest Winter* -- as good as Atkinson, but covering Korea 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bigduke6 Posted December 16, 2007 Share Posted December 16, 2007 I recently read Atkinson's 2nd book and I was a bit underwhelmed. He spends in my opinion too much time quoting reporters not soldiers, and the battlefield accounts are to me few and far between. A lot of fighting, especially by Commonwealth forces, seems to get short shrift. The book seems US-centric. Further, Patton's slapping incident, women in military, the home front, Ike and Montgomery sniping at one another, and the experiences of Italians caught in the middle receive a thorough treatment. Further, Atkinson seems a little wishy-washy and flag-waving when it comes to explaining why it was so few Germans held up so many Allies for so long. There was a little bit too much "Rah rah Greatest Generation" for my cup of tea. Perhaps this is just because Italy was a populated country where politics really influenced the war, while North Africa was relatively "clean" warfare. But I didn't like it as much as his first book. Hasting's Armageddon I think is an example of the better approach for a large campaign history: cover the basic issues but focus on experiences of the actual soldiers, civilians where appropriate, and pulls no punches on how and what was responsible for military success and failure. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kingfish Posted December 16, 2007 Share Posted December 16, 2007 Originally posted by Alsatian: And the word Salerno is not found anywhere at the Scenario Depot. Nor Avalanche. Using google anyway. Salerno scenarios that I know of: The Creek (already mentioed by Andreas) A Walk in the Sun Winter Line scenarios: A Mountain Reteat Bare Arse Ridge Pantano Knobs Point 441 Prelude to Anzio Anzio scenarios: A Ranger's last stand Brits at Anzio Operations: Castleforte (Gustav Line) Island Hill (Winter Line) Little Stalingrad (Winter / Gustav line) Rush of Jousts (Anzio) Santa Maria Infante (Gustav Line) 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SgtMuhammed Posted December 16, 2007 Share Posted December 16, 2007 Santa Maria Infante is one of the best. Didn't rune do that one or Berli? 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kingfish Posted December 16, 2007 Share Posted December 16, 2007 Neither. That was one of Moon's creations. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JonS Posted December 16, 2007 Share Posted December 16, 2007 Originally posted by Bigduke6: I recently read Atkinson's 2nd book and I was a bit underwhelmed. ... The book seems US-centric.Well, the trilogy is about the US Army, so that's to be expected really. Hasting's Armageddon I think is an example of the better approach for a large campaign history ...I lapped Hasting's books up like a puppy dog back in the day. I've rather gone off him over the last 10 years or so - his self-promotion (e.g. in regards to Port Stanley) and idolisation of the Nazi's is a bit overwhelming. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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