tedious

Apart from the personal accounts, the real meat of this book is how Latimer compares the vices and virtues of Panzerarmee Afrika and 8th Army, as Rommel's ragged drive for victory placed him in just the right spot to allow the British superiority in infantry, logistics, artillery, and air power to deal a telling blow. As aggravating a man as Bernard Montgomery was, and this book makes no effort to sugar-coat this reality, Latimer also reminds you of why the man achieved the station he did. Monty had good nerves and was one of the few serious professionals in a service that suffered from too many gentlemen amateurs. In particular, while Monty is justly chastised for not engaging in a more spirited pursuit of the remains of the Axis forces (and Latimer makes it clear that Rommel was well and truly smashed), the important point is made that the British tank generals had not covered themselves with glory in terms of displaying competance, over and above British issues of logistics and the pall of bad weather that helped to cover the Italo-German retreat. This book is of value both to someone merely looking for an introduction to the battle or a reader who already enjoys a good background in the subject. ( )