“Magisterial. . . . Hastings’s gripping narrative blends individual accounts, sweeping reconstructions of battles and devastating criticisms of military and political leaders.” –The Washington Post Book World“Splendid . . . A book anyone with an interest in modern warfare will want to read.” –The New York Times Book Review“A grand achievement. Max Hastings is a brilliant military historian who enthralls the reader by combining mastery of high strategy and low tactics with poignant understanding of individual combat experiences. This is the last word on the last year of the greatest war in history.” –Arthur Schlesinger, Jr.“Hastings writes with authority, as well as humanity, about the realities of combat–the fear, smells, hunger, humiliation and the horrendous wounds inflicted. . . . Every leader contemplating a military operation, for whatever reason, should read this book and take several deep breaths.” –The Wall Street Journal
