Anyone know of a good biography or perferably an autobiography of Sir Bernard Law Montgomery? I would really like to see things from his point of view.
Monty wrote his memoirs which he imaginatively entitled "Memoirs". I don't think that the book is in print but a quick glance at www.abebooks.com shows lots of copies at low prices. His main biographer is Nigel Hamilton, who wrote a 3 volume biography & has subsequently written a book specifically on Monty's battles &, I think, a one volume biography.
Thanks Martin, I found one through Amazon here in the States. They are out of print but there are some Very Good copies in used books. Jim
Monty put his name to three usually sited books, El Alamein to the River Sangro (1948), The Memoirs of Field Marshal Montgomery (1958) and Normandy to the Baltic (1968), usually commented on as 'tailored' - then if they're personal viewpoints why not? Given when they were published they are subject to the restrictions of their time. Not a biography as such, but I would recommend reading Montgomery in Europe 1943-45: Success or Failure? by Richard Lamb. Typical of Lamb it's very well written with clear reasons for his conclusions and questioning. Lamb was a British Officer in Italy during the war. No.9
Originally posted by No.9@Oct 3 2005, 06:32 PM Not a biography as such, but I would recommend reading Montgomery in Europe 1943-45: Success or Failure? by Richard Lamb. Typical of Lamb it's very well written with clear reasons for his conclusions and questioning. Lamb was a British Officer in Italy during the war. [post=39717]Quoted post[/post] I must admit that I generally don't like Lamb as an author as I often find his arguments too thinly based. I certainly didn't like his War in Italy : A Brutal Story, but then it has been some years since I read it. There does of course exist numerous books on Montgomery. Some god, some bad! Of all these I think Nigel Hamilton's three volume biography is a must, however I would not recommend his one volume The Full Monty, which I think is awful and should never have been written. Of other biographies of Montgomery I have found these good: Roland Lewin: Montgomery as Military Commander Alistair Horne & David Montgomery (Monty's son): Monty : The Lonely Leader 1944-1945 Brian F. Montgomery (Monty's brother): A Field Marshal in the Family Michael Reynolds: Monty and Patton : Two Paths to Victory Kind Regards Steen Ammentorp The Generals of World War II
Well Ammentorp, you don't like Lamb which you're quite entitled not to. In respect of his War in Italy, this is of course not a complete history of the entire war in Italy, rather extremely accurate observations and points made from Lamb's point of view. I find the work brilliant and an essential inclusion for anyone seriously interested in understanding the war there and the country. For anyone who wants a quick thumbnail with the usual clichés, then it's very unlikely they would appreciate or even understand Lamb? Perhaps a commercial writer like Ambrose might suite them better - easily digested with plenty of 'Boys Own' waffle. No.9
No.9, Of course others may find Richard Lamb's books good while I don't and in this regard my comment on his authorship may have been wrong in view of your recommendation of it. It was just my personal view that I wrote without giving it further thought. And let me assure you that just because I disagree with some of Richard Lamb's methodology, arguments and conclusions it doesn't not mean that I want quick thumbnails with clichés – far from it! Kind Regards Steen Ammentorp The Generals of World War II
