The Bottom Line
The Imperial War Museum's compilation of veterans' accounts is too lightweight for regular readers on the Second World War, but for everyone else this is a solid look at D-Day through the words of its participants. Their modesty is a welcome corrective to the Ambrose-style school of authors.
Pros
- A collection of good primary material.
- Heavily illustrated.
- Both Allied and Axis soldiers included.
Cons
- Lightweight history.
Description
- Hardback, 192 pages including glossary and timelines.
- Profusely illustrated throughout.
- Published by HarperCollins, ISBN: 0007175663.
- In association with the Imperial War Museum.
Guide Review - Remembering D-Day – Personal Histories of Everyday Heroes by Martin Bowman
'Remembering' D-Day is no false boast, for around a set of succinct timelines, mission plans and summaries Martin Bowman has compiled the memories, stories and eye-witness accounts of soldiers who were there. Indeed, the author's narrative is confined to boxed sections, allowing the veteran's words to take center stage. With a chapter devoted to each of the Overlord beaches, two more chapters to the American and British paratroop attacks and further sections on the preperation and the aftermath, most aspects of the invasion are covered readers can quickly access the material. Crucially, German soldiers have also been included, allowing readers a glimpse at the totality of events.Of course, this collection can't match the depth of larger historical narratives or specialised accounts; instead, 'Remembering D-Day' moves you quickly from man to man, place to place and Bowman's inserts are only, but usefully, introductory. I don't consider this a problem: we need books for non-historians or people who simply wish to learn generally about an event, and these primary accounts have an emotional resonance modern commentators can't match. In addition, the book is heavily illustrated with photographs and drawings on nearly every page.
