I had heard somewhere that Brazen Chariots was an amazing book about armored warfare in North Africa during World War 2. Some time later I found a used hardback copy of the book and put it on the shelf, to await the appropriate opening in the reading queue. I pulled it down last week on a whim and, as it is only 240 pages long, ended up tearing through it in less than a week.
Amazon describes it thus:
"Unquestionably the finest narrative of tank warfare to come out of World War II."
―Los Angeles Times
A tank officer's story of the desert war in North Africa, "Brazen Chariots" is one of the most widely praised war books ever published. Major Robert Crisp recounts Operation Crusader, the great tank battle waged against Rommel's Afrika Korps on the borders of Egypt.
The story covers just a little more than 2 weeks of war in the desert, but it is exceptionally well written; dry (pun intentional), witty, raw and at times, heart breaking. I found myself stopping to admire turns of phrase and wondering about a man who could write with such frankness and eloquence. I was not surprised to learn Robert Crisp worked as a journalist; his story beyond the war can be found in part, here.
I highly recommend you read Brazen Chariots, and be prepared to want more when the book abruptly ends!
See ya!
I read that book a few years ago and enjoyed it as well. It really opened my eyes to how spread out the tankers could be from each other at times, and especially how difficult it was determining friend from foe.
ReplyDeleteExactly, Rodney. Got me thinking more about the "fog of war" and just how confused and unorganized the conflict could become.
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