Wednesday, December 18, 2019

Normandy '44: D-Day and the Battle for France, by James Holland.


I've just finished this book, which I borrowed from our local library when I saw it on the shelf. Holland states from the get-go that it's not a comprehensive review of the campaign, since it would take far too large a number of volumes to cover. Even so, he's done a pretty good job of covering the campaign in considerable detail. Some of the detail is graphic, since the Normandy campaign saw bitter fighting, so caution is advised if letting younger readers have access to the book.

It includes accounts of several episodes I didn't know about, or in scant detail. A number of the actions would translate very well for WW2 rules such as Chain of Command or I Ain't Been Shot, Mum. There are a couple of small errors in the text, which is down to an American not having quite the grasp of British culture. Two of the photographs are mislabeled. One of a British 5.5 inch howitzer is described as a 155mm gun, and King Tigers are incorrectly identified as Panthers. Working in the writing/publishing industry as I do, it's quite possible the fault for these latter mislabeling isn't down to the author but rather the publisher's research staff.

https://www.waterstones.com/book/normandy-44/james-holland/9781787631274

Gaming-wise, I'm in something of a lull. I find my interest in wargaming has waned lately, although I still like to read books and visit the various hobby blogs and websites. Nowadays I feel more involved in setting up my model railroad layout than getting figures on the table. I might play the next Dux Britanniarum game sometime over Xmas. We'll see.

5 comments:

Michael Awdry said...

I shall have to add this to the list A.J. sounds good.

Steve-the-Wargamer said...

Same as Michael.. also the Operation Chastise book... let's have some pictures of the railroad AJ! :o)

A J said...

I'll see what I can do, Steve. At the moment I'm working out track plans.

Steve-the-Wargamer said...

AJ, I'm such a geek I'd even find that interesting.. :o) There does seem to be a close linkage between some wargamers and the model railway buffs.. I don't have the time yet but I could see me building one in future..

A J said...

I know what you mean. Jim Jackaman has a railway blog alongside his gaming one. As it happens I unearthed something I'd forgotten I had - a box of N-scale flexible track along with a locomotive and three oil cars. Now N-scale would suit my confined hobby space better than HO. I'm currently looking at prices on eBay to see what would be available should I adopt the scale and come to expand on what I have.

 

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