Been Reading Cornelius Ryan's A Bridge Too Far... (1 Viewer)

[arnhem44mad]

Started reading this last week and it is absolutely amazing. The movie is one thing but the book is so detailed and for a work of history it is so easy to read unlike some other books about Market Garden which I found to be too full of facts and figures. The book has really helped with my understanding of the battle of Arnhem and why the entire operation always had that risk factor. The movement of the paras and airlanding brigade toward the bridge is also really easy to understand through the maps and Ryan's description.

There are many things in the books which I would never have known until I read the book. A couple of things are the fact that J.O.E. Vandeleur wore a para smock. There was an RAF armoured communications vehicle riding behind Vandeleur's command car which was keeping in contact with the air support.

The RAF command car would make a nice release as would the command car with Vandeleur in a para smock! Would also love to see a figure of Brigadier Lathbury!

Reading this book has really got me to understand and appreciate the German point of view. Would be great to see some figures of Model and Bittrich, or even the German General in charge of Arnhem leaning out of his shot up staff car.

Would like to see some figures being released as the 1st Airlanding Brigade. Unloading supplies or even in attack poses.

Scott

 

[uksubs]

Started reading this last week and it is absolutely amazing. The movie is one thing but the book is so detailed and for a work of history it is so easy to read unlike some other books about Market Garden which I found to be too full of facts and figures. The book has really helped with my understanding of the battle of Arnhem and why the entire operation always had that risk factor. The movement of the paras and airlanding brigade toward the bridge is also really easy to understand through the maps and Ryan's description.

There are many things in the books which I would never have known until I read the book. A couple of things are the fact that J.O.E. Vandeleur wore a para smock. There was an RAF armoured communications vehicle riding behind Vandeleur's command car which was keeping in contact with the air support.

The RAF command car would make a nice release as would the command car with Vandeleur in a para smock! Would also love to see a figure of Brigadier Lathbury!

Reading this book has really got me to understand and appreciate the German point of view. Would be great to see some figures of Model and Bittrich, or even the German General in charge of Arnhem leaning out of his shot up staff car.

Would like to see some figures being released as the 1st Airlanding Brigade. Unloading supplies or even in attack poses.

Scott

Scott The RAF radio command car were used from the start of the invasion of France to call in 2nd tactical airforce

 

[theBaron]

Given your interest in Market Garden, I have to ask--you'd really never read the book before? Well, better late than never I agree with you 100% about Ryan's book. It's of a piece with "The Longest Day" and "The Last Battle", on the fall of Berlin. I have always enjoyed the amount of research he did, especially the interviews with participants. They're important additions to any WWII history buff's library.

Prost!
Brad

 

[Desertkiwi]

Scott, you'd enjoy the book by John Nichol & Tony Rennell "Arnhem, The Battle for Survival' it covers personal accounts from those dropped into Arnhem, including the Polish Paras and a number of Dutch civilians living in and around the battlefield. Harrowing stuff really and quite remarkable stories of survival.
Toddy

 

[arnhem44mad]

It's only in the past few years that I have discovered that I like reading books which include personal accounts. It started through reenacting while reading The Battalion and then I went to Rangers of WW2. I never really thought about the fact that I could possibly read up on accounts of Arnhem. I bought A bridge too far along with a few other books last year and thats me just got onto it. I was reading 'Hell's Highway' but I found it really hard to first of all get into, and then the directions aren't really very easy to understand and the maps are quite poor. I did appreciate what I was reading but I just found it a hard read.

Will need to have a look about and see if I can get some more as Toddy suggested!

Thanks lads!

Scott

 

[King & Country]

Hi Guys, hi Scott,

If I may let me add another book to your library on the Battle of Arnhem – Martin Middlebrook’s “ARNHEM 1944”.

If I remember correctly it was originally published back in 1994 but has been reissued several times since I’ve read quite a few “ARNHEM” books and, for me, this is the best one and most informative.

Grab it if you can…

Best wishes and happy reading!

Andy C.​

 

[graycap]

After the Battle's two volume study is great for photographic coverage and Kershaw's It Never Snows in September is essential for understanding the German side. Also if you can get it (via Library or second hand) is "Zeno's " novel The Cauldron based on the author's personal experience (written while he was doing time for murder)!

 

[arnhem44mad]

Hi Guys, hi Scott,

If I may let me add another book to your library on the Battle of Arnhem – Martin Middlebrook’s “ARNHEM 1944”.

If I remember correctly it was originally published back in 1994 but has been reissued several times since I’ve read quite a few “ARNHEM” books and, for me, this is the best one and most informative.

Grab it if you can…

Best wishes and happy reading!

Andy C.​

Thanks Andy! And thanks for reading!^&grin

Cheers Greycap!

Scott

 

[Rob]

Hey Scott, good to hear your enthusiasm for this book, we all love the internet but there is nothing like sitting down with a good read and learning something you didn't know, big or small. Thanks for the review ! :salute::

Best
Rob

 

[Panzer ace]

At bedtime when I was a very young child my dad would read me a “Bridge Too Far”. He read a little bit to me each night until the book was done. I loved it and it is probably one of the foundations of my love of military history. I still do not know any nursery rhymes but I know which units and generals were involved in Market Garden!

Those memories allow me to enjoy K&C’s Market Garden in a very distinctive way.

 

[arnhem44mad]

At bedtime when I was a very young child my dad would read me a “Bridge Too Far”. He read a little bit to me each night until the book was done. I loved it and it is probably one of the foundations of my love of military history. I still do not know any nursery rhymes but I know which units and generals were involved in Market Garden!

Those memories allow me to enjoy K&C’s Market Garden in a very distinctive way.

Hahaha brilliant mate!

Scott

 

[TomNT]

At bedtime when I was a very young child my dad would read me a “Bridge Too Far”. He read a little bit to me each night until the book was done. I loved it and it is probably one of the foundations of my love of military history. I still do not know any nursery rhymes but I know which units and generals were involved in Market Garden!
Those memories allow me to enjoy K&C’s Market Garden in a very distinctive way.

Something to pass onto your kiddies hey Jason!

Tom

 

[Panzer ace]

Something to pass onto your kiddies hey Jason!

Tom

Tom:

I called my dad about this last night. We had a great talk about the book and the movie. He joked about being one of the causes of my toy soldier collectiong. I am going to visit him soon. He asked me to bring some of my K&C Operation Market Garden figures so he can take a look at them.

 

[uksubs]

After the Battle's two volume study is great for photographic coverage and Kershaw's It Never Snows in September is essential for understanding the German side. Also if you can get it (via Library or second hand) is "Zeno's " novel The Cauldron based on the author's personal experience (written while he was doing time for murder)!

Yep three great books and lucky to have them in my collection

 

[Harry Faversham.]

%^V 'Remember Arnhem' is one of my top three, excellently written and the situation maps are superb. %^V​

 

[ExRanger]

It never snows in September is a great book.



Try these two books as well.

 

[ExRanger]

This is a great book on German Armour at Arnhem if you can find it.

 

[uksubs]

View attachment 144665
This is a great book on German Armour at Arnhem if you can find it.

Very hard to find now as well

 

[Iron Brigade]

I read the Cornelius Ryan book of "A Bridge Too Far" with copyright date of 1974 many years back now, but still remember it was very well written indeed. My book by him also indicates that he also wrote "The Longest Day" and "The Last Battle". Mr. Ryan wrote 8 books.

Mr. Ryan was born in Ireland in 1920. He began his career as a war correspondent in 1943 and covered the rest of WW2 in Europe until the fall of Berlin, he then covered the rest of WW2 in the Pacific. He came a USA citizen in 1951. He died in 1974.

"Iron Brigade"