Book Description
This book traces the interaction of war and diplomacy and analyzes why the Falklands conflict of 1982 engaged the British and Argentine people in a deeply personal way. It also examines the interpretation of the war in Britain, revealing how the war--a successful one--was seen by its critics as an example of "Thatcher's Britain." This "small war" exemplified what one historian calls "the myriad faces of war" and had--and has--resonances larger than its size. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Good scholarly account
D.G. Boyce steps a little bit out of his comfort zone for this book on this conflict between the UK and Argentina, which took place in the South Atlantic over the issue of the sovereignty of the isolated Falkland Islands.The highly prolific Boyce has an excellent track record, particularly in Irish history, and also in general British imperial history.He's competent in military, political, and intellectual history, though he's probably done more work in the latter field than in the former two.

Nonetheless, Boyce produced a quality, detailed, scholarly account, with his usual excellent research and writing skills.This is the single best scholarly (as opposed to 'popular') historical account of this conflict that I've come across so far (though I by no means claim to have read them all.)My only complaints are that there are a fair number of typos, which is not typical of Boyce(I suspect it was written and/or edited in a hurry to meet a deadline); also, the citations are not standard (and relatively unobtrusive) footnotes or endnotes.Instead, they're a strange parenthetical format that I found a bit annoying (again, this may have been imposed on Boyce, because all of his other books that I've read had good old foot- or endnotes.)That said, if you want a high-quality academic account of the Falklands War, this is an excellent place to look. ... Read more

Book Description
The Falklands War is an ideal showcase for how British policy evolved in the 1970s and 1980s. The background of the dispute is given first and then the events that precipitated the 1982 conflict. An extensive examination of the military aspects of the war is then provided. An overview follows of the many hypotheses offered for the British motivation to recapture the Falklands. The Falklands War did not result in a dramatic shift in British defense policy, but did show the importance of external developments and political realism in policy formation. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

very good read
I enjoyed this book. I thought it to be very insightful and accurate. A very well though out, pieced together book.

very good
As you can read the other review on this site...was obviously written by one of poor education. Dr. Daniel Gibran is an expert on all that he claims to be. The book supplies more then enough information. I am sure this book would be hard to understand, if the reader is uneducated.

Poorly written
I have a hard time believing a PHD and Department Head wrote this book.I got the book out of curiosity after hearing Dr. Gibran on TV.The book was unlike any other academic book I've ever read, it would have been a joke at any other college with a real International Relations Department.The poor guy is constantly billing himself as a International Relations expert, a History Expert, a Terrorism Expert, anything he can do to get his face on TV as an "expert" commentator.Save your money, buy Dr. Seuss. ... Read more

Book Description
The Falklands War was a turning point in modern British history, yet its significance is often overlooked. Drawing on thousands of interviews with soldiers and civilians, this is the definitive oral history of this conflict. ... Read more

Book Description
A Remarkable New History of the Falklands War in the Words of Those Who Were There.

The latest addition to the landmark Forgotten Voices series gives a unique perspective on a pivotal but often overlooked conflict.


From the Compact Disc edition. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Too Choppy
The book consists of quotes and excerpts from interviews only,I found it difficult to follow as there is very little commentary linking the various quotes. ... Read more

Product Description
The previously untold story ofhow Ascension Island was crucialto the success of British operationsduring the Falklands War. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Ascension Island staging post for the Falklands
Let me say up front that I am biased as I contributed to this book.Capt. Bob McQueen asked many of those involved in turning Ascension Island into a supply-staging base to write a chapter remembering the activities going on around us.The results are most interesting.At the time I was the American Base Commander of the USAF airfield located on Ascension.We became the supply line for the British fleet sailing south to the Falklands.I thought I knew most of what was going on at the time but I found by reading Island Base many things happened that I was not aware of.I am sure that my interest results from my involvement, however anyone interested in the many activities necessary to support a military action will find these stories fascinating.The many pictures help tell the story and give a feel for the enormity of the task accomplished by this small island. ... Read more

Book Description
The extensive bibliography of the Falklands War has one glaring exception, the part played by the legendary Gurkhas. Regarded by many as the world's finest infantry soldiers, the fiercesome reputation of these Nepalese troops for bloodthirsty aggression and stealth put real fear into the Argentine troops and civil population. They sailed with 5 Infantry Brigade on the QE 2 and played a key role in the surrender of the occupiers.

Written by one of their officers, this book conveys the professional, personal and emotional aspects of the Gurkhas' involvement. It provides a unique insight into a fighting force surrounded by mystique. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Viva La Gurkhas
The Book was well written.I could not put it down for anything.The author has done wonderful job. The author's honest and accurate description is very commendable.I thoroughly enjoyed the book. I know the Gurkhas follower would enjoy the the book tremendously.I particularly like the actual and factual information in the book.The Argentines were not describing the Gurkhas accurately.I suppose that was the good projection of Gurkhas when the reality is distorted.The best part I ejoyed reading about the Gurkhas are the professionalism and discipline they show in the kaos of the battle field no matter where they are in the globe.I am proud say that their duty, devotion to soldiering and resposobility are next to none. I very strongly recomment this book to all the Gukhas followers.I'll always be the Gurkhas follower.Jai Gurkhas. ... Read more

Book Description
This book provides new light on the way the Argentine forces were organized for war, the plans and reactions of the commanders, the sufferings of the soldiers and the shame and disillusionment of defeat. Martin Middlebrook has produced a genuine 'first' with this unique work.

Martin Middlebrook is the only British historian to have been granted open access to the Argentines who planned and fought the Falklands War. It ranks with Liddel Hart's The Other side of the Hill in analyzing and understanding the military thinking and strategies of Britain's sometime enemy, and is essential reading for all who wish to understand the workings of military minds.

The book provides new light on the way Argentine forces were organized for war, the plans and reactions of the commanders, the sufferings of the soldiers and the shame and disillusionment of defeat. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

Well written
A good book covering the angles from a different side - detailed in some areas but silent on others especially as a cross reference against the very British publications (eg Max Hastings etc).
A very good book on the individual stories and very well worth the read if nothing more than on the very different perspective from the Argentine side.

A must read if you have any interest in this conflict...
I have never read one of Mr Middlebrook's books before, but I am now searching for other titles by him.Because this was one of those books that I had a hard time putting down. Up front let me say that my nationalty is British and I can remember the Falklands War like it was yesterday.However despite having read numerous accounts of the British Victory very little has been said from the perspective of the soldiers who wore the Argentine Unform.This book changes all that, and thru what where obviously some pretty intense interviews as you read this book you start to get a feeling and even an understanding of the passions and emotions of the young soldiers facing the Brits. In the western press we hear about the superiority of the British War machine during the conflict; however the Argentines did put up a spirited if ineffective defence of the Falklands.Another thing that I thought was very interesting about this book is that we get to see how and why misinformation was distributed in the fog of war.I suppose the difference between the British and Argentine governments is that we laid open the books after the conflict to the public versus the Argentines who outright lied to preserve face. Then there are the issues of the foot soldiers on the Argentine side who despite facing what is arguable the best trained army in the world, displayed uncommon gallantry far and above what the pro British press has previously reported. About the only thing I wish Mr Middlebrook had fleshed out a little more is politcs of the Argentines on the mainland.

The Falklands War from an Argentine Perspective?
For those of you looking for something different to Sir Lawrence Freedman's official history, or Max Hastings 'Falklands War', try Martin Middlebrook's 'The Argentine Fight for the Falklands'. I bought it thinking it was another Argentine perspective. But for Falklands analysts it is still worth having in the library. Pages 131-132 alone are worth the price. Two British frigates were very nearly sunk by an Argentine submarine. Why they survived makes interesting reading and is very useful for capability analysis today. ... Read more

Book Description
For many people it was 3 Commando Brigade, commanded by Major General Julian Thompson, and made up of Royal Marines and Para's that recaptured the Falklands. Yet 5th Infantry Brigade played a key and until now little acknowledged role in this extraordinary saga. Cobbled together in haste (having been stripped of its assets to bring 3 Commando Brigade up to strength), it comprised principally of two Guards battalions (2nd Scots and 1st Welsh) and the Gurkhas. Many felt it was inadequately trained when it sailed from Southampton on the QE 2 and this view was given substance by early disasters such as the tragedy at Bluff Cove. Yet by the end, its contribution, of which Tumbledown is the best known, could not be denied. Why then was its commander (Brigadier Tony Wilson) so conspicuously ignored when the medals and decorations were handed out? ... Read more

Customer Reviews (4)

25th Anniversary of the Falklands War
This year marks the 25th anniversary of the Falklands War. I was a kid when this war broke out.It seemingly came out of nowhere, even though there was a long history associated with it.I first read this book not long after the conclusion of the war.Reading it again 25 years later it still comes across as a nice, concise history of the conflict.To most Americans the Falklands seemed an absurd confrontation. This book provides a pretty good background for events leading up to and including the war.The determined Argentine position is contrasted by the almost absent-minded policy of the British Foreign Office.Included are the bumbling US efforts by Reagan and Haig to try and halt the war at the last minute.The US finally had to throw its lot in with the UK after several embarrassing episodes involving Jean Kirkpatrict at the UN.

The war itself was a throwback to another time.Similarities to Queens Victorias Little Wars of the 19th Century were certainly there, but that is where it ended.This would be a late 20th century conflict with all the modern military technology in play.Both sides would have pros and cons.The more professional and stronger British military was balanced somewhat by logistics, and by the advanatges Argentina had with closer land-based aircraft.Both sides would make the most of their positions, and each played a strong game.The Argentine Air Force, considered the weaker player within themilitary Juanta at the time, actually put in the best performance.

The vulnerability of the Royal Navy at San Carlos, aptly called Bomb Ally, could have lost the conflict for the British.British resources, while superior, were not abundant, and the Task Force sent under Sandy Woodward was only just adequate for the job.In the end it was the vastly superior quality of the British infantry, Royal Marines, Paras, Guards and Gurkhas that decisively tipped the balance on land, despite heavy odds.One is struck by the relatively light casualties in the conflict, especially on land.Argentine losses were higher for sure, but it seems both sides could have lost a lot more men considering the open nature of the fighting on land.The single greatest loss of life was the sinking of the aging Belgrano Cruiser, itself a very controversial act.
The war provided a fascinating study for NATO weapons systems, with both sides using them to advantage.

This book, put together by the British Times News experts on scene provides a very readable, and for the most part balanced account of the war.The tone may be slightly pro-British at times, but not excessively so.Most of the eye-whitness descriptions are British, and if the book suffers at all it is from a lack of Argentine perspective.Still, as an introductory book on the war I found that it holds up well after 25 years!
What the fate of the Falkland Islands will be in the future only time will tell.Could we see a second Falkland's War on the Horizon?

Incomplete
As with any war, the military aspect of it is only part of the story, and that is where the book fails.The war in the Malvinas was not between Britain and Argentina, it was between the Military Government in Argentina and the Argentinean people.Britain was a bystander that necessarily had to be involved.The country was falling apart, and, as is correctly highlighted, the governmment hoped to stir a wave of patriotism somehow.The Malvinas were as good an excuse as any.But there is no way a bunch of untrained, hungry kids (yes, kids), wearing cloth tennis shoes and thinking of nothing else but going home were going to win a war against Britain, regardless how many miles the English had to travel.The Argentineans were already distrustful of the military dictatorship (with good reason).If the military dictatorship in Argentina was at all concerned about winning, they would have made sure that the clothes and food donations being made throughout the country to support the troops would have actually gotten there (necessary morale boost).But nothing happened.The British were more efficient than they had hoped for and the rest is history.The Malvinas were an example of a government deliberately murdering its own people in a last gasp effort to survive.Britain is the smallest element of this story, and a book that doesn't address this fact is incomplete.

A small, but very significant war, excellently covered.
The Falkland Islands, (Islas Malvinas), are a windswept, rainy archipelago in the South Atlantic, peopled by persons of British descent who are largely engaged in sheep raising.Not a place to fight a bloody war over, you say?Wrong, and the Sunday Times Insight team does a most excellent job of explaining how and why the war came about, how it was fought, and how the British prevailed.

My fellow reviewer has excellently reported the problems faced by the United States in this war, and I can add nothing.Instead, I would like to address the Insight team's analysis of the problems faced by the Argentines and the British, commencing with the latter.

The lack of British anticipation of the Argentine invasion is detailed, as are the reasons for it.The Argentine plan was to present a fait accompli to the world, but the British were not prepared to abandon the islands so easily, even though they were 8,000 miles away.Instead, a makeshift armada was jury-rigged, and plans were made as the ships proceeded south.Distance continued to plague the British in terms of air battles, as heavy bombing was almost impossible.The Argentine planes had superior speed, but the British carrier-based Harriers were more manuverable and carried the day.Heavy weather equally bothered both sides.

The Argentine Navy was no match for the British and immediately retired to port after a single cruiser was torpedoed and sunk.The Argentine Air Force had no real bombers and used Skyhawks and Mystere fighter jets as bombers.The Argentine Exocet missile raised hob with British ships and the war may have gone differently had a few more been available.

The key difference was in the armies.The Argentines occupied the Falklands with a great many more troops than were available to the British, yet the British easily routed the Argentines.I agree with the Insight teams's conclusion that the reason lies in the fact that British soldiers are trained for warfare, which includes such things as washing clothes and dishes, digging latrines, making tents, and like menial tasks, as well as fighting battles.Argentine troops came from an army trained to break up riots, keep civil order, and the like, and the referenced menial tasks were deemed beneath their dignity. In a cold, windy, rainy place like the Falklands, under battlefield conditions, the Argentine Army broke down, and although many of their troops fought bravely, their units were simply "outtrained" and outmatched.

We now know that the Falklands, and their surrounding continental shelf, show extremely promising oil formations, and that Argentina's action may have been a prelude to further sub-Antarctic and Antarctic territorial claims.This the British could not endure, and so they fought.

This war had larger implications than first seen.Certainly, the course of Argentine history was greatly affected, as the country's military government fell after the defeat, and was replaced by a civilian-led democracy.Naval strategy, worldwide, changed after it was seen how a few well-aimed missiles could nearly destroy a fleet, and how aluminum-built vessels easily caught fire..The area remains a potential tinderbox, but is heavily garrisoned by British troops, who actually outnumber the local inhabitants.

This book is well written, well-supplied with photographs and maps, and is the best book on the topic, I believe.Very highly recommended to war buffs and students of history.

Even-handed explanation of a small war that changed a lot
The war in the south Atlantic over the Falkland Islands (Isles Malvinas) between Britain and Argentina in 1982 was one that seemed inevitable, and yet at the same time pointless. The historical record of ownership, well explained in the book, is a murky one, with neither nation having a paramount one. At that time, the military junta ruling Argentina was in a desperate state. The Argentine economy was in trouble again, and there was a growing undercurrent of popular discontent. Therefore, the leadership decided to launch a foreign war of expansion, based on two assumptions, only one of which was true.
They correctly believed that a successful invasion of the Falklands would unleash a wave of patriotism throughout Argentina that would submerge all the other problems in their society. However, they underestimated the resolve of Britain to maintain their control of the islands, and completely misread the position of most of the other nations in the world, especially the United States. It should have been obvious to the Argentines that the United States could not allow their NATO ally to be defeated, and therefore the Reagan administration ultimately would come down on the side of Britain.
The series of negotiations that led to war, described so well in the book, was a situation where both sides felt that they could not budge from their rigid positions. In many ways, there was a sense of inevitable tragedy about the positions taken by both the Argentines and the British. In this atmosphere, not even personal intervention by President Reagan could avoid the conflict. Of course, there was posturing between the major figures handling foreign policy for the Reagan administration. Specifically, Secretary of State Alexander Haig and Ambassador to the United Nations Jeane Kirkpatrick had opposing views that were played out in the press and served to complicate the issue.
Two major points in the book made a significant impression on me. The first was how outnumbered the British really were. Some of their victories were successful assaults against an entrenched enemy where they were outnumbered three and four to one. This is not to say that the Argentine forces simply gave up. They fought very well, in many cases the fighting was vicious hand-to-hand that was to the death. It truly was a war that was won by the bravery and tenacity of the British troops, and not really due to the technical prowess of the weapons. The second was the fact that a few more Exocet missiles could have led to an Argentine victory. The ones they had were able to inflict great damage to the British ships, and had the Argentines been able to hit the British aircraft carriers, it is most unlikely that the British could have won. To sum it all up, the clear conclusion is that while the British victory was total, it could have easily gone the other way.
While it will go down in history as a minor war over a very minor set of islands, the Falklands war ushered in a new era in warfare, in that ships were now more vulnerable than ever to weapons launched from great distances. It also led to a dramatic change in the Argentine political climate, leading to an end to the military rule that had carried out an extensive and one-sided civil war. This book will place you in the center of the action, military, diplomatic and political, and explains a great deal about how it all came about. ... Read more

Book Description

Book Description
The 1982 campaign in the Falklands continues to fascinate a wide audience, both in Great Britain and beyond. Nick van der Bijl describes in detail all the major actions of the campaign and, unlike some European writers, has interviewed Argentine participants and reveals a number of key factors that were not apparent to the British at the time. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

Get over it Juan, you lost !
It was a close run thing yes; the British retook the Falklands on Argentina's doorstep, 8000 miles from the UK, with a fraction of the manpower employed by the Argentinians. There was never any doubt that the Argentinians could fight, but they met a more highly trained and tougher force in the British.
Democracy 1, Fascism Nil.

A Mighty Close Run Thing
This work investigates the British post-war myths that have grown unchallenged.The Spanish-speaking author was an intelligence officer in 3 Commando Brigade (Royal Marines) and heard 3 Commando Brigade's commander and the 3 Para battalion commander conferring by radio on the night of June 11/12 1982.THERE WAS A TREMENDOUS TEMPTATION TO WITHDRAW 3 PARA FROM MONTE LONGDON; most of the opposition coming from the 7th Infantry Regiment platoon of First Lieutenant Raul Castaneda.The Argentine platoon is recorded by the author of having 'gained a reputation for reckless courage', and forcing a temporary British withdrawal.Two platoons from 3 Para had to withdraw and leave casualties behind when it came under accurate fire from the 7th Infantry Platoon.
Van der Bijl was fortunate in being able to interview most of the Argentine regimental commanders involved in the battles of the land war.Lieutenant-Colonel Omar Gimenez said his 7th Infantry Regiment on Wireless Ridge had been overwhelmed by superior firepower.Van der Bijl also met the Commanding Officer of the 4th Infantry Regiment whose name is Diego Soria.The Argentine colonel said he and his B Company commander discussed the possibility of breaking out from Monte Harriet after the counterattack by his regiment had failed.Van der Bijl was also fortunate in being given the war diaries of the Argentine Special Forces - on one occasion the 3 Para Patrols Platoon ambushed several Army Commandos from Compania de Comandos 601 but they had not counted on the courage of the Argentine Commandos at close quarter.The Argentines charged headlong into the ambush and were able to route the Paras on this occasion!The most controversial clash occured in the early morning of Malvinas Day (June 10).During a fierce action two Argentine Commandos were killed.Major Aldo Rico from Compania de Comandos 602 was reported as having said that the battle was fought on the centre of Murrell River, and he claimed at least four Royal Marines were killed.
The author tells for the first time the true story of the Malvinas Land War, as seen through the eyes of both the British professional soldiers and the Argentine conscripts and regulars.According to Nick van der Bijl the Argentines fought well.During the attack on Cerro Dos Hermanas (Two Sisters) the 4th Regiment platoon of Second Lieutenant Marcelo Llambias-Pravaz with limited night visibility devices (2 night vision goggles) blocked 45 Commando's X-Ray Company for three hours before caving in!On the eastern end of Two Sisters the 6th Regiment platoon of Second Lieutenant Aldo Franco engaged in holding 45 Commando's Yankee Company off along the eastern ridge.The Argentine platoon conducted a spectacularly successful delaying action employing the standard leap frog tactics; one section on the ground holding the Royal Marines off, one section setting up the next fall back position and one section in movement and caused the proposed attack on Mount Tumbledown by the 45 Commando battalion commander to be aborted!And the author found that it took 42 Commando's L Company (on Monte Harriet) nearly SIX HOURS TO ADVANCE 600 METRES.The Argentine platoon which had held them up was commanded by Second Lieutenant Eugenio Bruny who was wounded and was later decorated.
It was reported in the United States that the British Artillery gave the British infantry their advantage over the Argentines.In the final count the British relied on anti-tank rocket launchers in close quarter combat.
But then the whole thing would have been different if the 2nd, 14th and 17th Airborne Infantry Regiments (from the Argentine Army 4th Airborne Brigade) had been parachuted across Wickham Heights, the Venezuelan government reportedly offering a brigade of their own parachute troops to help in Malvinas!!!

A good picture
I found this book, although expensive, a good general review of the war.Having read approx 20 books on the subject, there were still some unknownpoints.However, there were a few faults! One of the main ones is thatArgentine relatives were never refused permission to visit the graves oftheir relatives.By stating this, it made the Islanders look inhuman anduncaring, which they were not! ... Read more

Book Description
Every member of the armed forces who took part in the Falklands Campaign of 1982 can claim that his particular role was unique in that it was experienced by himself alone.But in so far as it is possible for one thing to be more unique than another, Ewen Southby-Tailyour's role certainly qualifies for that accolade.

In 1977 he was ordered to the Falkland Islands to command the Royal Marines detachment then stationed there and to restructure the defence procedures for the Islands over the following year.During this time he also conducted an exhaustive study of the coastline, carrying out the only detailed survey to be made of many of the beaches and their immediate approaches since the mid-nineteenth century. He returned to England in 1979 and when the Argentinians invaded the Islands three years later he immediately put his unquestionably unique experience and information at the disposal of the Task Force then being rapidly assembled.He added one priviso, that he be allowed to accompany the Force.Brigadier (then) Julian Thompson had no hesitation in accepting both his offer and his terms, and in very short time he was heading south once more.

Reasons in Writing tells his story largely through the medium of diaries and letters written during his peacetime tour of duty in the seventies and the war itself.As he explains, his somewhat maverick role did not always met with the approval of someof the more conventionally-minded senior officers, but although modesty restrains him from making such a claim, there can be no doubt that, without his unrivalled knowledge of the Islands, the job which the Task Force so successfully accomplished would have been immeasurably more difficult and taken considerably longer.

Reasons in Writing, is unlikely to be rivaled for its immediacy, insight and deep and genuine feeling for the Islands themselves, based on experience gained (unlike any other participant civilian or service) before, during and after that austral winter of 1982. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

Narcissism, Nineties Style
After terrible disappointment and mind-bending boredom inflicted by the author's "Falkland Islands Shores", I promptly committed an admittedly irrational act and returned for more.

Yes, this author is a skilled raconteur, but one can't escape the feeling that he has been dining out on these well-honed anecdotes for years and years.The last half of the book is devoted to the 1982 Falklands War, with every conceivable pat upon his own camo-clad back, but did we really need to know the details of his vasectomy?Does his having roundly dissed his commander, aka Colonel Strawberry, portray a disciplined and loyal officer?And why on earth would we want to know that he got tanked on Black Velvets at the Guinness tent at Cowes?

This book reverberates to the overwhelming refrain of "I-I-I-I, me-me-me-me".Pass up this narcissistic paen by a Royal Marine peon.Read Nick Vaux's "Take That Hill!" instead.

A Well-Chosen Title by A Controversial Author
There are many things to like about this colorful and delightfully personal memoir by one of the most centrally-placed participants in the Falklands Conflict.Southby-Tailyour's role in helping senior British commanders understand their battlefield and ultimately choose their landcourse of action was pivotal.He describes his contribution in abundantdetail, going back to his pre-war posting in Stanley with his wife andchildren and his rocky, sometimes bitterly frustrating relations with theFalklands civil authorities, to covering how his detailed knowledge of thegeography and weather later influenced wartime operational analysis.Mostimportant, however, are the details he provides about his strangelyunconventional role during the land campaign itself, specifically duringthe amphibious assault at Port San Carlos and the catastrophe that befellSir Galahad and Sir Tristram in the climactic days of the Battle forStanley.Readers from other armies will be fascinated by the esprit andcourage of the British marines as well as the seemingly murky anddisorganized mission analysis and situational thinking of both British seaand land commanders.The complexities of British military-politicalrelations is richly illustrated on several levels.In all, this book is animportant contribution to our understanding of the Falklands Conflict andis delightful to read thanks to the first-hand knowledge, enthusiasm andeccentricity of its author.

A Well-Chosen Title by A Controversial Author
There are many things to like about this colorful and delightfully personal memoir by one of the most centrally-placed participants in the Falklands Conflict.Southby-Tailyour's role in helping senior British commanders understand their battlefield and ultimately choose their landcourse of action was pivotal.He describes his contribution in abundantdetail, going back to his pre-war posting in Stanley with his wife andchildren and his rocky, sometimes bitterly frustrating relations with theFalklands civil authorities, to covering how his detailed knowledge of thegeography and weather later influenced wartime operational analysis.Mostimportant, however, are the details he provides about his strangelyunconventional role during the land campaign itself, specifically duringthe amphibious assault at Port San Carlos and the catastrophe that befellSir Galahad and Sir Tristram in the climactic days of the Battle forStanley.Readers from other armies will be fascinated by the esprit andcourage of the British marines as well as the seemingly murky anddisorganized mission analysis and situational thinking of both British seaand land commanders.The complexities of British military-politicalrelations is richly illustrated on several levels.In all, this book is animportant contribution to our understanding of the Falklands Conflict andis delightful to read thanks to the first-hand knowledge, enthusiasm andeccentricity of its author. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Very good book on a overlooked subject!
With a lack or "great" titles on this subject, this book is my favorite if the 3 I have read.Middlebrook has a great style in writing and all of his works always hits the mark.While not wasting very much time with the events on the world stage, Middlebrook informs the reader on this important "war" fought at the height the Cold War.The reader is given many first person accounts (mostly British, with some Argentine, and Falklander comments) which greatly add to the enjoyment of this book.The reader can see how the UK, one of the worlds Former "superpowers" could very easily have lost this war and control over the Falklands.The Land, Sea, and Air stories are all told (the Air war was lacking of the 3), as well as some of the behind the scenes maneuverings in London, Buenos Aries, and Ascension Island. Logistically the British were very challenged, this point was not delved into enough for my liking.Over all, a great author comes through again.

Good but heavy
Again written in Middlebrook's style. Lots of details but heavy to read. He includes chapters from the start which explain the issues surrounding the war, the initial invasion by the Argentines and life for theinhabitants after the war starts. There are also chapters on the sinking ofthe General Belgrano and the Sheffield and the immensly interesting"Black Buck" missions the British launched from Ascension Island.This book is difficult to read due to the amount of information thatMiddlebrook includes, however, don't be put off by this. The book is anexcellent introduction to the Falklands War and explains how it unfolded.If you are interested in the wider perspective of the war then you shouldtry Nigel West's " Secret War for the Falklands ". ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Excellent. Very objective. Worth reading from start to end.
This book lets us know more about the Malvinas/ Falklands conflict, from an objective point of view. Besides, it tells the story from an interesting perspective, and it helps people comprehend more the situation thatsurrounded the conflict, telling us more about both countries fighting. Asan Argentinean myself I highly recommend it, because it shows the conflictfrom an objective point of view. Gordon Smith is a superb writer and hereally knows what he is writing about. ... Read more