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Whistle Stopper - Killing Rommel: A Novel
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List Price: $24.95
Our Price: $12.45
Your Save: $ 12.50 ( 50% )
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Manufacturer: Doubleday
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Average Customer Rating:  
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Binding: Hardcover
Dewey Decimal Number: 813.54
EAN: 9780385519700
ISBN: 0385519702
Label: Doubleday
Manufacturer: Doubleday
Number Of Items: 1
Number Of Pages: 320
Publication Date: 2008-05-06
Publisher: Doubleday
Release Date: 2008-05-06
Studio: Doubleday
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Spotlight customer reviews:
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Customer Rating:
Summary: Excellent read
Comment: Killing Rommel by Steven Pressfield, bestselling author of Gates of Fire (a book now taught at West Point) chronicles the factually-inspired expedition of the Long Range Desert Group, an elite British special forces team founded in 1940, to kill Erwin Rommel.
The novel takes the form of a memoir (or perhaps more appropriately war diary) written by the fictional R. Lawrence Chapman, published after Chapman's death and much prodding by his deceased friend's son. It should be noted before reading the novel that the form which it takes presents a certain criterion for fully enjoying Killing Rommel: it is not a textbook, and the Second World War as a whole is not explained in any degree of detail. For the novel to be fully appreciated, it is necessary to approach Killing Rommel with at least a general knowledge of the war in order to put events, people, and places in their appropriate context. To balance this out, Pressfield ensures that the novel is accessible to readers regardless of their education on the war; technical terms are explained where necessary, and the localized nature of Chapman's memoir make little reference to events outside the scope of the book.
Chapman's account of his time spent with the Long Range Desert Group strikes an interesting balance between realistic descriptions of wartime horror and chivalric notions of lifelong romances blossoming in the midst of large-scale conflict. At times the reader is invited to take part in the `greatest generation' sentiment of the Second World War, with Chapman's sense of invigoration and freedom in the desert and a close friend's declaration that he is having the time of his life. Comrades-in-arms take enemy ambushes in stride and engage in playful banter when Jerry comes a-stalking; mid-day `brew ups' under the desert sun are leisurely breaks in the shade of a lorry. This changes, however, as the story progresses and the nature of war is revealed. Chapman's ever-present remorse after a particularly brutish engagement renders tangible the lifelong guilt felt by many soldiers, especially those in roles of authority. An internal exposition makes it clear that Chapman fully appreciates the oft-perceived senseless of war and the humanity of the Enemy, soldiers just like himself who are simply doing what they see as their patriotic duty or the better of undesirable options. This balance between Indiana Jones-style romance and realistic and unapologetic recollection brings out Pressfield's mastery of his genre. The necessity of the LRDG's duty is proven undeniable, but the reader does not finish the book with any illusions that war does not involve immense physical, emotional, and even spiritual pain.
The most remarkable achievement of Killing Rommel is its conveyance of respect for the Enemy, held for common troopers of the opposition but most importantly for Rommel himself. The `Desert Fox' was feared as an individual by nearly all British soldiers in North Africa; Pressfield's novel does nothing to discredit Rommel's character or paint him with stereotypical Nazi colors (and this is especially significant, as Rommel was never a Party member). Hatred never enters Chapman's mind, and his feelings for Rommel probably border on professional admiration. Clearly, Rommel was a military genius who simply had to be removed from the theatre of operations in order for the British Army to succeed. In another time and another place, Rommel could have been a valuable asset to have fighting at one's side.
There is a reason that Steven Pressfield is read at the United States Military Academy, and Killing Rommel is a good introduction to why that is true. Flowing plot and sparse tangential discussions make the novel excellent light reading with heavier implications and food-for-thought.
Customer Rating:
Summary: Superb military historical fiction
Comment: One can hope that Steven Pressfield will write more historical novels of World War II, for in "Killing Rommel" he establishes himself as an absolute master of the genre.
"Killing Rommel" is the story of the British Long Range Desert Group that ranged through North Africa in 1942 - 43. R. Lawrence Chapman is a young Lieutenant in the armor corps. We are introduced to Chapman in the late 1930s as he attends college, makes friends and falls in love with Rose. War breaks out and Chapman, along with his friends, joins the British military. He marries Rose before he leaves.
All this shapes the primary characters and is a clever device. We trail Chapman through his training and his arrival in Africa. Again, all this is well done stage-setting for what is to come.
Chapman is place on temporary duty with the Long Range Desert Group. Made famous in many books and movies, the "Desert Rats" ranged behind German and Italian lines in North Africa, destroying supply dumps and airplanes, taking prisoners and reconnaissance. Chapman is assigned an observer to report back on possible routes for British armor when - and if - they push the Germans and Italians back.
This mission begins with a very different assignment: to kill German Field Marshall Rommell, the legendary commander of the Afrika Corps.
It is the very well researched story of the Long Range Desert Group mixed in with the fictional Chapman's stay with the unit that makes this novel so memorable.
Chapman is a university graduate, not a professional soldier. He is intelligent and sensitive, not a born warrior. He is a product of English towns, not a desert dweller. And he is only 22 years old.
Pressfield takes us on the harrowing journeys of several LRDG patrols. You can feel the extremes of the desert: broiling hot in the day - bitter cold at night. Each patrol is essentially self-contained, responsible for keeping its few vehicles running. The Germans and Italians know the LRDG patrols are out there and hunt for them with armored cars, tanks and aircraft. This is war and death is a constant companion.
There is constant tension as the patrol makes its way across the desert. This is not a story of unremitting combat - the LRDG wasn't intended to engage in combat except as a last resort. Rather it is the story of incredibly brave men who went off into the desert, knowing very well they could die or be taken prisoner.
Pressfield depicts the strange chivalry of the Desert War. In fact, that chivalry is central to the story.
Chapman becomes real through Pressfield's words and storytelling skills. Each of the characters comes alive. The story takes Chapman through the war and to an extent, beyond it.
I don't want to get into too many details for fear of spoiling it for readers. "Killing Rommel" is terrific military history fiction and well worth reading.
Jerry
Customer Rating:
Summary: `Like many of my generation I did not go to war gravely and soberly ...'
Comment: By the autumn of 1942, France has fallen to Hitler's legions, the Soviet Union is reeling on the eastern front, and Britain is beleaguered. In North Africa, Field Marshal Erwin Rommel (`The Desert Fox') and his Panzers have routed the Eighth Army and, seemingly invincible, threaten the vital oilfields of the Middle East.
Out of desperation, the British plan to send a small, heavily armed mobile force behind enemy lines to strike a blow that will stop the Afrika Korps in its tracks. This force: the Long Range Desert Group, together with the SAS and Popski's Private Army, will become legendary.
This novel brings to life the ingenuity and daring of this unit. In doing so, it pays tribute to all of this who were part of this struggle. Told through the eyes of a young lieutenant (Chapman), this novel is both an uplifting tale of great courage, bravery and ingenuity as well as a sobering reminder that while governments declare wars, it is people who fight them. For those of us who are unfamiliar with the detail of this particular theatre of World War II, this novel provides a wonderful starting point. I want to know more about the actual events and characters depicted - especially Rommel.
Mr Pressfield has written a novel which is consistent with historical fact and acknowledges the contributions of the historical participants. It is also a tribute to the power of the imagination as expressed through the written word to bring events to life.
Jennifer Cameron-Smith
Customer Rating:
Summary: Six Stars
Comment: I'd give Pressfield's novel six stars if I could. I'll make no effort to summarize this excellent work. Read it. It's the riveting tale, written as a diary, of one man's experience in the Long Range Desert Patrol. The style is sparse but powerful. There is suffering, death and respect for honorable enemies. There is deep pathos and, although there is heroism aplenty, it is always understated and, precisely because it is understated, it is all the more vivid.
I read this novel in two sittings constantly marvelling at Pressfield's artistry, insight and humanity.
Ron Braithwaite author of novels--"Skull Rack" and "Hummingbird God"--on the Conquest of Mexico
Customer Rating:
Summary: Classic Pressfield
Comment: "Killing Rommel" is an excellent account of the little-known exploits of the LRDG in the dark early days of WWII. It's classic Pressfield in authenticity, drama, and good history. It delivers everything his fans have come to expect since the monumental "Gates of Fire."
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Editorial Reviews:
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To watch videos featuring the story behind Killing Rommel, visit www.KillingRommel.com
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Steven Pressfield’s quintet of acclaimed, bestselling novels of ancient warfare— Gates of Fire, Tides of War, Last of the Amazons, The Virtues of Wa,r and The Afghan Campaign— have earned him a reputation as a master chronicler of military history, a supremely literate and engaging storyteller, and an author with acute insight into the minds of men in battle. In Killing Rommel Pressfield extends his talents to the modern world with a WWII tale based on the real-life exploits of the Long Range Desert Group, an elite British special forces unit that took on the German Afrika Korps and its legendary commander, Field Marshal Erwin Rommel, "the Desert Fox."
Autumn 1942. Hitler’s legions have swept across Europe; France has fallen; Churchill and the English are isolated on their island. In North Africa, Rommel and his Panzers have routed the British Eighth Army and stand poised to overrun Egypt, Suez, and the oilfields of the Middle East. With the outcome of the war hanging in the balance, the British hatch a desperate plan—send a small, highly mobile, and heavily armed force behind German lines to strike the blow that will stop the Afrika Korps in its tracks. Narrated from the point of view of a young lieutenant, Killing Rommel brings to life the flair, agility, and daring of this extraordinary secret unit, the Long Range Desert Group. Stealthy and lethal as the scorpion that serves as their insignia, they live by their motto: Non Vi Sed Arte—Not by Strength, by Guile as they gather intelligence, set up ambushes, and execute raids. Killing Rommel chronicles the tactics, weaponry, and specialized skills needed for combat, under extreme desert conditions. And it captures the camaraderie of this “band of brothers” as they perform the acts of courage and cunning crucial to the Allies’ victory in North Africa.
As in all of his previous novels, Pressfield powerfully renders the drama and intensity of warfare, the bonds of men in close combat, and the surprising human emotions and frailties that come into play on the battlefield. A vivid and authoritative depiction of the desert war, Killing Rommel brilliantly dramatizes an aspect of World War II that hasn’t been in the limelight since Patton. Combining scrupulous historical detail and accuracy with remarkable narrative momentum, this galvanizing novel heralds Pressfield’s gift for bringing more recent history to life.
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