NEWS FLASH – 24 February 2012

Manstein: Hitler’s Greatest General by Mungo Melvin is the US Society for Military History’s 2012 distinguished book award winner for the best biography/memoir.

Buy the Book (available in paperback in UK since March 3rd, 2011, and in the USA since June 7th, 2011, as a new hardback edition)

In the USA, see the Amazon.com website for deals and the latest on-line reviews.

In the UK, go straight away to the Amazon.co.uk website for some of the best on-line deals.  Have a look inside the book and read the reviews for yourself.  Alternatively, check out Waterstone’s both for their on-line offers and for the availability of the book at their stores around the country.  Hatchards in London’s Piccadilly usually has a very good stock.

Manstein: Hitler’s Greatest General is an ideal gift for both the military enthusiast and the general reader.

Book Cover Reviews (UK Hardback edition)

‘Superb’ – Andrew Roberts

‘Long overdue, hugely important and triumphantly executed; … A major achievement.’ – Richard Holmes

‘Perceptive, fascinating and refreshing’ – David Glantz

‘A comprehensive, vivid portrait’ – Rick Atkinson

A Selection of Book Reviews (all editions)

‘As a study … of how generals think, the operational dilemmas they face and the complexities of command, “Manstein” is unsurpassed.’(Alexander Rose, THE NEW YORK TIMES)

‘Mr. Melvin’s biography is meticulously researched, and his treatment of Manstein’s military prowess is thorough.’ (Tom Nagorski, THE WALL STREET JOURNAL)

“A searing portraint of soldierly prowess in a disastrous cause, Melvin’s comprehensive, judicious account will become the standard biography of Manstein in English.” (PUBLISHERS WEEKLY)

“First rate research, a narrative that is filled with unexpected twists and turns, and a powerful story make this must reading, especially for those who want to get a more nuanced view of WWII.’  (Larry Cox, TUCSON CITIZEN)

‘This crisp, compelling book, the first full-scale biography of Manstein in English… grapples with the Manstein myth and gets the measure of the man.’ (Christopher Silvester, DAILY EXPRESS )

‘Melvin is well attuned to the moral compromise of the Wehrmacht’s senior officers and his biography is markedly nuanced… Melvin is at pains to point out, Manstein’s military genius was ultimately to no avail when at the strategic level (Hitler and his staff) the direction was so flawed’ (Allan Mallinson, THE TIMES )

‘Mungo Melvin has written more than a biography of a great commander; this is a penetrating account of a general’s conflict with his political leader and the moral dilemmas involved.’ (SOLDIER Magazine)

‘General Melvin paints a compelling yet unflinching portrait of one of the military geniuses of the 20th century. It is a balanced analysis that places Manstein squarely within the context of his times. As Melvin notes, “Somewhere between the operationally gifted commander, respected by friends and foes alike, and the individual whom modern critics vilify on account of his association with war crimes, lies the ‘real’ Manstein.”’  (David T. Zabecki, Military History Quarterly, Summer 2010)

“Manstein is truly a work of high scholarship, matched by the quality of its execution. …[It] is an outstanding piece of work, and it has been a pleasure to review it.  It is a major addition to the literature, not just of general war but of war in general.” (Colonel Michael Crawshaw OBE, BRITISH ARMY REVIEW, No. 151, Spring 2011)

Further Reviews

‘General Melvin has created a highly researched and well balanced account of the life of, perhaps, the most skilled commander of any of the armed forces involved in the Second World War and I highly recommend the book to serving military personnel and to the general reader who has an interest in the military history of the period.’  (Bruce Condell, Editor/Co-Author, On the German Art of War, Truppenführung)

‘Melvin paints a fine portrait of this rather enigmatic individual – where duty was all – and provides an enlightening analysis of the German Army at war and the Faustian pact made by its ambitious commanders with their diabolical master.’  (Adrian Gilbert, War Books Review: June 2010 Book of the Month)

‘Melvin’s … nuanced perspective acknowledges the dilemma facing a senior commander confronted with not merely incompetent but illegal and immoral political direction.’ (Dennis Showalter, historynet.com)

‘Alongside volumes such as Slim’s Defeat into Victory, this book should be on the bookshelf on anyone with a serious interest in military command and leadership at the highest operational level.’ (Ian Shields, Defence Viewpoints)

‘Mungo Melvin’s formidable work deserves to become the definitive English-language biography of von Manstein. …[A] tour de force of research, analysis and authorship. Thoroughly recommended.’ (The Pennant, November 2010)

‘This is a major contribution to World War II historiography. It is fair minded, heavily researched and lucidly written. It will be of interest to students of World War II and the history of the German Army, as well as serving military officers.  …this is a fine book, a valuable contribution to our understanding of a man who – no matter what we think about his crimes and punishment – was one of the greatest generals of World War II.’  (Gerald D. Martin, on amazon.com)