Jack Smyth is a War Correspondent that finds himself embedded with a British paratrooper unit on its way to Arnhem in the fall of 1944. Anyone with a basic knowledge of WW II history knows that particular operation didn’t turn out all that well for the Allies.
A lot of the writing from WW II is written in the style of a formal report, stiff and pretentious. Not this story. It is a gritty portrayal of his own experiences as he slowly discovered his assignment, climbed aboard the aircraft with the troops, and without any training at all, jumped into Holland.
His experiences through that disaster are vivid portrayals of the confusion, frustration, and the logistical nightmare of such a large scale assault. He accurately describes the courageous actions of the troops involved, on both sides. The author survived the battle of Arnhem, was captured, interrogated and tortured, sent to a prison camp, and was liberated by U.S. troops in April of 1945.
Well written, with an easygoing style, it is a very enjoyable read. If you are a history buff or like 1st person accounts of historical events, I highly recommend this book.