XXX Corps, one of the most formidable and experienced corps in Montgomery's armoury, has carved out an enviable reputation for itself in battle that few can match. Their story is meticulously researched in A Final Reckoning, which is a brutal blow-by-blow account as seen by the men at the front when they fought in some of the bloodiest battles of WW2. It is an unflinching look into the horrors of combat and the author makes no attempt to mythologise his subject. Against fierce opposition they forced their way into the Reich in 1944/45. This is the second volume of XXX Corps history, the first being A Stern Reckoning. Both books will be of interest to students of military history as well as people with a general interest in the experience of men in battle. The first-hand accounts used come from a variety of sources, many never seen before, some are from interviews conducted by the author himself over many years, others are from manuscripts sent to the author from his network of worldwide contacts, and others are from published and unpublished accounts written after the war as well as official publications. The impressive contemporary photographs give added poignancy to the men's words and their suffering is revealed starkly by the author as, in the final chapters, he demonstrates the ripples of grief and mourning that spread from the battlefield to home. A Final Reckoning is written with a thoughtful analysis and is the fruit of many years of careful research, that gives a gritty immediacy to the testimony of civilians and soldiers alike. 158 b/w photos, 9 b/w maps
