A gripping story of friendship and division in the midst of warfare, set against one of the most dramatic, dangerous, and crucial campaigns of World War II: D-Day and the Battle of Normandy.
They went to war as boys. Will they make it home as men?
D-Day. June 6th, 1944. The trajectory of the Second World War – and with it the course of modern history – is changed for ever. For three young former schoolmates from South Wales, their war is only just beginning.
James was the school cricket captain. Now, a few short years later, he is in charge of a troop of Sherman tanks.
Mark, just nineteen, must lead a platoon of infantrymen into battle.
And Bill, always something of a loner, sees the heart of the fighting as a private soldier.
These young men, and thousands of others, are part of one of the bloodiest and most brutal episodes of the whole Normandy campaign: the battle for Hill 112. The horror, the fear, the filth; the savage fighting; the sheer exhilaration and moments of farce and laughter: those who come through the carnage will never be the same again.
Adrian Goldsworthy presents a spellbinding evocation of one of the key campaigns of World War II, based on real events and the records and reminiscences of those who were there. Perfect for fans of Robert Harris and Simon Scarrow.
'Flings us into the terror, chaos and bravery alongside these painfully young men.' The Times
'Mixes fact with fiction to great effect... Superb.' Saul David