Arnhem: Black Tuesday

Al Murray's book Arnhem: Black Tuesday offers a fresh perspective on the Battle of Arnhem, focusing on the events of one day and the decisions made in the moment. It challenges the traditional view of the battle as destined to fail and provides a deeper understanding of the events and decisions that led to its failure.

Format: Hardback
Length: 432 pages
Publication date: 12 September 2024
Publisher: Transworld Publishers Ltd

Al Murray's "Arnhem: Black Tuesday" is a captivating and insightful book that offers a fresh perspective on the Battle of Arnhem, one of the most legendary and heroic failures in British military history. The book focuses on the events of one day, Tuesday, September 19, 1944, through the eyes of the British participants, providing a unique and captivating narrative that challenges the traditional view of the battle as a doomed attempt. Murray's approach is to confine himself to the men in and around Arnhem on that day, allowing the reader to experience the battle in a more personal and intimate way. The Battle of Arnhem was a daring but doomed attempt to secure a vital bridgehead across the Rhine in order to end the war before Christmas 1944. It is often written about with the benefit of hindsight, as being destined to fail, but the men who fought there, men of military legend, did not know that that was to be their fate. Murray's book offers a different perspective on the battle by focusing on the events of one day as they happened, without bringing any knowledge of what would happen tomorrow to bear. This allows the reader to understand for the first time how certain decisions were taken in the moment and how opportunities were squandered. Tuesday, September 19, 1944, was a terrible day that became known as Black Tuesday. From just after 12:00 hours while plans were being made to seize the initiative and optimism reigned, to the following midnight, when Arnhem was burning and the Allied fortunes were in decline. Murray's book captures the essence of this day, providing a vivid and detailed account of the events that unfolded. One of the key strengths of "Arnhem: Black Tuesday" is Murray's ability to bring the battle to life through his vivid descriptions and engaging storytelling. He uses a combination of historical research, personal anecdotes, and eyewitness accounts to create a compelling narrative that brings the battle to life. Murray's writing style is engaging and accessible, making the book accessible to a wide range of readers. Another notable aspect of the book is Murray's ability to highlight the human element of the battle. He focuses on the stories of the men who fought in Arnhem, their experiences, and their sacrifices. Murray's book provides a human face to the battle, making it more relatable and meaningful to the reader. Overall, "Arnhem: Black Tuesday" is a must-read for anyone interested in British military history or the Battle of Arnhem. Murray's fresh perspective and engaging storytelling make the book a captivating and informative read. Whether you are a historian or a casual reader, this book will leave you with a newfound appreciation for the bravery and sacrifice of the men who fought in Arnhem.
‘Original and insightful Telegraph ‘Utterly brilliant... this book really is the last word on the Battle of Arnhem James Holland Superb... A military historian of originality and insight to compare with the best Saul David A revelation.. This is Arnhem unplugged. By confining himself to men in and around Arnhem on that Tuesday,Murray achieves something special The Times ___________ Al Murray has always been obsessed by this legendary battle,and in Arnhem: Black Tuesday he showcases all of his knowledge,interpretation and enthusiasm to bear to tell the story of one of historys great heroic failures differently for the first time. The Battle of Arnhem is one of the best-known stories in British military history: a daring but doomed attempt to secure a vital bridgehead across the Rhine in order to end the war before Christmas 1944. It is always written about,with the benefit of unerring 20/20 hindsight,as being destined to fail,but the men who fought there,men of military legend,didn t know that that was to be their fate. By focusing on the events of one day as they happened through the eyes of the British participants and without bringing any knowledge of what would happen tomorrow to bear,Al Murray offers a very different perspective on a familiar narrative. Some things went right and a great many more went wrong,but recounting them in this way allows the reader to understand for the first time how certain decisions were taken in the moment and how opportunities were squandered. Tuesday 19 September 1944 was the terrible day which became known as Black Tuesday. From just after 12:00 hours while plans were being made to seize the initiative and optimism reigned,to the following midnight,when Arnhem was burning and the Allied fortunes. Al Murray's "Arnhem: Black Tuesday" is a captivating and insightful book that offers a fresh perspective on the Battle of Arnhem, one of the most legendary and heroic failures in British military history. The book focuses on the events of one day, Tuesday, September 19, 1944, through the eyes of the British participants, providing a unique and captivating narrative that challenges the traditional view of the battle as a doomed attempt. Murray's approach is to confine himself to the men in and around Arnhem on that day, allowing the reader to experience the battle in a more personal and intimate way. The Battle of Arnhem was a daring but doomed attempt to secure a vital bridgehead across the Rhine in order to end the war before Christmas 1944. It is often written about with the benefit of hindsight, as being destined to fail, but the men who fought there, men of military legend, did not know that that was to be their fate. Murray's book offers a different perspective on the battle by focusing on the events of one day as they happened, without bringing any knowledge of what would happen tomorrow to bear. This allows the reader to understand for the first time how certain decisions were taken in the moment and how opportunities were squandered. Tuesday, September 19, 1944, was a terrible day that became known as Black Tuesday. From just after 12:00 hours while plans were being made to seize the initiative and optimism reigned, to the following midnight, when Arnhem was burning and the Allied fortunes were in decline. Murray's book captures the essence of this day, providing a vivid and detailed account of the events that unfolded. One of the key strengths of "Arnhem: Black Tuesday" is Murray's ability to bring the battle to life through his vivid descriptions and engaging storytelling. He uses a combination of historical research, personal anecdotes, and eyewitness accounts to create a compelling narrative that brings the battle to life. Murray's writing style is engaging and accessible, making the book accessible to a wide range of readers. Another notable aspect of the book is Murray's ability to highlight the human element of the battle. He focuses on the stories of the men who fought in Arnhem, their experiences, and their sacrifices. Murray's book provides a human face to the battle, making it more relatable and meaningful to the reader. Overall, "Arnhem: Black Tuesday" is a must-read for anyone interested in British military history or the Battle of Arnhem. Murray's fresh perspective and engaging storytelling make the book a captivating and informative read. Whether you are a historian or a casual reader, this book will leave you with a newfound appreciation for the bravery and sacrifice of the men who fought in Arnhem.

Weight: 698g
Dimension: 164 x 242 x 40 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780857506566