The perks of being an editor for the Veterans site at BellaOnline include receiving free books for book reviews. I recently received Killing Rommel by Steven Pressfield (published by Double Day) which details the genre of historical fiction set in WWII North Africa.
The book Killing Rommel dives into the exploits of the early British Specials Forces during the African Campaign during World War II. From Egypt to Tunisia, the tale follows the exploits of Captain Chapman, a front leaning armor officer who volunteers to support the SAS in daring cross-desert raids conducted by the Long Range Desert Group (LRDG). As an expert in armor formations he is initially expected to find suitable passage for oncoming forces.
As the book continues, his exploits become more involved in the actual raids themselves, and go as far as traveling within enemy German Afrika Korps formations (unbeknownst to them) in order to pinpoint the exact location of the highly esteemed General Rommel for assassination. Not an easy task.
Killing Rommel portrays war in all of it's "glory" leaving nothing out, but also shows how chivalry still existed between both antagonists, in this case the British and the German armies.
The initial story of the book is soon forgotten for the sites, smells, and heat of the desert of Africa. Civilization gives way to rolling and cresting sand dunes of the various sand seas in the Sahara and Libyan deserts.
The heat of day and cold of desert night do their best to take down CPT Chapman and the men of the LRDG. They tread where most men fear to go, and for good reason. Once into the “wilderness” of desert, the men must depend upon each other with no other support from friendly forces. At times, the support of ones friends is not nearly enough and sandy graves become final resting places.
In the current age of global positioning systems (GPS), satellite communications, and generally edible field rations, Killing Rommel is quite amazing in its portrayal of combat forces making their way across inhospitable desert (successfully in most cases) without having today's technology and comforts.
My only complaint with the book Killing Rommel is that I was left wanting more.
You may get your own copy of the book Killing Rommel, written by Steven Pressfield when you click on the link below. Happy Reading!
Killing Rommel: A Novel
