Deanna: Haven’t read it but it should be on my list, shouldn’t it? There are a number of classics that I missed out on that I’m trying to read in between all the contemporary books. Wish I had more time to read.

doctor d: I’ve heard lots of good things about that book!

D-Day by Stephen Ambrose. He’s a pretty good historian, but not much of a writer. Nevertheless, this book is worth reading. It’s built from dozens of firsthand accounts, from all sides of the battle. That gives it a broad ground-level view that other accounts of D-Day lack. And Ambrose gets a nod for actually devoting a whole chapter (albeit a short one), to Canada’s role in the battle. Most books on the topic lump Canada, if mentioned at all, in with the British.

Commanding Canadians by Arthur Layard. A comprehensive personal account–Layard’s diary gives insights into the experiences of command at sea against the German navy. The remarkably full and honest diary outlines Layard’s thoughts on his daily life and his naval career, including the strain and responsibility associated with command at sea in wartime. Mind you, you’ll find it heavy going if you’re not VERY interested in the subject.

A Summer Bright and Terrible by David E. Fisher. This is the story behind the Battle of Britain, a look a the British commander of the battle, Hugh Dowding. Unceremoniously forced out by his own command as the battle still raged, Dowding nevertheless ensured British victory in this pivotal moment of WW2. With this lively, opinionated book, Fisher offers a compelling portrait of an eccentric and misunderstood figure.