A Rattling Good Read -- Remove if old news

[Bob Potter]

Hi Jon,

I cannot claim credit for that zinger; it appears in the book.

Atkinson must have a prodigious capacity to read, sort, and retain material. His ability to make connections across masses of evidence is remarkable. The bibliography in this book is huge, and Atkinson seems to have mastered his sources thoroughly.

I like the way he assesses the shakers and movers in the Italian campaign. He musters many opinions, contemporary and later, and lays out the evidence for the reader's appraisal. He has allowed me to rethink my opinions of some of these players. I thought his "take" on Freyberg was somewhat harsh, but in light of his approach he made me think.

He has also allowed me to appreciate some older sources that recent authors have denigrated.

The first volume is also worth the trip.

Bob