简介：AsveteransgathertoreliveoneoftheturningpointsoftheSecondWorldWar,historianJamesHollandmovesbeyondtheD-Daybeachestoreassessthebrutal77-dayBattleforNormandythatfollowedtheinvasion. Challengingsomeofthemanymythsthathavegrownuparoundthisvitalcampaign,Hollandarguesthatwehavebecometoocomfortableinourunderstandingofevents,developingshorthandtotellthisfamousstorythatdoesgreatinjusticetothosethatsawactioninFranceacrossthesummerof1944. Includingperspectivesfromthosewhofoughtonbothsides,Hollandexaminesnotonlythenatureofthefightingandthehigheraimsofthecampaign,butalsotheoperationallevel-thenutsandbolts-andinsodoingrevealsthetruecomplexityofthisbitterandbloodybattle. Thisstoryisaboutthechallengeforbothsidestoadapttoconditionsinacampaignofcarnagethathasrarelybeenacknowledged. Morethanjustwelltroddentalesofheroicstruggle,itisalsothestoryoftwocompetingmilitarydoctrines:oneill-preparedfortheorganisationaldemandsofalongbattle,theotherintheprocessofbuildingthegreatestmilitarymachineeverseen.…