A highly readable story of the early portion of the Second World War

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	• The Rising Tide: A Novel of World War II Jeff Shaara Ballantine Books, 2008 - 608 pages average customer review:based on 91 reviews view larger image
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highly recommended

A highly readable story of the early portion of the Second World War

"The Rising Tide" is the first of a planned trilogy of novels dealing with the Second World War. It basically focuses on the war in the European/North Africa theater through the invasion of Italy. The North African Campaign is, of course, when and where the United States Army makes its debut in this Theater of Operations, and where it becomes blooded in tough struggles against Rommel's Afrika Corps. Hence the title "The Rising Tide."

This novel follows the format that Shaara Senior (Michael Shaara) first popularized in "The Killer Angels" whereby the author tells the story from the standpoint of both key historical figures of the time (i.e. Rommel, Eisenhower, Patton, Montgomery) and also less well-known or renowned personages.

Here, the format is effective. The distinguishing feature of this Shaara novel is its readability. This one is a true page-turner, and the personalities in particular of Eisenhower and Patton, as presented here, were quite engaging, and more than a little insightful. The battle scenes, particularly those about the parachute jumps into Sicily, were particularly lucid and realistic. The author did a good job here, and some of these scenes crackle with authenticity.

A few nits. Shaara manages to beat to death the theme of Rommel's frustration with Hitler, Hitler's lack of interest in the African front, and the resulting lack of resupply of the Afrika Corps. This theme is endlessly repeated here. On the other hand, I felt that the author's treatment of Eisenhower, Patton, and Montgomery (particularly as Montgomery was perceived by Rommel) were dead on, and very interesting.

Readers who are already familiar with the historical events which form the context of this story will probably not learn a whole lot of new facts. On the other hand, such readers will likely enjoy this one tremendously. I did.

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Review Rising Tide

This author presents an excellant overview of a selective portion of the action in WWII (Africa and Sicily). At the same time he expresses the thoughts of the common soldier as well commanders of both the axis and allies. Shaara is among the best historical adventure writers in the world today.

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Rommel, the great, the only

Rommel, Rommel, Rommel, Rommel, Ike, Rommel, Rommel, private someone, Rommel,Rommel, Patton, Rommel, Rommel.

And it's not just that we get never-ending coverage of Rommel, it's that he was so put upon! No air support, not enough supplies, no reinforcements, not enough gas, no new tanks, no support from his superiors (who are all idiots because, well, they are not Rommel), dealing with a crazy Hitler, suffering fools all day, not having free reign to do whatever he wants whenever he wants.

C'mon!

Also, I have little confidence in the historical accuracy of this historical novel. I have read three or four books about Patton, including Carlo D'este's comprehensive biography. Patton: a Genius for War. Shaara seems to base his presentation of Patton solely on the movie-which is not that historical.

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Worthwhile

Jeff Shaara's, The Rising Tide, is most certainly not your standard fare when it comes to historical / military fiction. In a welcome departure, the novel is long on history and relatively short on fiction. I purchased the book expecting an enjoyable but not terribly informative recounting of the North African and Sicilian campaigns and was instead pleasantly surprised by the depth of factual historical information presented.

The Rising Tide covers Operation Torch and Operation Husky, largely from the perspective of well known historical figures such as Eisenhower, Patton, Rommel and Montgomery. The book covers the former campaign more thoroughly than it does the latter. In fact, if I have one criticism of the book (admittedly minor), it's that I wish Shaara would have spent a little more time on Sicily.

One benefit resulting from the North African campaign receiving the majority of Shaara's attention is that readers are treated to a thoroughly engrossing examination of Rommel, particularly the considerable political and logistical obstacles which he faced. For the first time, I think I truly appreciate the crushing magnitude of Rommel's frustration and weariness. I don't believe that I'll ever grow tired of studying Rommel and Shaara's take on the man is very illuminating.

Overall, a very worthwhile read that has me eagerly awaiting the next installment.

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WWII writing at it's best

I read all I can get my hands on about WWI and Jeff Shaara is up there with the best. He gets to the personal side of the people on the front lines. A good read.

reviews: page 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

A modern master of the historical novel, Jeff Shaara has painted brilliant depictions of the Civil War, the Revolutionary War, and World War I. Now he embarks upon his most ambitious epic, a trilogy about the military conflict that defined the twentieth century. The Rising Tide begins a staggering work of fiction bound to be a new generation?s most poignant chronicle of World War II. With you-are-there immediacy, painstaking historical detail, and all-inclusive points of view, Shaara portrays the momentous and increasingly dramatic events that pulled America into the vortex of this monumental conflict.

As Hitler conquers Poland, Norway, France, and most of Western Europe, England struggles to hold the line. When Germany?s ally Japan launches a stunning attack on Pearl Harbor, America is drawn into the war, fighting to hold back the Japanese conquest of the Pacific, while standing side-by-side with their British ally, the last hope for turning the tide of the war.

Through unforgettable battle scenes in the unforgiving deserts of North Africa and the rugged countryside of Sicily, Shaara tells this story through the voices of this conflict?s most heroic figures, some familiar, some unknown. As British and American forces strike into the ?soft underbelly? of Hitler?s Fortress Europa, the new weapons of war come clearly into focus. In North Africa, tank battles unfold in a tapestry of dust and fire unlike any the world has ever seen. In Sicily, the Allies attack their enemy with a barely tested weapon: the paratrooper. As battles rage along the coasts of the Mediterranean, the momentum of the war begins to shift, setting the stage for the massive invasion of France, at a seaside resort called Normandy.

More than an unprecedented and intimate portrait of those who waged this astonishing global war, The Rising Tide is a vivid gallery of characters both immortal and unknown: the as-yet obscure administrator Dwight D. Eisenhower, whose tireless efficiency helped win the war; his subordinates, clashing in both style and personality, from George Patton and Mark Clark to Omar Bradley and Bernard Montgomery. In the desolate hills and deserts, the Allies confront Erwin Rommel, the battlefield genius known as ?the Desert Fox,? a wounded beast who hands the Americans their first humiliating defeat in the European theater of the war. From tank driver to paratrooper to the men who gave the commands, Shaara?s stirring portrayals bring the heroic and the tragic to life in brilliant detail.

A new level of accomplishment from this already acclaimed author, The Rising Tide will leave readers eager for the next volume of this superb saga of the war that saved and changed the world.

From the Hardcover edition.

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