Snapper Posted December 1, 2006 Share Posted December 1, 2006 After the chat about Stephen Ambrose and Pegasus Bridge there was one post asking if there was a better book. Well, for a different book look no further than Pegasus Diaries by Major John Howard and Penny Howard Bates. Late in his life John Howard got all his papers in order and prepared an account of his wartime military career. He never got it published and allowed Ambrose to use his notes as the basis for his own book and started conducting lecture tours with him. This book is a deeply personal and detailed account of Howard's life during he war and is as much, if not more, about his marriage and family relationships as it is about preparing for D-Day. Accounts of training and exercises are all very interesting as are his opinions of other officers and the class structure he struggled against in the officers mess. He makes no secret of having a chip on his shoulder against the upper middle class county set dominating the Regiment and promotions in general. The Pegasus Bridge aspect is all too brief, but makes good reading. Thereafter the book details the depressing events surrounding the near annihilation of D COY and his eventual return to England followed by the terrible road accident that ruined his military career. So, in the end you will have gained a massive insight into the life of one our country's greats. But you won't necessarily have learned a great deal more about that amazing night in June. This book is a must for D-Day buffs. John Howard was a strongly opinionated and principled man of action and presents himself warts and all to the modern world with the aid of his devoted daughter Penny. Put this book on your Christmas list ASAP. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ford 369 Posted July 22, 2007 Share Posted July 22, 2007 I have just started reading this book and then read your review and have to say that so far I agree with all you have to say and although it may not be the best description on that famous night it certainly gives a good personal insight to the man himself and is proving to be a very enjoyable read Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LeeEnfield Posted July 29, 2007 Share Posted July 29, 2007 can you give us the publishing details, etc, for this book. Cheers, Andy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ford 369 Posted July 31, 2007 Share Posted July 31, 2007 Publishing details are ; THE PEGASUS DIARIES ISBN 978 1 84415 446 3 JOHN HOWARD&PENNY BATES published by Pen and Sword Books Limited Freepost 47 Church Street Barnsley South Yorkshire S70 2BR tel;01226 734555 Hope this helps Nigel Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Snapper Posted July 31, 2007 Author Share Posted July 31, 2007 I have just started reading this book and then read your review and have to say that so far I agree with all you have to say and although it may not be the best description on that famous night it certainly gives a good personal insight to the man himself and is proving to be a very enjoyable read Good. It is a great book in it's own little way. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LeeEnfield Posted July 31, 2007 Share Posted July 31, 2007 Cheers Nigel. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ford 369 Posted August 1, 2007 Share Posted August 1, 2007 no problem glad to help Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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