Michael's Reviews > An Army at Dawn: The War in North Africa, 1942-1943, Volume One of the Liberation Trilogy

This is one of those military history books that, despite being on the CSA’s reading list, does not make a heavy contribution to the study of the “science of war” or the “art of leadership.” However, that is not to say that it isn’t a masterful work, well deserving of the Pulitzer Prize that its author received. In fact, it is one of those rare works that makes the telling of major combat operations come alive, and serves as a great introduction into the study of military history during the WWII era. Atkinson is able to capture not only the essential aspects the strategic, operational, and tactical histories of the North African campaign, but he does so by making its participants real at every level. It’s not a book only about generals and their big decisions, nor is it one just about the sergeants and privates living in the suck. His weaving of strategic and tactical events with anecdotes at the personal level, tells us a story – a good one and a true one.