This book was recommended my my son Russel who picked it up while traveling in Asia. It is a very detailed account of the Normandy invasion up to the capture of Paris. Beevor has written it from original documents and first hand accounts. It is extremely detailed giving the movements and actions down to company levels. It deals equally with the Allied and German activities.

What I found most interesting was the mention of small details. For instance that many of the American soldiers shaved their heads (for easier treatment of wounds and many of the shavers left a Mohawk. Also glossed over in other accounts were instances of allied war crimes especially the shooting of prisoners. We have heard of the SS atrocities but some troops in some battles were told specifically to not take any prisoners.

New (to me)in this account were details and totals of French casualties and of the destruction of French towns from allied shelling and bombing. These were massive and the Allied reception by the French was not uniformly joyous as depicted in other more popular accounts.

Detailed were the variety of soldiers on both sides. American, British, English, French and Polish I knew. But also......... you will have to read the book to find out all the weird groups fighting on each side. I had no idea.

Great book if you want lots of details gleaned from original sources.