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Monty #1
Monty: The Making Of A General 1887-1942
THE first volume of Nigel Hamilton's definitive trilogy, this takes Bernard Montgomery from infancy to his first general command. Given the size of these books, the softcover edition really is more practical for the reader.
871 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1981
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About the author
Nigel Hamilton
43 books86 followersNigel Hamilton is an award-winning British-born biographer, academic and broadcaster, whose works have been translated into sixteen languages.
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Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews
November 30, 2024
I think I'll save the main review until I finish the trilogy. I do want to point out that the first volume is comprehensive, readable, full of interesting anecdotes and long. But I enjoyed finding out about Monty's family, early career and how he developed his art of command over the years. The book ends with the victory at El Alamein. He was a fascinating character.
February 27, 2020
Somehow (he doesn’t give details) the author came to know and befriend Field Marshal Montgomery, which served him in good stead. Monty: the Making of a General contains 848 pages of narrative, and it takes him, and us, only through the decisive North African battle of El Alamein. There is nothing of the so-called rivalry between him and Patton; we’ll have to wait to finish the second volume to learn of that. Despite the amount of narrative, it was an easy read without overmuch excruciating detail. I suspect I’ll get to the truth about the "rivalry" if I read Patton: Ordeal and Triumph.
Hamilton seems most impressed—thoroughly wowed is more accurate—by Montgomery as a trainer of troops. The detail and excellence of planning and the execution of training shows in all his peace- and wartime assignments after WWI, in which he witnessed much useless slaughter. Hamilton says so.
He does cover Monty’s frailties, in language which struck me as frank, honest, but without apology or condemnation. Monty couldn’t abandon his superior and commanding officer’s tactics (the brigade “boxes”) fast enough and wasn’t overly tactful in so doing. We don’t see too much of his feelings after the unexpected death of his wife, and there isn’t much about familial relationships. He seems almost all soldier; true, he does show some caring and tries to see his sons when he can, but it’s not often.
Other bios mention the harshness of his mother toward him. Hamilton’s is the first explanation I’ve read about this. “Bernard” (Hamilton uses this name throughout this volume; later, he will use “Monty”) will write to her in affectionate terms.
This volume climaxes in the battle of Alamein. Here, Monty uses the new (mostly promulgated by him) divisional tactics which his subordinates had difficulty in accepting and adopting. When this caused the battle to go not as well as planned, he modified his plan and achieved his victory.
Good read! But I need a rest before I tackle the next volume!
Hamilton seems most impressed—thoroughly wowed is more accurate—by Montgomery as a trainer of troops. The detail and excellence of planning and the execution of training shows in all his peace- and wartime assignments after WWI, in which he witnessed much useless slaughter. Hamilton says so.
He does cover Monty’s frailties, in language which struck me as frank, honest, but without apology or condemnation. Monty couldn’t abandon his superior and commanding officer’s tactics (the brigade “boxes”) fast enough and wasn’t overly tactful in so doing. We don’t see too much of his feelings after the unexpected death of his wife, and there isn’t much about familial relationships. He seems almost all soldier; true, he does show some caring and tries to see his sons when he can, but it’s not often.
Other bios mention the harshness of his mother toward him. Hamilton’s is the first explanation I’ve read about this. “Bernard” (Hamilton uses this name throughout this volume; later, he will use “Monty”) will write to her in affectionate terms.
This volume climaxes in the battle of Alamein. Here, Monty uses the new (mostly promulgated by him) divisional tactics which his subordinates had difficulty in accepting and adopting. When this caused the battle to go not as well as planned, he modified his plan and achieved his victory.
Good read! But I need a rest before I tackle the next volume!
September 22, 2022
I've read several excellent biographies by Nigel Hamilton. This isn't one of them. I suppose it was intended as the definitive biography of British Field Marshall Bernard Montgomery, hence the minutae; but was it really necessary to provide excerpt after excerpt from Monty's training manuals? The vast majority of the book deals with Monty's life in the army between the world wars. Very dull as it focuses almost entirely on how he developed his training methods.
The beginning of the book dealing with his formative years is more interesting. Particularily his strained relationship with his mother, which the author believes triggered his lack of interest in women and possible homosexuality. Strong accusations back in 1981 when this book was published. But strangely this is never mentioned again even after Monty marries and is described as a devoted and attentive husband.
Part of my problem with the book was of my own making. I did not realize until halfway through that this was the first of a three volume biography and ends just as WWII begins. The last 200 pages, when Monty assumes command of British forces in the Sahara and defeats Rommell, are riveting. I should have started with Vol 2.
The beginning of the book dealing with his formative years is more interesting. Particularily his strained relationship with his mother, which the author believes triggered his lack of interest in women and possible homosexuality. Strong accusations back in 1981 when this book was published. But strangely this is never mentioned again even after Monty marries and is described as a devoted and attentive husband.
Part of my problem with the book was of my own making. I did not realize until halfway through that this was the first of a three volume biography and ends just as WWII begins. The last 200 pages, when Monty assumes command of British forces in the Sahara and defeats Rommell, are riveting. I should have started with Vol 2.
June 12, 2024
This is a difficult book to read. You read through endless military dispatches, but they are used to paint an accurate picture Monty. He was not the likable sort. Many thought he was quite mad. He was truly English. The gist is that he recognized the need for a modern army. He worked to coordinate artillery, armor, and air in support of the infantry. The book covers his life up until his victory at El Amien. He clearly believed in proper training which is displayed at every point in his career. The problem I see is that while he modernized the British Army, he never fully understood striking after the victory and mopping up the remains. Plus, he tended the be quite static after he developed a plan. Hard to read but good research.
June 11, 2017
This is the first part of three-part biography of one of the most important figures in the British World War II leadership. Thie part concentrates on Montgomery's career up to his victory at El Alamien, an event which made him famous in the UK. Although this is a long book, it is important in providing the background to Montgomery's subsequent career. Although he is a controversial figure he cannot be judged without understanding his participation in World War I and his inter-war career, much of which was spent training soldiers. Hmailton explores all aspects of Montgomery's life to provide a detailed picture of his subject. One cannot serious understand Montgomery without reading this series of books.
October 19, 2024
This covers Monty's life/Career from his birth in Austrailia to his taking over command of the 8th Army in August 1942. Very detailed. Very information. Not pop history or exciting.
Monty comes off as odd bird, who had a strained relationship with his mother, was a bully at school, and had a happy marriage sadly cut short by the death of his wife in 1937.
Monty differed from most of his fellow officers in that he was a through professional. The slap-dash methods that lead to slaughter on the western front sickened him, and Monty believed in training, careful detailed planning, and use of all combined arms. Attacks would only be understaken if the situation called for it, and needless losses avoided. This would later lead to his clashes with USA officers like IKe or Bradley who considered him too "cautious" and "slow".
Monty's arrogance toward the US Generals in WW II was based on his life's experience. He had fought "the Hun" for 4 years on the Western Front, and had fought Das Heer in France 1940, and in the Desert in 1942. Meanwhile, Ike and bradley had never left the USA during WW I and had never seen combat. Monty had obtained Divisional Command years before Ike or Bradley had been promoted to Lt. Colonel.
Monty comes off as odd bird, who had a strained relationship with his mother, was a bully at school, and had a happy marriage sadly cut short by the death of his wife in 1937.
Monty differed from most of his fellow officers in that he was a through professional. The slap-dash methods that lead to slaughter on the western front sickened him, and Monty believed in training, careful detailed planning, and use of all combined arms. Attacks would only be understaken if the situation called for it, and needless losses avoided. This would later lead to his clashes with USA officers like IKe or Bradley who considered him too "cautious" and "slow".
Monty's arrogance toward the US Generals in WW II was based on his life's experience. He had fought "the Hun" for 4 years on the Western Front, and had fought Das Heer in France 1940, and in the Desert in 1942. Meanwhile, Ike and bradley had never left the USA during WW I and had never seen combat. Monty had obtained Divisional Command years before Ike or Bradley had been promoted to Lt. Colonel.
August 7, 2017
Behind the exploits of everyone who played a role in the Second World War lay a full life. In Bernard Montgomery's case the key factors were character, upbringing and a long and varied military career. Hamilton does a thorough job of explaining what produced the extraordinary personality and leader that Bernard Montgomery became at exactly the moment he was needed. Pure chance played a role; he would never have taken command of the British Eighth Army in August 1942 if the first choice for the job (William "Strafer" Gott) had not been killed in an attack on a transport plane in North Africa.
Among the highlights of the book are the clear descriptions of what an army general's job in the 1930s and 1940s actually entailed. The description of the El Alamein battle is quite good although Jon Latimer's book "Alamein" provides far more detail and benefits from later knowledge of the effect of the Ultra intelligence intercepts. (See also review of the excellent Vol. 2 of the biography.)
Among the highlights of the book are the clear descriptions of what an army general's job in the 1930s and 1940s actually entailed. The description of the El Alamein battle is quite good although Jon Latimer's book "Alamein" provides far more detail and benefits from later knowledge of the effect of the Ultra intelligence intercepts. (See also review of the excellent Vol. 2 of the biography.)
May 30, 2025
The first volume of Bernard Law Montgomery's biography by Nigel Hamilton beginning with Monty's parents and ending with the victory of El Alamein. The prose of the text is well done so you do not get bored wading through this monstrously long biography (there are two more volumes) but, with something of this length, you do get bogged down in more details than you sometimes wish. The other issue would be the focus, with roughly two thirds of the page count dealing with 1939-42 with the last third accounting for the remaining 52 years at the beginning of Monty's life. It would be best to consider the first third to actually be a biography and the rest of the volume as a detailed history of WWII with a particular focus on Monty's campaigns. Hamilton explores a lot of the extra details surrounding Monty's battles to help see the conflict from different angles, especially his interactions with other allied officers.
May 3, 2021
Bernard Montgomery is one of those figures from history who made a name for himself as being the British general who finally bested Erwin Rommel in the North African desert after a string of defeats in the race to secure the Suez Canal.
This is the first in a 3 volume biography of Montgomery from birth to his rise through the ranks in the British Army. This was enjoyable in part, but for me rather slow going and I felt most of it could have been left out as it was much too detailed and dry even for me who prefers this genre. Still it is a good insight into the early years of one of WWII’s legendary figures.
This is the first in a 3 volume biography of Montgomery from birth to his rise through the ranks in the British Army. This was enjoyable in part, but for me rather slow going and I felt most of it could have been left out as it was much too detailed and dry even for me who prefers this genre. Still it is a good insight into the early years of one of WWII’s legendary figures.
March 22, 2021
This book was my father-in-law's and is an excellent insight into Montgomery's character and what made him, also how revolutionary he was as a general, quirky too. It's incredibly well researched and written by a master of biography.
February 11, 2018
798 pages
January 18, 2021
Very detailed first book of three on this iconic figure.
February 10, 2023
About everything you might ever want to know about the first fifty-five years of Montgomery's life, concluding with El Alamein. I was compelled to read this because he's always made out to be a complete ass, but he was a far more interesting and compelling figure than most give him credit for. A remarkably clear-eyed individual, who understood the need for reform amidst the humiliating defeat in France.
September 19, 2011
A huge biography of a important mover and shaker in World War II. There
are many quotes from unpublished letters and military dispatches. This
first volume takes Montgomery's life up to the end of the firt battle of
El Alamein.
are many quotes from unpublished letters and military dispatches. This
first volume takes Montgomery's life up to the end of the firt battle of
El Alamein.
January 20, 2012
Very Good - writing a bit challenging - could do with a good edit
October 13, 2010
Still reading
Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews