The Desert Generals

The new 1982 edition of The Desert Generals is not a complete rewrite of the excellent 1960 edition. Rather, it consists of the older narrative with fresh commentary added after each major part of the book. In these commentaries Barnett argues that historical records released after 1960 provide substantial evidence in support of his original assessments. In the 1960 edition, Barnett sought to reduce what he perceived to be an inflated opinion of Field Marshal Montgomery by praising General Sir Richard O'Connor's victories against the Italians in North Africa in 1940, by em- phasizing Field Marshal Sir Claude J.E. Auchinleck's accomplishments in the first battle of Alamein, and by criticizing Montgomery's planning, leadership, and methodical methods throughout his command in North Africa. In the 1982 edition Barnett seeks to reinforce these efforts by concentrating on the effects of Ultra on the battles in Africa and by refuting the recent attempts by Nigel Hamilton to defend Montgomery' reputation.