The Battle of El Alamein is well established as a pivotal moment of the Second World War. Following the wildly fluctuating fortunes of the opposing sides, there was a real risk that Rommel’s Afrika Korps and his Italian allies would break through and seize Cairo with catastrophic strategic and political implications for the Allies. That this never happened is, of course, well known but, as this highly readable yet authoritative work reveals, there were moments of extreme peril and anxiety.

Churchill’s bold, nay desperate, decisions concerning key appointments, Montgomery’s stubborn refusal to be rushed, Rommel’s chronic logistic problems and critical air superiority are all examined in expert detail. The author’s description of the actual fighting is brought to life by personal accounts as well as his complete grasp of the plan and tactics involved.

The result, seventy-five years on, is a delightfully fresh and fascinating account of one of the iconic battles, not just of the War but in military history.