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Destiny in the Desert cover art

Destiny in the Desert

By: Jonathan Dimbleby
Narrated by: Jonathan Dimbleby
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Summary

This is a unique single-volume history of the road to El Alamein - 'the end of the beginning' - and the bloody battle that followed...It was the British victory at the Battle of El Alamein in November 1942 that inspired one of Churchill's most famous aphorisms: 'it is not the end nor is it the beginning of the end, but it is the end of the beginning'. And yet the true significance of this iconic episode remains unrecognised. In this thrilling historical account, Jonathan Dimbleby describes the political and strategic realities that lay behind the battle, charting the nail-biting months that led to the victory at El Alamein in November 1942.

Drawing on official records and the personal insights of those involved at every level, Dimbleby creates a vivid portrait of a struggle which for Churchill marked the turn of the tide - and which for the soldiers on the ground involved fighting and dying in a foreign land.

©2012 Jonathan Dimbleby (P)2014 Audible, Inc.
  • Unabridged Audiobook
  • Categories: History

What listeners say about Destiny in the Desert

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    4 out of 5 stars

A great overview

A very good overview of the campaign in North Africa. It is not the most comprehensive history book, but still contains lots of detail. A gripping read.

The book focuses on the British offences against Rommel in Egypt and Libya, that lead up to the battles of El-Alamein, and the diplomatic negotiations that lead to Operation Torch.

However, it’s worth pointing out that the book gives very few details about the American campaign in Morocco, and the six months after El-Alamein are rushed over very quickly.

It also lacks any background to the countries the events take place in, and features very few Arab characters. It does not explain the stories of how Britain, France and Libya developed a colonial interest in North Africa, it does not give much information on the local politics of the area, or tell us what the native population thought of the Europeans while they were there.

I would also say that the writer falls short of decisively answering perhaps the most crucial question: was Operation Torch a good idea, and was it the fastest and most effective way of winning the war? For me, this still remained uncertain by the end of the book.

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15 people found this helpful

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For Lovers of History

This is an excellent history of the battle in the desert, it's fast paced and doesn't bore you, Recommended!

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3 people found this helpful

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    4 out of 5 stars

I hoped for a book more like FitSimmons Tobruk. The naval and air war are left out. There are some repetitions of quotes.

Narration was somewhat flat and moist sounding. Too geopolitical. Too little about the air war

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3 people found this helpful

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Excellent history of a impotent campaign

as well read as you could hope for and an insightful view 8nto an area of the war I was not familiar with

well worth a listen

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2 people found this helpful

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epic

easy to take on board, well thought out and very well told. I love dimblebys style of writing

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2 people found this helpful

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Interesting

I enjoyed this book it was very interesting and well researched. With the wonderful voice of johnathan dimbleby

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1 person found this helpful

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A fine history beautifully told

Brings much new information to a well known story. Very entertaining and well worth listening to several times.

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Destiny in the Desert

A very interesting and compelling account of the war in North Africa . Would highly recommend.

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1 person found this helpful

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history I only thought I knew

Excellently capturing the reality and cost of war, even with his very particular prenoucination. I now know a whole lot more about that battle. An ideal accompany to Barbarossa

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  • 03-12-23

Superbly enlightening.

Jonathan again delivers brilliantly enlightening WW2 history. His calibre shines through, as does his appropriately high regard for his father, David, who trail blazed with such interviews as that with Field Marshal Auchinleck.

There are times with Jonathan when you are are left feeling he has swallowed a Thesaurus, such is his linguistic prowess, but please do not be put off, pursue and you will be rewarded with an excellent, spectacularly impartial historical perspective.

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