Listen free for 30 days
Listen with offer
-
Destiny in the Desert
- Narrated by: Jonathan Dimbleby
- Length: 17 hrs and 11 mins
Failed to add items
Add to basket failed.
Add to wishlist failed.
Remove from wishlist failed.
Adding to library failed
Follow podcast failed
Unfollow podcast failed
99p for the first 3 months
Buy Now for £16.99
No valid payment method on file.
We are sorry. We are not allowed to sell this product with the selected payment method
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.
More from the same
Narrator
What listeners say about Destiny in the Desert
Average customer ratingsReviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Mr. T. P. Quinn
- 18-05-20
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.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
15 people found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Panda
- 29-04-20
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!
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
3 people found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- J H
- 23-07-17
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
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
3 people found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- postage
- 27-04-20
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
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
2 people found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Christopher MacLennan
- 05-02-16
epic
easy to take on board, well thought out and very well told. I love dimblebys style of writing
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
2 people found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Kelly and Russell
- 17-05-23
Interesting
I enjoyed this book it was very interesting and well researched. With the wonderful voice of johnathan dimbleby
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
1 person found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Amazon Customer
- 11-02-23
A fine history beautifully told
Brings much new information to a well known story. Very entertaining and well worth listening to several times.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
1 person found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Anonymous User
- 06-02-23
Destiny in the Desert
A very interesting and compelling account of the war in North Africa . Would highly recommend.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
1 person found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- matthew andrews
- 13-01-24
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
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- AC
- 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.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!