The Crucible of War Book 3'Masterly and lucid in its descriptions not only of the fighting and strategy, but of the political machinations' Sunday TelegraphThroughout the first half of the Second World War, control of the inhospitable North African desert was strategically vital for the Allies.In the middle of 1942, the outcome hung in the balance.Rommel and his Afrika Korps had been fought to a standstill at the first battle of Alamein and were desperately short of fuel and equipment.But the British and Commonwealth forces were in little better shape.The next encounter between the two armies would however be decisive. Montgomery, the new Allied commander, set about rebuilding his weary army and establishing an overwhelming superiority in both men and material. The scene was set for a second, and bludgeoning, encounter at El Alamein in October. It was to prove Britain's first decisive victory of the war.Montgomery and Alamein is the third volume of Barrie Pitt's definitive history of the Desert War. The first and second volumes, Wavell's Command and Auchinleck's Command, are also published by Sharpe Books. Barrie Pitt is also the author of Zeebrugge, Coronel & Falkland the history of the Special Boat Squadron.Praise for the Crucible of War Trilogy: 'Barrie Pitt tells this exciting history well. He has assembled a mass of information and organised it with admirable clarity. His narrative is scrupulously accurate in detail. The whole work will have great appeal for the general reader.' Times Literary Supplement'The definitive work on the Desert War.' Manchester Evening News 'A magnificent book, Barrie Pitt has almost a novelist's skill and perception of character.' Daily Telegraph'Totally readable, Mr Pitt's study depicts equally well the broad outlines of strategy, the confusions and hazards of the battlefield and the personalities of the generals or private soldiers fighting there.' Oxford Times