An Army at Dawn: The War in Africa, 1942-1943An Army at Dawn: The War in Africa, 1942-1943
Score Modern
What it's about
In November 1942, American troops landed in North Africa in Operation Torch, the U.S. Army's first major campaign against Germany and Italy. Over six months they fought their way through Morocco, Algeria and Tunisia, often badly, losing at Kasserine Pass, while generals like Eisenhower and Patton learned their jobs. Rick Atkinson shows how an inexperienced army turned into the force that would liberate Europe.
Why it's worth reading
It won the Pulitzer Prize for history. Atkinson combines the view from headquarters with the experience of ordinary soldiers, and it reads like a novel.
You'll love it if you liked
The Guns of August
The Rise and Fall of the Third Reich: A History of Nazi Germany
The Winds of WarGood to know
It's the first of Atkinson's Liberation Trilogy, followed by The Day of Battle and The Guns at Last Light. A map helps.
By the numbers
- Readers90 out of 100 · counts 42%
- Critics63 out of 100 · counts 34% (its stronger lane)
- Bestseller22 out of 100 · counts 14%
- Buzz0 out of 100 · counts 10%
Critics and Bestseller are two ways to earn a place: a book's stronger one counts more. Buzz rewards recent bestseller weeks and prizes, so older books start at zero. The parts combine into the Must-Read Score, shown on a scale where the best book we found scores 99 and the last book to make the ranking scores 50.
Where it ranks
- #49 of the 198 history books we rank
- #135 of the 1,573 modern books we rank
- #264 of the 2,816 books we rank
Why it made the list
Reads as
True story
More by Rick Atkinson
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Quick answers
Is An Army at Dawn: The War in Africa, 1942-1943 worth reading?
Yes. It won the Pulitzer Prize for history. It ranks #264 of the 2,816 books in our ranking, with a Must-Read Score of 82.2 (the best book we found scores 99).
What is An Army at Dawn: The War in Africa, 1942-1943 about?
In November 1942, American troops landed in North Africa in Operation Torch, the U.S. Army's first major campaign against Germany and Italy. Over six months they fought their way through Morocco, Algeria and Tunisia, often badly, losing at Kasserine Pass, while generals like Eisenhower and Patton learned their jobs. Rick Atkinson shows how an inexperienced army turned into the force that would liberate Europe.
How long does it take to read An Army at Dawn: The War in Africa, 1942-1943?
About 17 hours (681 pages), or about 5 weeks at 30 minutes a day.
What awards has An Army at Dawn: The War in Africa, 1942-1943 won?
Pulitzer Prize (History) winner (2003).
What should I read after An Army at Dawn: The War in Africa, 1942-1943?
If you liked it, try The Guns of August by Barbara W. Tuchman, The Rise and Fall of the Third Reich: A History of Nazi Germany by William L. Shirer or The Winds of War by Herman Wouk.