Book Brief - The Steel Wave: A Novel of World War II

The Steel Wave: A Novel of World War II

Jeff Shaara

Ballantine Books; Reprint edition (May 19, 2009)

This epic, fictional account of D-Day is a supreme example of how historical fiction should be written. Detailing the planning of Operation Overlord by General Dwight D. Eisenhower, the defense of same plan by Commander Erwin Rommel and the execution of the invasion from the perspective of Sergeant Jesse Adams, a veteran of the 82nd Airborne, Shaara brings to life the history of this crucial battle. The fast-paced prose of the "grunt" level perspective, as opposed to the, somewhat matter-of-fact description of the planning sessions, is the dramatic key to the novel.

The opening chapter of commandoes gathering soil samples on Omaha beach is a gut-wrencher and a reminder of loyalty and obedience. Oh, that we were as obedient to our Savior.

"The lieutenant was up and moving, and Dundee followed, jelly in his legs, quick steps...His chest was burning, hard breathing, and now there were shots, blasts of machine-gun fire, arcing lights streaking over the beach. He wanted to stop, to lie behind the cover of the rocky ledge, but the lieutenat kept moving, and Dundee knew to follow, could not forget the training, "Never stop." The streaks of tracer fire popped close overhead, a shattering of rock behind him."

Rating: Hardback