Slim, Master of War

'Elegantly written and beautifully produced' TLS

How 'Uncle Bill' won the war in Burma

Defeated and demoralised, British units in the Far East had virtually been ejected from Burma when, in 1943, General W. J. Slim organised, trained and then deployed his famous 'forgotten' 14th Army to devastating effect, defeating the Japanese twice and liberating Burma in the process. One of the most innovative soldiers of his generation, Slim's 'smart' style of soldiering was startling in its modernity - and with it he achieved something no one believed possible.

An intelligent, compassionate commander, the unconventional Slim was also a heroic figure to the men he commanded - known affectionately to the ranks as 'Uncle Bill'. This biography tells the fascinating story of how he brought victory out of defeat; Lyman now gives him his rightful place, alongside Patton and Guderian, in the pantheon of eminent and unorthodox Second World War commanders.

“Lyman's well-researched, elegantly written and beautifully produced book is the best yet written on Slim - Times Literary SupplementRobert Lyman . . . asserts that Slim was the outstanding British general of the war. He is surely right - Sunday TelegraphAn admirable book, supported by well-documented research and backed by excellent maps. It will surely be on all staff college reading lists. - Journal of the Royal United Services Institute”

Lyman's well-researched, elegantly written and beautifully produced book is the best yet written on Slim - Times Literary Supplement

Robert Lyman . . . asserts that Slim was the outstanding British general of the war. He is surely right - Sunday Telegraph

An admirable book, supported by well-documented research and backed by excellent maps. It will surely be on all staff college reading lists. - Journal of the Royal United Services Institute

Dr Robert Lyman is an elected fellow of the Royal Historical Society. He was an Army officer for twenty years. The primary focus of his research is the Second World War, where he has published extensively on the Pacific and Far East, North Africa and North West Europe. His PhD was on Field Marshal Bill Slim. In 2011 he won the National Army Museum's debate for 'Britain's Greatest General' on Slim and in 2013 the debate for 'Britain's Greatest Battle' on Kohima and Imphal. He lives in Berkshire, England.

'Elegantly written and beautifully produced' TLS How 'Uncle Bill' won the war in Burma Defeated and demoralised, British units in the Far East had virtually been ejected from Burma when, in 1943, General W. J. Slim organised, trained and then deployed his famous 'forgotten' 14th Army to devastating effect, defeating the Japanese twice and liberating Burma in the process. One of the most innovative soldiers of his generation, Slim's 'smart' style of soldiering was startling in its modernity - and with it he achieved something no one believed possible.An intelligent, compassionate commander, the unconventional Slim was also a heroic figure to the men he commanded - known affectionately to the ranks as 'Uncle Bill'. This biography tells the fascinating story of how he brought victory out of defeat; Lyman now gives him his rightful place, alongside Patton and Guderian, in the pantheon of eminent and unorthodox Second World War commanders.

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