Cornelius Ryan wrote historical books about some of the biggest battles of World War II. I first read his books around twenty years ago when studying History for my Leaving Cert exams, after my teacher recommended them. A few things about his writing really appealed to me. First and foremost, the level of research that went into each book. The extensive indices at the back of each book clearly illustrate this. Hundreds of people were interviewed for each book, civilians and combatants alike. Second was the style of writing, so simple and straightforward yet hugely powerful. Thirdly, the human angle. His writing about major battles included as much anecdotal evidence from civilians as soldiers and generals telling of their experiences.

The Longest Day tells the story of the Allied D-Day Landings in Normandy in June 1944, arguably the most high profile battle of WWII. A Bridge Too Far tells the story of Operation Market Garden, the hugely ambitious attempt to air drop Allied soldiers beyond the Rhine behind enemy lines in September 1944. A plan which failed, as Allied troops were dropped into the wrong locations in Holland, eventually leading to The Battle of Arnhem.

It’s The Last Battle which arguably has the biggest emotional impact, recounting the events leading up to the fall of Berlin in April 1945 which brought an end to World War II. The book tells the story from all sides…German, Russian, British and American troops as well as German civilians. And this was one of the other main skills of his writing…providing balanced accounts without taking sides.

The Last Battle is different from the other two books in that it captures the impact of the pending end to war on those involved in the endgame. The Allied forces as they made progress through France and into Germany. The Russian forces as they approached Berlin from the east, still scarred from the years of German invasion in their country and the losses they suffered. Ryan tells of Russian troops who had no homes to go back to after the war. The decision made by Eisenhower not to race the Russians to see which army would reach Berlin first. The German army as they gradually came to terms with pending defeat. Including Hitler of course, and his increasingly erratic behaviour as he realised defeat was coming. And most poignantly, the people of Berlin as they braced themselves for the arrival of Russian troops and what it would mean to them. The book tells of Berlin women discussing the various suicide means available to them and their children, based on accounts of Russian troops raping and pillaging their way through other German towns en route to Berlin.

Somehow when reading his books twenty years ago, I didn’t actually realise that Cornelius Ryan was Irish. Born in 1920 in Dublin, he moved to London in 1940 and became a war correspondent. He emigrated to the U.S. in 1947 and began writing for Time magazine. Research and notes for The Longest Day started in 1956 and the book was published in 1959. By 1974 he had completed the third book, A Bridge too Far. The eighteen year time span shows just how big a project it was to research and write the books. Ryan’s Irish heritage has now increased my respect for his work and I realise that I need to add them to my collection and read them again soon. Now there’s a project for the weekend!