I’ve just finished reading Brighton’s ‘Masters of Battle’ which you so kindly lent me.
I definitely get the feeling that he didn’t like Montgomery very much and, although he may have been a brilliant commander in many respects, as an individual he didn’t waste too much time glorifying him. From his writings, Patton too only just remains this side of sane although, as well we know, there can often be a very thin dividing line between genius and insanity. It’s better to have tame lunatics in your own pay than on that of the other side. After all, war is a dirty business and someone has to do it. Only Rommel appears to come out of this without serious personal or psychological damage. Interestingly, it was only Monty who survived to meet a non-violent or unnatural end at the ripe old age of 88.