[.ca] Meeting the Fox: The Allied Invasion of Africa, from ... (ISBN 0471414298)

not what I ordered BUT great anyway:
I think it was OK but not what I expected. I was getting this book I THOUGHt was for childern. About "Meeting Footloose Fox" on VHS (Disney) is what the grandkids wanted, so I was disappointed first BUT Even though I never expected it I found it a complling read and a histrical masterpiece. So I say A+ and that I never gave before this time. I am Harold McInnes bye.

Meeting the Fox is a quality read.:
Orr Kelly did an excellent job recounting the history of Operation Torch and the battle for Tunisia. He brought it alive by documenting and re-telling the personal stories of some real American heroes (Major Siglin, Captain Bill Tuck, Colonel Waters, etc.) This is a very enjoyable read that flows without losing the detail. Thank you Mr. Kelly.

How the US Army of WWII most people know got it's start:
Orr Kelly's "Meeting the Fox" - Great work! Aside from "The Rommel Papers" (E. Rommel/B.H. Liddell) this book is the only book singly dedicated to battles of the North African theatre that I have read so my review may be limited from a comparative standpoint. Yet with a fairly decent number of books on WWII under my belt I can easily state that "Meeting the Fox" was one of the most enjoyable I've read. It's a great complement to "The Rommel Papers" in that it is dedicated to the North African theatre after entrance of the US Army with Operation Torch - the first grand scale allied amphibious landing. "The Rommel Papers" deals more inclusively with the entire North African campaign, and not surprisingly from the German perspective. "Meeting the Fox" is really dedicated to examining the US Army's "trial by fire and blood" (as it was) upon it's first (disastrous) meeting with the German/Italian armies. Kelly paints a nice picture of how the US Army that landed in North Africa changed from a green, poorly trained and often poorly lead force in nine short months to one more familiar to most Americans that fought and won in Northern Europe a year later. Kelly is certainly critical of problems that arose in the early battles, but he is also fair. While others have lain certain and almost singular blame for early failures on Maj. Gen. Fredendall, the highest-ranking field commander during the first bloody loses, Kelly is quick to point out that Fredendall was not the only "incompetent". Moreover, Kelly gives credit to commanders who have shared blame but probably didn't deserve it, such as Combat Command B commander Brig. Gen. Robinett and Ranger leader Maj. Darby. Fortunately for many of those involved in early defeats that were not removed from command, they learned from the experiences and went on to brilliant successes, such as Darby. "Meeting the Fox" is a well written, easy to read book. There is ample hard information and facts for the serious student and enough literary flare and style for the more casual WWII reader. All in all this book belongs on my Classics shelf and I recommend it highly!