No Greater Valor

No Greater Valor: The Siege of Bastogne and the Miracle that Sealed Allied Victory by Jerome Corsi is a very different book from what I expected. I normally do not read non-fiction history books. I enjoy history when it is coupled with fiction and told as a narrative. I enjoy historical fiction. I also enjoy learning about history, particularly about the people involved. I like the personal stories. I expected this book to follow that pattern and tell a story. I expected it to share the perspectives of those involved in this part of the war. To some extent, this book did do that. However, it did not read like a fictional novel. For someone like me, who struggles with memorizing historical dates and facts, this book was somewhat hard to follow. There is so much information, and I felt as if it jumped around too much for me to keep track of who was who and what each person's connection to the story was. I had to re-read some sections to understand them better. However, this being said, I greatly enjoyed the premise behind the story. Although parts of it read like a textbook, the idea behind the story is faith. Everything was against the soldiers in this story. They were outnumbered, the weather was against them, there were gaps in communication. From all outward appearances, Bastogne should have been a failure. Yet, the men involved believed they could win. They believed they were not alone in this battle. And their faith and courage helped seal victory for the Allies. It was enjoyable to read of their faith and the miracles that occurred during this time. If the book had been told in a more narrative form, I would have enjoyed it from beginning to end. It is definitely worth the read, and I would recommend it to anyone who enjoys history. There is vivid imagery and the reader can feel the surroundings that enveloped these men. It is well-researched and inspiring. Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Thomas Nelson Publishers as part of their BookSneeze.com book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”