General Montgomery lead the 8th Army to victory at El Alamein in 1942, and as Chief of Land Forces in the Allied invasion of Normandy in 1944 he received Germany's surrender in 1945. Concentrating on the momentous events of Operation Overlord from June 1944, The Lonely Leader follws Monty's leadership of the Allied offensive to Luneburg Heath the following May. Monty is a figure renowned for his military professionalism, but Alistair Horne, in association with montgomery's only son, also look at the human face of a man regarded as rather Cromwellian, considering his style of command in the context of the tactics and politics of the period, not least his controversial dealings with Eisenhower.

This is a compelling account of the public and private influences of a remarkable military leader.

Born in London in 1925, Sir Alistair Horne served in the R.C.A.F and the Coldstream Guards during World War II. He spent three years as correspondent for the Daily Telegraph, and is the author of many highly regarded books including A Savage War of Peace and The Seven Ages of Paris.