A Time for Trumpets
Popular History Intermediate Mixed
🇺🇸 American
The definitive history of the Battle of the Bulge, by a historian who fought in it as a company commander.
The Verdict
The definitive history of the Battle of the Bulge, written by a man who fought in it. Charles B. MacDonald led a rifle company in the Ardennes before becoming an official Army historian, and A Time for Trumpets fuses both: the sweep of the German offensive and the granular, freezing reality of the men who stopped it. He is authoritative on the command decisions and unsparing on the chaos at the front. The combination — participant's memory, historian's sources — is what makes it the standard account.
Who Should Read It
Read it if you want
- The complete history of the Battle of the Bulge
- Readers who want command and front line together
- A historian writing about a battle he fought
- Detailed, authoritative campaign narrative
Look elsewhere if you want
- A short introduction to the battle
- Readers wanting a single soldier's memoir
- Those who prefer brisk over comprehensive
Why We Rated It 4.6
Historical Context
The Battle of the Bulge — Germany's surprise Ardennes offensive of December 1944 - January 1945 — was the largest battle the US Army fought in the war. MacDonald commanded a rifle company there and later served as a US Army historian; his account, published in 1985, draws on both. He had earlier written the classic memoir Company Commander.
Events Covered
Editions & Reading Notes
William Morrow (1985)First edition.
PaperbackThe standard reading edition.
Read It Alongside
Company Commander Charles B. MacDonald · 1947 · ★ 4.5
Memoir 
The Longest Winter Alex Kershaw · 2004 · ★ 4.4
Popular History 
Band of Brothers Stephen Ambrose · 1992 · ★ 4.6
Popular History Collector's Corner
First editions are common and inexpensive. Check current listings. → Check listings on AbeBooks.
Where to Buy
ISBN: 978-0688151577
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Frequently Asked Questions
- Did the author fight in the Battle of the Bulge?
- Yes — MacDonald commanded a rifle company in the Ardennes before writing the history as an Army historian.
- How does it relate to Company Commander?
- Company Commander is MacDonald's earlier front-line memoir; A Time for Trumpets is his later, full-scale history of the same battle.