A Time for Trumpets
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
- 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
- A single soldier's memoir
- 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
Read It Alongside
Collector's Corner
Where to Buy
ISBN: 978-0688151577
Other Books About the Same Events
More by Charles B. MacDonald
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.