I've been wanting to read this for years, since I first saw the film back in high school, so of course I was delighted to discover it's available on kindle at last.

An excellent book, same basic beats as the film but the characters and much of the details are changed, not to mention a somewhat different ending (I'm torn on whether I found it satisfying or not). ( )

The Dirty Dozen. All credit to the film producers (or perhaps the scriptwriters) for finding the wonderful film behind this slow pedestrian book. I bought the book expecting an exciting read but it was a dull US army story. The idea is there and in the hands of Fredrick Foresyth, Jack Higgins or Lee Child it could have been a winner. ( )

Fans of the classic 1967 Lee Marvin movie about 12 convicted army prisoners should enjoy this. The book (as most books do) gives more background which make the characters fuller, rounder and more interesting'.

Example;

Capt. Reisman , talking to his" love interest" about his life confesses - "No purpose ... no objectives ... no Ideals," .
" But that's not true!"..... 'You have strong ideals! You were fighting the Germans in France before your country was ever in the war! and in Spain! A man without purpose and ideals doesn't do that."
"But he does," said Reisman. ... "I wasn't and idealist in Spain, I was an adventurer" ( )

Basis for the classic movie, 12 soldiers imprisoned for various crimes, including murder and rape, are offered full pardons if they will train and participate in a special commando raid prior to the Normandy landings. This is more of a psychological portrait of the men and is a wonderful companion to the film. ( )