History Lessons

In Carol J. Williams’ article on “Enemy at the Gates” (“A War Epic With a Big Difference,” Feb. 9), she refers to the William Craig book of the same name as a novel.

Though it reads like one, Craig’s book is a work of history, not fiction. The people and events he described so well are all too real. Also, the Maj. Koenig character played by Ed Harris is not entirely a work of the screenwriters. A master German sniper was brought in to go head-to-head with his Soviet counterpart, and they did manage to find one another.

I can’t say how good the movie is, but the book is a brilliant, highly readable piece of historical writing.

JOHN C. RICHARDS

Los Angeles

*

“As an American, you are taught that the war was won by Americans at Normandy, but the truth of the matter is that the war was won in Russia by Russians,” Mandalay Pictures President Adam Platnick is quoted as saying.

Platnick’s superior education has stirred me to action. I’m off to the library to learn more about how the Russians prevailed in the Pacific theater and excelled in Africa during World War II.

MARK DREXLER

Valencia