Synopses & Reviews
With the same erudition, discernment, and crisp prose that made his A History of Warfare an international bestseller, Keegan surveys the literature of World War II, identifying the works he finds most important and illuminating while examining the sometimes savage controversies raised by two generations of the war's historians.
Review
"In assessing the general histories, Mr. Keegan provides a thought-provoking essay on how our past dictates our present." John Glenn, The New York Times
Review
"While there are some astute observations about the nature of historical writing here, [it] is essentially a lengthy bibliography....Ultimately, this will be of most help to amateurs of WWII who want to contextualize and expand their knowledge." Publishers Weekly
Review
"[T]hrough a rigorous, fluid encapsulation of the war, this essay guides the next century's historian who reaches for the accolade, while pointing students less ambitious toward the finest available books." Gilbert Taylor, Booklist
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"In this slim but not slight volume...Keegan offers a masterly overview of World War II....Keegan's work is the best brief introduction to the literature on the war in any language." Library Journal
Review
"The distinguished military historian John Keegan has, in one slim volume, written an indispensable overview of World War II and a survey of the literature on the conflict." New York Times Book Review
Synopsis
Although fifty years have passed since the end of World War II, there has as yet been no definitive history of that conflict. Existing histories have raised as many questions as they answer: Did President Roosevelt have foreknowledge of the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor? Might bombing the Auschwitz railroad have impeded the course of the Holocaust? Now one of our most esteemed military historians assesses the literature that has emerged from World War II and the controversies that have arisen from that literature in a book that combines stunning erudition with crisp prose and highly personal discernment.
Description
Includes bibliographical references (p. [119]-128).
About the Author
John Keegan's books include The First World War, The Battle for History, The Face of Battle, War and Our World, The Mask of Command, Fields of Battle, and A History of Warfare. He is the defense editor of The Daily Telegraph (London). He lives in Wiltshire, England.