- Paperback: 608 pages
- Publisher: Penguin Books; Reprint edition (Aug 1990)
- Language English
- ISBN-10: 014011341X
- ISBN-13: 978-0140113419
- Product Dimensions: 23.2 x 17.8 x 3.3 cm
- Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 1,725,970 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
The Second World War
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
10 of 10 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
It was surely the most significant period in modern history and to tackle such a subject, to try and put across its full significance, a monumental task. John Keegan's fascinating book not only manages this but more impressively presents it in such a fashion that it keeps the reader riveted whether he be exposing the political malfeasance and crulety of the Third Reich or the ruthless battle tactics of the Red Army. Keegan has broken the story of the war into three main portions: the wars in the East, West and Pacific, each in itself in two parts. This enables the reader to be led chronologically through the War itself as it developed throughout the world, spreading like a cancer. The real sense of this escalation is one of the book's strongest features. One can almost 'feel' the growing crisis afflicting our entire planet and the scale of the conflict is simply stunning. The focus on the battle in the Pacific was a particular revelation to this reader as Keegan explains how Japan's bombing of Pearl Harbour effectively committed Hitler to declaring war on America, something he had avoided at all costs up to that point. It is difficult to do justice to the entire volume in the space of this short review but a particular fact that stuck in my mind was that the German U-boat crews, despite their infamous reputations, had the highest casualty rates suffered by any arm of service in the navy, army or air force of any combatant country. Furthermore, the photographs included are often breathtaking (of particular note is one of a horrific Bergen-Belsen mass grave and another astonishing shot of a B-52 bomber with a tail wing cleanly broken off by one of the bombs dropped by its companion craft flying above it). In summary, if you wish to read a full history of this most fascinating and tragic period of our history, presented in a logical and gripping fashion, John Keegan's book can not be bettered in terms of detail and insight.
10 of 11 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
Anyone wanting to find a concise overview of World War II that puts every major event into an overall context should look no further. This book is an astonishingly complete account of the hostilities from start to finish. Every significant battle is included together with an incisive summary of why it was important or memorable. The deep knowledge of his subject demonstrated by the author is complemented by a lucid and engaging style. Keegan manages to combine an economy of words with a depth of insight that conveys information without sentimentality or detachment. As a result the facts speak for themselves, often with a devestating effect. Where Keegan provides deeper analysis, his arguements are structured with precision and clarity. You immediately sense that the more detailed observations provided are not one man's subjective view but the result of academic study across a wide range of other accounts. What Keegan has managed to pack into a book of such size is as remarkable as the events he describes. Any serious student of 20th Century warfare should read this book.
13 of 15 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
Quite different in style and structure from the companion book "The First World War". I found it somewhat turgid, and under enthralling. Clearly well written, researched and presented. I think this author assumes too much of a grasp of miliary theory, and I agree with the point about the maps - explaining a complex battle suitation in text just doesnt do it unless you can see it visually. One of the problems of this kind of book is perspective. I think a chronological order is good, but tends to view from a number of different angles. Therefore, to view it from the belligerents point of view is somewhat difficult. Again, whilst blow-by-blow accounts are shown, does not really get under the skin and weigh up priorities, balances, points of views, importance of theatres etc. For example, it doesnt explain how important North Africa or Singapore was to Churchill. Still, criticisms aside, a good book.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
Comprehensive & very readable
Comprehensive in scope, if not detail, and very readable. Great narrative energy. Necessarily for a one-volume history of WW2, some battles are dealt with abruptly, so any... Read more
Published 13 months ago by TimH
John Keegan: History of the Second World War
Military history is a near impossible subject. The writer needs to be well read in strategy, history, geography, culture, politics, economy and in the folklore of the countries of... Read more
Published 14 months ago by Dr. Gulyas
A good introduction to World War II
This is a solid introduction to the subject, packed with detail, well-researched and enjoyable to read. Read more
Published on 8 Aug 2001
Brings History to LIFE!
Don't be put off by the size of this book. It is very readable and plugged many of the gaps in my knowledge that i hoped to fill, before setting out to read this book. Read more
Published on 21 Mar 2001
An eloquently, surprisingly readable account of WWII.
As a student of the Second World War, and of history in general, it is indeed a rare and wonderful thing to find an author as gifted as John Keegan. Read more
Published on 25 Jun 1999
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