The Battle for History - Hardcover

John Keegan

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0091792290 ISBN 13: 9780091792299

Publisher: Hutchinson, 1995

Synopsis

World War II killed 50 million people, destroyed swathes of Europe's cultural heritage, devasted its economy, depraved its politics and devalues the very basis of its civilization. It was the greatest and most terrible conflict in history, and as such, it has always been the centre of controversy. This work explores the many differing historical views of World War II including biographies of its key players, pivotal campaigns, occupations and resistance and special subjects such as Intellignece and war economies.

About this title

Review:

Consider this book a means to an end: much of it is actually a bibliographic essay in which the distinguished military historian John Keegan points to what he considers the most important books on the Second World War. Anybody interested in the conflict will want to consult Keegan's list as they add to their personal libraries. Keegan also lays out the war's historiography, pointing out how much still is not known about what happened, especially on Europe's eastern front. He makes the surprising comment that the definitive history of the Second World War has yet been written. To the extent that no single person has expertise in the dozen or so languages necessary to grasp all of the essential literature on the subject--or the many years it would take to master this material--he may have a point. But has he forgotten his own one-volume book, The Second World War? In any event, this isn't the first, second, or third book on the Second World War that you will want to buy. But as your collection grows, you will find this one indispensable.

From the Back Cover:

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.

About this edition

• Publisher: Hutchinson
• Publication date: 1995
• ISBN 10: 0091792290
• ISBN 13: 9780091792299
• Binding: Hardcover
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 128