Customer Reviews

The Penguin History of the Second World War

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I found the previous review of this book uncharitable. True, no one who buys it should expect a page-turner. The book is dense, very well written, and delves more carefully into causes and effects of the war than most popular history. Calvocalressi is one of the most noted WWII historians, and he gives detailed accounts of the events leading up to the war, its military aspects, the home-front political concerns of the combatents, and the motivations of the actors (his sketches of Churchill, Hitler, Roosevelt, Mussolini, and Stalin are both unforgettable and essential to understanding the shape the war took.) The book is a marvel of compression--Calvocalressi fits into 600 pages an amazing amount of data, and I found that when I turned to other, more expanded accounts of incidents that took a paragraph or two to outline in this book, there was little of importance that Calvocalressi had left out. I confess I haven't read the second half of the book, about the war in the East, because that is not my area of interest, but for a compressed and intelligent account of the war in Europe, Calvocalressi is an excellent starting point.

Enormous interlocking frameworks of history, culture, domestic and international politics, and economics are slowly constructed, with the events of war put into this enormous structure. The aim is to explain why the events of World War II happened; the actual details of individual battles and other events are glossed over. The scope of the analysis presented is vast. The more specific knowledge the reader has on the details of the war, and of history and politics, the more they can appreciate the act of tying everything together. Some sections of the first half of the book are difficult to follow without prior detailed knowledge.

The authors attempt to be as impartial as possible, heaping praise and scorn on all sides of the conflicts. They take pains to correct what they consider to be myths regarding the history of the war. In one way, however, the authors do have a specific viewpoint; they are clearly writing from a British perspective. As an American reader, I would have preferred much less detailed information about Britain, and perhaps more information about the United States, which is scarcely mentioned.

This was by far the longest book I've ever read, with 1224 pages of regular text, divided into two 600 page halves on the war in Europe and Asia, respectively. Peter Calvocoressi, the author of the first 600 pages regarding the war in Europe, has a rather dense and archaic writing style that I found unnecessarily difficult to comprehend. This is compounded by his vocabulary peppered with words not in common use, for example "Hitler was a Manichee, as well as a chiliast".

The second half of the book on the Asian conflict, written by the other two authors, is much easier to read. The authors are much more successful in creating a coherency to all the information presented, making it much easier to digest. The last 200 (!) pages of the book are excellent, making the book definitely worth finishing.

The posture and role of the US is, in my opinion under-appreciated in the Western War section and/or otherwise mistreated .Also, more attention to weapons and to (many) battles not discussed would have considerably improved the work.

That said, this is an almost great book and a literary gem. I chose this book over sleep several nights, Have your dictionary nearby as you read, and do read this book if the subject interests.

The Second World War is without a doubt the most intricate subject to write about due to the enormity and complexities of the war itself; it would be simpler to talk about those not involved in the war rather than vice-versa. The sheer number of countries, people, and military machinery are so overwhelmingly immeasurable that it stuns the imagination. "The Penguin History of the Second World War" is a remarkable achievement in the genre of World War II literature. It will undoubtedly occupy a well-deserved niche on the bookshelf of both amateur and professional World War II historians.

This book is not for the casual reader. It is however, an excellent choice for the serious amateur historian or student of World War II history who wants to gain an above average overview of this pivotal episode in world history. Even professional historians will find the book enlightening. Some readers may find the Penguin history intimidating and/or even excessive with its 1,344 pages, but publishing a book on the Second World War is so difficult on so many different levels that it should be considered a tremendous achievement on the part of Calvocoressi, Wint and Pritchard. Readers would have to purchase a twenty-four volume encyclopedia on World War II to gain the knowledge and insights that readers will get from Calvocoressi, Wint and Pritchard condensed, single volume book.

The Penguin history is presented in chronological order of events that trace the origins of World War II back to well before the First World War. The authors look at aspects of the war that range from domestic and international political policies and issues to the effects of war on the citizens in the societies of the warring factions. The authors discuss the Allied and Axis powers and their leaders such as, Roosevelt, Churchill, Stalin, Hitler, Mussolini, de Gaulle, Tito, and Hirohito and their commanders and strategies. They also write about many of the European and Pacific campaigns presenting readers with some of the greatest triumphs and tragedies of the war.

Part one of the book, "The Sources of War in Europe" gives readers an excellent overview of the European war. Equal attention is given in the second half of the book; "The Greater East Asian and Pacific Conflict". The writers begin with short histories of China and Japan; the people, cultures, societies, politics and turmoil. The authors posit - rightfully so that it was Japan's aspiration to dominate China and Asia in general that eventually led to Pearl Harbor and Japan's entry into the Second World War.

The authors pay special attention to the central participants in World War II: the United States of America, Great Britain, France, Russia, Germany, Italy, and Japan, but they don't stop there. The authors also look at those countries that affected the outcome of the war or fell victim to the it, countries like, Canada, China, Australia, Poland, Spain, Czechoslovakia, Yugoslavia, Africa, Austria, Greece, India and a myriad of other smaller, but no less important countries. The authors look at the inner conflicts within these warring nations and the price tag of war, both in money and on human life and property.

Calvocoressi, Wint and Pritchard research is extensive and their writing is well balanced with little bias; their writing is based on plausible suppositions are facts. Their book covers much more than I can even begin to mention in this review. The writers cover government alliances, double-dealing and backstabbing, code-breaking and spying, liberators and traitors, those who led and those who failed to lead, those who commanded and those who failed to command.

The only negative comment is saved for the publisher; the size of the paperback (7.8 x 5.1 x 2.1 inches), the number of pages (1,344) and the size of the font is not reader friendly. I spoke to Penguin and asked if the book was available in hardcover, large print, and/or in audio version. Unfortunately, Penguin was not interested in my opinion and/or my concerns on this subject, so this book may not be conducive to individuals with a visual disadvantage.

However, "The Penguin History of the Second World War" offers an immense overview of the War from several viewpoints and is worth the eyestrain. It will give readers plenty of food for thought and questions that will lead to further reading. It is a winner.

A fully satisfactory one-volume history of the Second World War may be an impossibility, but this tome doesn't come close. Its worst faults are its weird misallocations of space (pages and pages on British social developments and Japanese politics in the 1930's, for example, but only a single chapter on the Russian front) and its very summary treatment of most military developments. As a result it is not very useful as a reference. Although the political and diplomatic history of the war is emphasized, the analysis of this area is disjointed and undeveloped, bogged down by details that are never fitted into a framework. Lesser faults are sloppy writing and editing in many places and a preachy and moralistic "PC" tone that misses no opportunity to denigrate the Allies and especially the United States. The only recommendation, and this is only for buffs, is that you may well find some factual nuggets that you were previously unaware of.

This volume, previously published by Viking in hardcover and by Penguin in paperback as Total War: The Causes and Courses of the Second World War, has now been accorded the highest seal of recommendation available to its publishers who have relaunched it as their flagship Penguin History of the Second World War.

The new edition, like its 1995 reprint, unobtrusively improves upon the extraordinarily well-received 2nd edition published in 1989, is a far cry from the 1st edition published as long ago as 1972 (in its day also widely regarded as the finest single-volume history of the Second World War). The changes to the half of the volume devoted to the war against Germany and Italy are subtle but significant. The changes to the second half of the volume which concerns the war against Japan are far more sweeping and amount to a radical re-interpretation of the war and its context. Fortunately, the critical acclaim which accompanied the appearance of the 1989 and 1995 editions has proven that the transformation was entirely successful, and both the authors and the publishers look forward to its continued success as it meets the needs of a wide readership in the Twenty-First Century.

Here's what professional historians have said about the book:

"It combines elegance of style with mastery of the subject.... [I]t retains its pre-eminent position.... This massive investigation into the causes & courses of the Second World War has been extensively revised... an impressive level of detail." -The Sunday Times

"Few written records deserve, like Gibbon's Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire, to rank for generations to come as the authoritative work on decisive events in world history. This is fairly certain the category in which Total War belongs." -H.M. Consuls List

"Of the large number of general histories published in the past two decades... the best single-volume account of the conflict since it first appeared in 1972. The new edition enhances its reputation.... Not the least of this splendid volume's merits is its comprehensive and moving account of the terrible costs of the war in material destruction and suffering." -Brian Bond & Michael Dockrill, British Book News

"If you want a really sound history of the conflict from origins to denouement, then be grateful.... Its fluency and clarity are even more unusual than the separate treatment of western and eastern theatres, which gives a satisfying feeling of getting two hefty books for the price of one." -Dat Van Der Vat, The Guardian

"For the student, eager to understand better what led to the war, how it was fought and ended, and what happened afterward... well recommended." -Alan Brown, Morning Star

"Still longer, and still finer... promises to be much the best of all the books that salute a great war's anniversaries." -The Economist

"especially strong on Asia and the Pacific.... The result is a riveting and challenging analysis which is sure to stand the test of time." -Hatchards Guide to the Best Books on World War Two

"The new revised edition... remains such a crucial account. The book has been brought up to date in the light of the latest research." The contribution made "an impressive young historian, John Pritchard" is especially noteworthy: "Few of the original chapters by the late Guy Wint remain untouched. Pritchard has added a whole new dimension to our understanding of the Japanese internal situation and the international environment in which its leaders operated." Moreover, "Drawing upon his extensive knowledge of the Japanese war trial records and his own work in the archives, Pritchard takes a highly original view of British policy towards Japan in 1939 and a strong revisionist line on 1941.... This remains a key work." -Zara Steiner, Financial Times

"A book that merits exhaustive study, and will almost certainly become a collector's item... will surely become the definitive textbook on total war."- The Sunday Independent

"Its original insights and excellent writing make it outstanding.... a model of compressed clarity.... Indeed, taking almost any subject from the Russo-Finnish War to the V bombs, one finds a similarly clear, concise discussion.... Pritchard shares with the late Louis Allen that ability, rare in British writers, to convey a 'feel' for Japanese motivation and thinking." -E.D. Doyle, The Irish Times

"If only one book were to be chosen on World War II history, this would be tops in line for the nomination: it is exhaustive yet personal; technical in its research, yet involving in its presentation. The new, expanded edition offers insights beyond the original publication and should be considered a standard reference work for any history collection." -Diane Donovan, The Midwest Book Review

"more sophisticated, and has been much strengthened by use of documentary material not previously available" -Robert Key, The Observer

"Excellent." - Dr. David Reynolds, The Independent Observer "Immense tome... to which students or writers of military history can refer" -Field Marshal Lord Carver, The Times Literary Supplement

"The wartime term "blockbuster is one which could well fit this particular volume, running as it does to no less than 1,315 pages... The second revised edition illustrates how much fresh documentary material and expansive memoir publication coupled with the passage of time can enrich judgments and qualify evaluations.... This volume, at first intimidating, is enlivened by a fluent narrative style and illuminating, pointed pen portraits of ... the commanding personalities of wartime leadership.... Books will proliferate, but for those who wish to grasp what "total war" meant... this is an innocuous but penetrating blockbuster, well worth the price. Even more important, it is a book well worth pondering at length." -John Erickson, The Scotsman Supplement

"A book that merits exhaustive study, and will almost certainly become a collector's item... It will surely become the definitive textbook on total war." -The Sunday Independent

I thought this history of WWII was disappointing. It has way too many minute details about unimportant British details. It is unbalanced about the most important battles and unbalanced in telling the story of WWII. The book is a bit pedantic. It feels self serving in the approach. Hypocritical, it mostly justifies the British bombing efforts in Europe that drove the war's mass bombings and was dubious in effectiveness, but then calls the devastating bombings of Japan "mass murder."

There are better books than this on WWII.

Different presentation. The book divides the conflict in Europe and the one in Asia into two completely distinct sections. Very well researched and a good read.

This volume, previously published by Viking in hardcover and by Penguin in paperback as Total War: The Causes and Courses of the Second World War, has now been accorded the highest seal of recommendation available to its publishers who have relaunched it as their flagship Penguin History of the Second World War.

The new edition, like its 1995 reprint, unobtrusively improves upon the extraordinarily well-received 2nd edition published in 1989, a far cry from the 1st edition published as long ago as 1972 (in its day also widely regarded as the finest single-volume history of the Second World War). The changes to the half of the volume devoted to the war against Germany and Italy are subtle but significant. The changes to the second half of the volume which concerns the war against Japan are far more sweeping and amount to a radical re-interpretation of the war and its context. Fortunately, the critical acclaim which accompanied the appearance of the 1989 and 1995 editions has proven that the transformation was entirely successful, and both the authors and the publishers look forward to its continued success as it meets the needs of a wide readership in the Twenty-First Century.

So much for an author's comments, understandably partisan. Here's what professional historians have said about the book:

"It combines elegance of style with mastery of the subject.... [I]t retains its pre-eminent position.... This massive investigation into the causes & courses of the Second World War has been extensively revised... an impressive level of detail." -The Sunday Times

"Few written records deserve, like Gibbon's Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire, to rank for generations to come as the authoritative work on decisive events in world history. This is fairly certain the category in which Total War belongs." -H.M. Consuls List

"Of the large number of general histories published in the past two decades... the best single-volume account of the conflict since it first appeared in 1972. The new edition enhances its reputation.... Not the least of this splendid volume's merits is its comprehensive and moving account of the terrible costs of the war in material destruction and suffering." -Brian Bond & Michael Dockrill, British Book News

"If you want a really sound history of the conflict from origins to denouement, then be grateful.... Its fluency and clarity are even more unusual than the separate treatment of western and eastern theatres, which gives a satisfying feeling of getting two hefty books for the price of one." -Dat Van Der Vat, The Guardian

"For the student, eager to understand better what led to the war, how it was fought and ended, and what happened afterward... well recommended." -Alan Brown, Morning Star

"Still longer, and still finer... promises to be much the best of all the books that salute a great war's anniversaries." -The Economist

"especially strong on Asia and the Pacific.... The result is a riveting and challenging analysis which is sure to stand the test of time." -Hatchards Guide to the Best Books on World War Two

"The new revised edition... remains such a crucial account. The book has been brought up to date in the light of the latest research." The contribution made "an impressive young historian, John Pritchard" is especially noteworthy: "Few of the original chapters by the late Guy Wint remain untouched. Pritchard has added a whole new dimension to our understanding of the Japanese internal situation and the international environment in which its leaders operated." Moreover, "Drawing upon his extensive knowledge of the Japanese war trial records and his own work in the archives, Pritchard takes a highly original view of British policy towards Japan in 1939 and a strong revisionist line on 1941.... This remains a key work." -Zara Steiner, Financial Times

"A book that merits exhaustive study, and will almost certainly become a collector's item... will surely become the definitive textbook on total war."- The Sunday Independent

"Its original insights and excellent writing make it outstanding.... a model of compressed clarity.... Indeed, taking almost any subject from the Russo-Finnish War to the V bombs, one finds a similarly clear, concise discussion.... Pritchard shares with the late Louis Allen that ability, rare in British writers, to convey a 'feel' for Japanese motivation and thinking." -E.D. Doyle, The Irish Times

"If only one book were to be chosen on World War II history, this would be tops in line for the nomination: it is exhaustive yet personal; technical in its research, yet involving in its presentation. The new, expanded edition offers insights beyond the original publication and should be considered a standard reference work for any history collection." -Diane Donovan, The Midwest Book Review

"more sophisticated, and has been much strengthened by use of documentary material not previously available" -Robert Key, The Observer

"Excellent." - Dr. David Reynolds, The Independent Observer "Immense tome... to which students or writers of military history can refer" -Field Marshal Lord Carver, The Times Literary Supplement

"The wartime term "blockbuster is one which could well fit this particular volume, running as it does to no less than 1,315 pages... The second revised edition illustrates how much fresh documentary material and expansive memoir publication coupled with the passage of time can enrich judgments and qualify evaluations.... This volume, at first intimidating, is enlivened by a fluent narrative style and illuminating, pointed pen portraits of ... the commanding personalities of wartime leadership.... Books will proliferate, but for those who wish to grasp what "total war" meant... this is an innocuous but penetrating blockbuster, well worth the price. Even more important, it is a book well worth pondering at length." -John Erickson, The Scotsman Supplement

"A book that merits exhaustive study, and will almost certainly become a collector's item... It will surely become the definitive textbook on total war." -The Sunday Independent

This volume, previously published by Viking in hardcover and by Penguin in paperback as Total War: The Causes and Courses of the Second World War, has now been accorded the highest seal of recommendation available to its publishers who have relaunched it as their flagship Penguin History of the Second World War.

The new edition, like its 1995 reprint, unobtrusively improves upon the extraordinarily well-received 2nd edition published in 1989, a far cry from the 1st edition published as long ago as 1972 (in its day also widely regarded as the finest single-volume history of the Second World War). The changes to the half of the volume devoted to the war against Germany and Italy are subtle but significant. The changes to the second half of the volume which concerns the war against Japan are far more sweeping and amount to a radical re-interpretation of the war and its context. Fortunately, the critical acclaim which accompanied the appearance of the 1989 and 1995 editions has proven that the transformation was entirely successful, and both the authors and the publishers look forward to its continued success as it meets the needs of a wide readership in the Twenty-First Century.

So much for an author's comments, understandably partisan. Here's what professional historians have said about the book:

"It combines elegance of style with mastery of the subject.... [I]t retains its pre-eminent position.... This massive investigation into the causes & courses of the Second World War has been extensively revised... an impressive level of detail." -The Sunday Times

"Few written records deserve, like Gibbon's Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire, to rank for generations to come as the authoritative work on decisive events in world history. This is fairly certain the category in which Total War belongs." -H.M. Consuls List

"Of the large number of general histories published in the past two decades... the best single-volume account of the conflict since it first appeared in 1972. The new edition enhances its reputation.... Not the least of this splendid volume's merits is its comprehensive and moving account of the terrible costs of the war in material destruction and suffering." -Brian Bond & Michael Dockrill, British Book News

"If you want a really sound history of the conflict from origins to denouement, then be grateful.... Its fluency and clarity are even more unusual than the separate treatment of western and eastern theatres, which gives a satisfying feeling of getting two hefty books for the price of one." -Dat Van Der Vat, The Guardian

"For the student, eager to understand better what led to the war, how it was fought and ended, and what happened afterward... well recommended." -Alan Brown, Morning Star

"Still longer, and still finer... promises to be much the best of all the books that salute a great war's anniversaries." -The Economist

"especially strong on Asia and the Pacific.... The result is a riveting and challenging analysis which is sure to stand the test of time." -Hatchards Guide to the Best Books on World War Two

"The new revised edition... remains such a crucial account. The book has been brought up to date in the light of the latest research." The contribution made "an impressive young historian, John Pritchard" is especially noteworthy: "Few of the original chapters by the late Guy Wint remain untouched. Pritchard has added a whole new dimension to our understanding of the Japanese internal situation and the international environment in which its leaders operated." Moreover, "Drawing upon his extensive knowledge of the Japanese war trial records and his own work in the archives, Pritchard takes a highly original view of British policy towards Japan in 1939 and a strong revisionist line on 1941.... This remains a key work." -Zara Steiner, Financial Times

"A book that merits exhaustive study, and will almost certainly become a collector's item... will surely become the definitive textbook on total war."- The Sunday Independent

"Its original insights and excellent writing make it outstanding.... a model of compressed clarity.... Indeed, taking almost any subject from the Russo-Finnish War to the V bombs, one finds a similarly clear, concise discussion.... Pritchard shares with the late Louis Allen that ability, rare in British writers, to convey a 'feel' for Japanese motivation and thinking." -E.D. Doyle, The Irish Times

"If only one book were to be chosen on World War II history, this would be tops in line for the nomination: it is exhaustive yet personal; technical in its research, yet involving in its presentation. The new, expanded edition offers insights beyond the original publication and should be considered a standard reference work for any history collection." -Diane Donovan, The Midwest Book Review

"more sophisticated, and has been much strengthened by use of documentary material not previously available" -Robert Key, The Observer

"Excellent." - Dr. David Reynolds, The Independent Observer "Immense tome... to which students or writers of military history can refer" -Field Marshal Lord Carver, The Times Literary Supplement

"The wartime term "blockbuster is one which could well fit this particular volume, running as it does to no less than 1,315 pages... The second revised edition illustrates how much fresh documentary material and expansive memoir publication coupled with the passage of time can enrich judgments and qualify evaluations.... This volume, at first intimidating, is enlivened by a fluent narrative style and illuminating, pointed pen portraits of ... the commanding personalities of wartime leadership.... Books will proliferate, but for those who wish to grasp what "total war" meant... this is an innocuous but penetrating blockbuster, well worth the price. Even more important, it is a book well worth pondering at length." -John Erickson, The Scotsman Supplement

"A book that merits exhaustive study, and will almost certainly become a collector's item... It will surely become the definitive textbook on total war." -The Sunday Independent