The Rising Sun in the Pacific: 1931-August 1942 (History of United States Naval Operations in World War II) (v. 3) [Hardcover]

Samuel Eliot Morison (Author)

Book Description

Series: History of United States Naval Operations in World War II | Publication Date: May 2001

This spectacular fifteen-volume series that charts the U.S. Naval operations during World War II with an insider's perspective. Morison, a Harvard professor, was given a special rank and writing post by FDR. He had active duty aboard eleven different ships, allowing him to witness many crucial battles in both the Atlantic and Pacific oceans. Volume Three -the first on the war in the Pacific-includes coverage of the attack on Pear Harbor and its aftermath as well as the Defense of the Malay Barrier. Filled with many maps and file photographs.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"Admiral Morison's series has merited a central niche in the annals of WWII." --WWII History --This text refers to the Paperback edition.

About the Author

Samuel Eliot Morison taught history at Harvard from 1915 to 1955, except for active duty service in the Navy aboard eleven different ships in all theaters of the war. In addition to this series, Rear Admiral Morison wrote many other popular and award-winning books on maritime history, including Two Ocean War. Morison, who died in 1976, was the recipient of two Pulitzer Prizes, two Bancroft Prizes, and the Presidential Medal of Freedom. H.P. Willmott is the author of The Last Century of Sea Power. --This text refers to the Paperback edition.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 440 pages
• Publisher: Castle Books (May 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0785813047
• ISBN-13: 978-0785813040
• Product Dimensions: 8.7 x 6.1 x 1.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.6 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,028,162 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

14 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Morison Delivers, April 4, 2000

By 

"mcgarry6" - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Rising Sun in the Pacific, 1931 - April 1942 (History of United States Naval Operations in World War II, Volume III) (Hardcover)

Selected by president Roosevelt to help document the war Mr. Morison found himself on a ship in the Pacific with the rank of LCDR (reserve). From this vantage point he delivers the most accurate and well researched accounts of the Japanese military build-up and their subsequent naval accomplisments. The socio-political aspects of Japan's conversion to an almost Asian Sparta are also covered. Excellent, descriptive accounts of all events both military and political including the discusions between Japan and America prior to Pearl Harbor. Also, the various attacks and invasions on Dec.7th thru the 26th 1941 by the Japanese are again well covered. As this book brings out the seldom known (yet important) events as well as an in depth perspective to the more often defined events the authors style and canter keep the reader always interested.

9 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Highly Entertaining And Thorough, October 20, 2001

By 

Patrick Doherty (Birmingham, Alabama, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Rising Sun in the Pacific: 1931-August 1942 (History of United States Naval Operations in World War II) (v. 3) (Hardcover)

This is the third volume in a fifteen volume series. Volume III is a very thorough history of the rise of Japan militarily between World War I and World War II. The book ends with the Halsey-Doolittle raid over Tokyo launched from the aircraft carrier Hornet on April 18, 1942.

Morison's writing style is highly entertaining and his attention to detail unsurpassed. It is important to note that the author wrote this history right after the war's conclusion and from the perspective of one who had served on eleven different U.S. ships during the conflict.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Thorough account of the beginning of the Pacific war, October 18, 2008

By 

William S. Grass "Pacific War enthusiast" (Texas, USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Rising Sun in the Pacific: 1931-August 1942 (History of United States Naval Operations in World War II) (v. 3) (Hardcover)

This is volume III of Morison's fifteen volumes on U.S. naval operations in WWII, and his first of nine on the Pacific theater. It covers the rise of the Japanese empire during the decades leading up to Pearl Harbor and specifically the Imperial Japanese Navy, and the events which propelled them toward war such as the Manchuria incident and the sinking of the Panay.

At the conclusion of the section on the rise of the IJN, Morison states a theme of sorts that informs much of the remaining volumes on the Pacific war. He writes that never since 1814 has the United States faced such a "tough, well-trained or powerful fighting force." But that "Stupidity characterized the strategy by which the Japanese navy was directed, and the supporting industrial base was fatally weak."

Thorough coverage is given of the Pearl Harbor attack, and the subsequent rescue and salvage efforts. Then, the plight of the Philippines is chronicled, from the first attacks through the capitulation of Bataan and Corregidor. Next, the ordeal of the gallant but doomed Wake island garrison. In the final section, Morison details how the Japanese tightened the noose on the Dutch East Indies and the Malay peninsula, with the eventual disintegration of ABDA, the combined American-British-Dutch-Australian forces in the southwest Pacific.

Morison ends the volume with the Doolittle force striking the mostly psychological blow against Tokyo. The long saga of Japanese triumphs and Allied setbacks concludes with a demonstration of the essential vulnerability of the Japanese empire, foreshadowing the reversals of fortune at Coral Sea and Midway, which are covered in volume IV.