The Two-Ocean War: A Short History of the United States Navy in the Second World War [Hardcover]

Samuel Eliot Morison (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 1997

Morison's 15-volume history of US naval operations in World War II is often regarded as a definitive account. This book distills that material into one volume, and combines historical analysis with the author's personal experience as an admiral in the war.

--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 640 pages
• Publisher: Galahad Books; 1st Galahad Books Ed edition (September 1997)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1578660033
• ISBN-13: 978-1578660032
• Product Dimensions: 9.3 x 6.2 x 2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.4 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (14 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #638,365 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

25 of 25 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars AN EXCELLENT SUMMARY OF NAVY OPS IN WORLD WAR II, October 25, 1999

By 

TED B. (MARYLAND) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Two-Ocean War: A Short History of the United States Navy in the Second World War (Paperback)

Morison provides excellent coverage of the role of the U.S. Navy during World War II. However, the coverage is very broad, rating a five star for those wishing to obtain an understanding of the Navy's role in World War II, but rating about a 2 or 3 star for serious students of the war.

There are a number of excellent points to be made about the book: (1) it is easy to read; (2) Morison talks "Navy talk" without apology (so get out your dictionary at times); (3) maps are generally there when you need them, although more camnpaign maps would be appreciated; (4) Morison speaks with authority on the subject since he was really there; and (5) a nice touch: an evaluation, in the last chapter, of the U.S. Navy commanders who had a say so in how the war went.

This is a very fine book for the general reader and those specialists wishing to get back to the "broad picture" or string of events. For the student of the war, the book lacks depth in specific events, and this is certainly excusable since volumes have been written on specific events, such as Okinawa, Tarara, Overlord, the sinking of the Yamato, and so on.

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Excellent, September 25, 2000

By 

G. S. Swint (TX) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Two-Ocean War: A Short History of the United States Navy in the Second World War (Hardcover)

Morison's book is unique in two ways: 1) he was an admiral, so he knows what went on and what was supposed to go on, and 2) he is careful to separate his opinion from history, but still gives you both. This is probably as good a short book as can be written about the naval war. If you want more detail, get a multi-volume set, but it was just fine for me being someone interested in what happened when and why. I also appreciated his personal assessment of naval commanders and their decisions.

10 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A little too stripped down, but solid, May 20, 2002

By A Customer

This review is from: The Two-Ocean War: A Short History of the United States Navy in the Second World War (Paperback)

I think you have to take it in the context that at the time there wasn't such a wealth of contemporary books, and there was a need for a summary like this. Fifty years later battle incidents like Savo Island have been discussed and analyzed to death, and reading this for the first time didn't grab my attention.

But give him credit for getting the analysis correct. He goes a little easy on Halsey at Leyte in my opinion (he likes him), but otherwise he doesn't spare stupidity at all, on our side or theirs. His dissection of Pearl Harbor should be required reading in history courses. I think most kids grow up thinking we lost that battle; I did, until reading books like this (now I would probably argue the Japanese pilots killed constituted the worst tactical damage done). The afterwords on the major battles are the best part of this book by far.

Also, I didn't find the book to be that objectionable when it comes to race. He uses offensive language when referring to the Japanese, but he keeps it in context. He also keeps the tone from being jingoistic; patriotic, yes, especially for the admiration of courage under American arms, but never ignoring the idiotic things some of our leaders did for the sake of not smearing the flag.

Very worthwhile, and sufficiently revealing of the author's talent that I will now invest in the multi-volume work. In that sense alone, just to give you a glimpse of what to expect, it's well worth having.