World War II in Photographs [Hardcover]

Richard Holmes (Author), Imperial War Museum (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: November 3, 2009

As we approach the 70th anniversary of the start of World War II, interest in the greatest military conflict of all time remains stronger than ever. Richard Holmes, one of Britain’s finest military historians—assisted by the research staff of the Imperial War Museum—takes us on a photographic look back at the confrontation. In year-by-year chapters, from 1939–45, this breathtaking volume covers every theater of operations. Dramatic, hard hitting, and intensely moving, this is a unique visual testament to the millions who lost their lives in the war, and a reminder of both the heroism and horror of global combat.

 

 

Editorial Reviews

From Booklist

Holmes' poignant book contains 500 photographs, almost all of them black-and-white and most drawn from Britain's Imperial War Museum. A few were taken by prominent photographers, such as Cecil Beaton and Robert Capa, but many of the photographers--some destined to remain unknown, others ordinary officers and men--served with army film and photographic units. There are also captured German and Japanese official photographs. Presentation is by year, from 1939 to 1945. Holmes prefaces each year with an account of its major events and briefly introduces each block of photos within a year. Although most of the pictures are war photos, some reflect the fact that millions of civilians were affected--young children being evacuated from London, a British air raid warden comforting a child rescued from a bombed-out home, German citizens made to view the horrors of the Buchenwald concentration camp, shaven-headed French women accused of sexually consorting with the Germans. World War II enthusiasts will want both books. George Cohen
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved --This text refers to an alternate Hardcover edition.

About the Author

Richard Holmes is Professor of Military and Security Studies at Cranfield University and the Defence Academy of the United Kingdom, and President of the British Commission for Military History.  He has written over 20 books, including his trilogy on the British Soldier, Redcoat; Tommy, Sahib, The First World War in Photographs, The D-Day Experience, The Napoleonic Wars Experience, and Marlborough: England’s Fragile Genius. He has also presented seven television documentary series, from Rebels and Redcoats, about the American Revolution, to In the Footsteps of Churchill.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 400 pages
• Publisher: Carlton Books (November 3, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 184732441X
• ISBN-13: 978-1847324412
• Product Dimensions: 11.3 x 9.4 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,196,971 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A very impresive book, March 5, 2003

By 

"mrtavarone" (NY) - See all my reviews

This review is from: World War II In Photographs (Hardcover)

I had already been impressed by "WWI In Photographs" by the same authour. WWII, however, has been more impresed and contains a larger number of pictures than the former. Do not expect too much from the comments from the authour -please, do not missunderstand- since although they are accurate, they are also brief (this is clearly a "pictures" book).

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Good Photographs questionable writing, March 27, 2009

By 

Dylan McGregor "*world history reader*" (Montreal Canada) - See all my reviews

This review is from: World War II in Photographs (Paperback)

First, let me start by saying the collection of photographs are fantastic. Although there are some definite iconic photos we all have seen from WWII, this book has a great deal to offer in showing another side to the war especially for Americans who want to get a larger view of action in the European theater. The pictures are well labeled and accurate and the books design of designating the pictures to their appropriate year is stellar. Americans have a very rich library of war footage and pictures from WWII but I would like to see more of these pictures from other countries, including my own (Canada).

However the reader should be warned that the insert and chapter text is biased to say the least. It becomes very obvious to the reader that the author thoroughly despises Americans to the point where you will find more compliments given about the Germans. I have no problem with authors taking pride in their country's accomplishments and putting them out there for the rest of the world to read (and Britain has many of them worth reading about during WWII to be sure) but not at the expense of belittling your allies out of personal hatred especially when it is meant to be an historical account. The author reaches his greatest moments of disillusion when he calls operation Market Garden a "near success" that would have worked except apparently in his perceptions only the British did any kind of fighting at all. This is often repeated about other actions in the book as Americans being soundly lazy and failing with little or very bad intelligence. We hit a high point of ?????? when he claims that the English came to America to build the atomic bomb (a group effort by many different peoples) and that the English basically won the Pacific theater war......... and then America dropped two atomic bombs.

The difference between his rather stellar picture captions and his personal text make you feel as if you are reading a book written by two different authors. Had Holmes left out his personal take on history and rather sour opinion of the Yanks this book would easily be a 5 star reference.