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Richard B. Frank

Guadalcanal: The Definitive Account of the Landmark Battle Paperback – Illustrated, January 1, 1992

by Richard B. Frank (Author)

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“Brilliant...an enormous work based on the most meticulous research.”—LA Times Book Review

The battle at Guadalcanal—which began eight months to the day after Pearl Harbor—marked the first American offensive of World War II. It was a brutal six-month campaign that cost the lives of some 7,000 Americans and over 30,000 Japanese.

This volume, ten years in the writing, recounts the full story of the critical campaign for Guadalcanal and is based on first-time translations of official Japanese Defense Agency accounts and recently declassified U.S. radio intelligence, Guadalcanal recreates the battle—on land, at sea, and in the air—as never before: it examines the feelings of both American and Japanese soldiers, the strategies and conflicts of their commanders, and the strengths and weaknesses of various fighting units.

Print length

848 pages
Language

English
Publisher

Penguin Books
Publication date

January 1, 1992
Dimensions

6.02 x 1.88 x 9.31 inches
ISBN-10

0140165614
ISBN-13

978-0140165616
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Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

New translations of Japanese accounts, recently declassified documents and strategies and tactics of both sides inform this record of America's first major offensive of the Pacific war. According to PW , "This highly readable rendering of the critical campaign in the Pacific is first-rate military history." Illustrated.
Copyright 1991 Reed Business Information, Inc.

About the Author

Richard B. Frank was born in Kansas in 1947. He served for almost four years in the United States Army, including a tour of duty in Vietnam as an aerorifle platoon leader with the 101st Airborne Division. He is the author of Guadalcanal.

Product details

Publisher ‏ : ‎ Penguin Books; Illustrated edition (January 1, 1992)
Language ‏ : ‎ English
Paperback ‏ : ‎ 848 pages
ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0140165614
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0140165616
Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 1.81 pounds
Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 6.02 x 1.88 x 9.31 inches

Best Sellers Rank: #136,514 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #371 in Military Strategy History (Books)
- #1,402 in World War II History (Books)
- #5,074 in World History (Books)

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307 ratings

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Richard B. Frank

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Richard B. Frank is a graduate of the University of Missouri (1969) and Georgetown University Law Center (1976). He served in the Vietnam War with the 101st Airborne Divisions as an aero rifle platoon leader. He is an independent scholar specializing in the Asia-Pacific War. In 1990, he published his first book Guadalcanal. It won the General Wallace M. Greene, Jr. Award for the best book about Marine Corps history that year. His second work, Downfall: The End of the Imperial Japanese Empire, appeared in 1999. It won the Harry S. Truman Book Award and has been called one of the six best books in English about World War II by Dr. Gerhard Weinberg. Both Random House books became main selections of the History Book Club. In 2007, he completed MacArthur as part of the Palgrave Great Generals series.

Besides his numerous appearances on television and radio, he was a consultant for the epic HBO miniseries, “The Pacific.” He serves on the Board of Presidential Councilors of the U.S. National World War II Museum, including a term as head of that body. He is the principal historical consultant for the museum’s major exhibit titled “The Road to Tokyo.” He is currently working on a narrative history trilogy covering the entire Asia-Pacific War 1937-1945 for W.W. Norton & company. It is the first work in any language to give balanced coverage to not only the maritime war between Japan and the US, but also the continental conflict that ranged across Asia. It further explores how this war shaped the world of the twenty-first century. The first volume of the trilogy, Tower of Skulls, covering the period July 1937 to May 1942, will be published on March 3, 2020. It has received starred reviews in both Kirkus Reviews and Publishers Weekly.

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Joe

even though it is long but it is also a good point. I've read numerous books about the Guadalcanal ...

Reviewed in the United States on July 25, 2017

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I write this review as the Son of a US Marine who fought at Guadalcanal and landed on 8/7/1942 on Haleta. I'm also a retired USAF mustang and my wife and I went to Guadalcanal during Aug 2011. This book is outstanding, even though it is long but it is also a good point. I've read numerous books about the Guadalcanal battles and all of them were very good. This one went further because of the amount of additional details. This explained why some of the decisions were made in the manner they were made. Lack of intelligence or untimely information can easily lead to decisions that could be a lot better and possibly save lives. Even though the length is a factor, I would still strongly recommend that anyone really interested in learning about Guadalcanal this is a definite read. Thank you.

33 people found this helpful

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Richard Warrick

The Definitive Book

Reviewed in the United States on September 12, 2019

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This is THE landmark book on Guadalcanal. I have perhaps fifteen others on this subject, but they cannot carry Frank's briefcase. Don't bother with the others unless they focus in great detail on some specific aspect of this battle. Also, there are many excellent maps which enhance the text even more.

My only problem was the surprising number of typographical errors. Granted, many were misspellings of difficult words like Colombangara (spelled correctly elsewhere in the book), but still, these errors should have been picked up in pre-publication.

Wonderful book.

12 people found this helpful

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anonymous

and, "Definitive"it most definitely is in it;s 799 pages!

Reviewed in the United States on February 11, 2020

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This study is not a casual read but, rather a scholarly review of the battle that defined the future of WWII in the Pacific. Meticulously researched from both American and Japanese archived material much of which has not previously been available, it provides a detailed overview of events as they occurred on land, air and, sea.
The strategies employed by U.S. and Japanese planners are well defined bringing to light the errors made by the combatants which eventually helped turn the tide in the allies favor. The legendary battles like the Matanikau, Edson's Ridge by men off the 1st. Marine Div., desperate air battles fought by the Cactus Air force based on primitive Henderson Field and, savage naval battles like Cape Esperance, Savo Island, Santa Cruz Islands reflect the intensity of the exchanges that took place resulting in the critical loss of men, planes and, ships in increasing numbers as the battle dragged on. The malarial jungle, lack of food, logistical challenges of re-supply, unrelenting heat and humidity and, isolation took its toll physically and emotionally on both sides. The title of"Starvation Island" was hard earned by Marine Corp. U.S. Army personnel and, particularly the Japanese.
Great attention is paid to the principle characters on both sides whose decisions ultimately defined the outcome.
I've read at least a dozen works on the Guadalcanal conflict and, for those with an interest in military history this is by far the most comprehensive. Highly recommended.

5 people found this helpful

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Robert C. Arvay

Grim Reality of War

Reviewed in the United States on August 19, 2018

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This book is about heroes--not glory. Heroism requires courage in battle, but also, the courage to endure suffering, fear, hunger and the daily grind of being bombed, strafed, and sniped at. It involves the heartbreak of seeing close friends killed or crippled by heartless enemies. It is punctuated by failures and setbacks. It involves dirt, grime, stifling heat, and uncertainty. And uncertain the outcome was, for months on end.
The Japanese placed their hopes on the fighting spirit of the Japanese soldier. They failed to notice that the American warrior is unequaled in courage, devotion and commitment.
This book is heavy on detail, and also on anecdotal insights into the struggle. It details for both sides of the conflict, the personnel and events--land, sea and air battles. These events are unlike what one sees on televised accounts such as Dogfights, Battle 360 and so forth, because those give the false impression (at least to me) that the events were short, and overwhelming American victories. According to this book, many of the battles were either won by the Japanese, or else, inhumanly costly to the Americans. Pilots and sailors often set out on missions, never to be heard from again, presumably adrift in the sea, dying of thirst and sunburn.
They were heroes, every one, and their story deserves to be read.
-

6 people found this helpful

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Keith Butler

The authoritative history of an heroic, pivotal battle of the Pacific campaign of WWII

Reviewed in the United States on July 5, 2019

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I read it from cover to cover before visiting the battle sites where my dad fought with the First Marines on Hednerson Field and Bloody Ridge. It was excellent preparation to appreciate how courageously the Marines and the Navy fought, how perilously close they came to defeat, and how important their victory was to block the Imperial military's progress to isolate Australia. Many chapters detail naval and air battles, the contributions of Army soldiers, Allied coast watchers, native guides, and the political intrigue of both Allied and Imperial Japanese leaders. They are dense and the sense of a timeline can be lost without re-reading and cross-referencing other chapters. Nonetheless, it is the authoritative account of an historic battle based on remarkably dedicated research and interviews of both Allied and Imperial Japanese sources.

4 people found this helpful

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William W. Gorman Jr.

Really the definitive book on the Guadalcanal battle. This ...

Reviewed in the United States on May 20, 2018

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Really the definitive book on the Guadalcanal battle. This book covers the land, sea and air battles for possession of the South Pacific Island. It was the first attempt to retake a Japanese seized island and became an important multiple battle site that lead to considerable attrition in Japanese aircraft and aircrews, Recognition of the attrition was one of the major factors for the Japanese for giving up the fight and evacuating their troops. Also, lose at what could be considered one of the deceive land battles of the Pacific War, the battle for Bloody Ridge, was a factor in the pull out. All of the action is fully described. It is a well written book.

2 people found this helpful

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Very Full Account

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on August 29, 2018

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I knew nothing about this episode of WW2, now understand how important the battle in the South Pacific was to defeating Japan. Well told history.

Stretford End Groundside

A very fine account, of this strategically critical campaign

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on November 25, 2016

Verified Purchase

A very fine account, of this strategically critical campaign.
Well written, clearly thoroughly researched and highly readable. Frank succeeds in examine both sides performance, and materiel ( etc) equally well. Five stars without question.

Dillan K

One of the finest battle histories that I've ever read.

Reviewed in Canada on August 26, 2020

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This is an excellent book. I'm no expert on the Battle of Guadalcanal, but I've read many history books, and this one is one of the finest I've ever read. It's well written and well researched (as far as I can see). It's definitely worth a read.

C. Bell

This is simply a terrific book which explores the pivotal campaign on Guadalcanal from ...

Reviewed in Canada on February 8, 2017

Verified Purchase

This is simply a terrific book which explores the pivotal campaign on Guadalcanal from beginning to end. It weaves the air, sea & land battles into a cohesive narrative. Mr. Frank writes from both the Allied & Japanese perspectives in a clear & fair manner. I would highly recommend this book to anyone interested in the war in the Pacific and in the battle for Guadalcanal specifically!

S.M.

Une somme sur la bataille décisive de la guerre du Pacifique

Reviewed in France on September 11, 2011

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La bataille de Guadalcanal, dont l'importance est souvent méconnue au regard de Midway, est pourtant, sans doute, la bataille décisive de la guerre du Pacifique. L'ouvrage de Richard B. Frank -qui se présente, non sans prétention, comme le livre définitif sur la question !- expose ainsi cet affrontement de près de 6 mois, récemment évoqué d'ailleurs dans la minisérie de HBO, The Pacific. Frank, vétéran du Viêtnam, juriste, est aussi un historien militaire

Dans cette campagne de six mois (août 1942-février 1943), les Japonais perdent à la fois le coeur de leur puissance aéronavale, à savoir leurs équipages surentraînés, mais aussi leur mythe d'invincibilité dans le combat de jungle. Frank combine dans son récit, en effet, une lecture à la fois terrestre, navale et aérienne de la campagne, ce qui n'avait, jusqu'à son époque, pas été fait de manière simultanée. Il bénéficie aussi de l'accès à de nouvelles archives japonaises. Dans ses jugements, Frank se montre relativement clément envers certains amiraux américains comme Fletcher, qui a été très critiqué pour avoir retiré ses porte-avions deux jours après le début du débarquement, laissant ainsi les Marines sans couverture. En revanche, il reproche à l'amiral Callaghan d'être à l'origine de la mort de l'amiral Scott pendant la bataille navale au large de Guadalcanal dans la nuit du 13 novembre 1942, en raison d'un tir fratricide.

L'atout majeur du livre de Frank, basé sur un travail de recherche considérable, est de montrer combien Guadalcanal est véritablement le tournant de la guerre du Pacifique. Surpris par une offensive à laquelle ils ne s'attendaient pas, les Japonais ont désespérément tenté de reprendre l'île, qui sera bientôt baptisée par les soldats nippons "l'île de la désolation". Ce faisant, ils ont subi des pertes en matériel et surtout en hommes qu'ils ne pouvaient se permettre. En tenant Henderson Field et en empêchant les Japonais de mener à bien une contre-offensive d'envergure, sur terre, sur mer et dans les airs, les Américains l'ont emporté et ont reconquis une initiative qu'ils ne lâcheront désormais presque plus dans le Pacifique.

Une somme qui est absolument à lire pour tous ceux qui s'intéressent à cette campagne, illustrée par un imposant livret photo central et une pléthore de cartes. En revanche, il est dommage que les sources ne soient pas récapitulées dans une bibliographie complète en fin de volume.

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