Good WWII Textbook?
Eugene A. Smith, III
From "Eugene A. Smith, III" <es...@andrew.cmu.edu>
Hi all:
I've been reading this group for awhile, but I've never posted. I've got
a question for you.
I'll be teaching a World War II class this fall. I've read extensively,
and I have a few books I'd love to expose my students to, but I'm not
decided on a central text. I've got a copy of B. H. Liddell Hart's
History of the Second World War, also John Keegan's The Second World
War. Any other suggestions for a single volume history of the war that
covers all military theatres as well as the social, political, economic,
and diplomatic aspects of the war? (I know it's a pretty tall order :-})
Thanks in advance for your help.
[mod note -- as far as a work that covers all the theaters, I'd recommend
_There's a War to be Won_ by Geffrey Perrot (I think I misspelled his last
name, but it came out in the past couple of years
Steve]
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
* Gene Smith (formerly of Pittsburgh, now in the wilds of Western Maryland) *
* *
* es...@andrew.cmu.edu Dept. of History, Carnegie Mellon University *
* e2h...@fre.fsu.umd.edu Dept. of History, Frostburg State University *
* *
* "Those who are ignorant of the past [in my class] are condemned to *
* repeat it . . ." (with apologies to Santayana) *
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Michael Fester
From Michael Fester <mfe...@packers.interbase.borland.com>
In article <CMvFx...@law7.daytonoh.ncr.com>,
Eugene A. Smith, III <es...@andrew.cmu.edu> wrote:
>
>From "Eugene A. Smith, III" <es...@andrew.cmu.edu>
>
>Hi all:
>
>I've been reading this group for awhile, but I've never posted. I've got
>a question for you.
>
>I'll be teaching a World War II class this fall. I've read extensively,
>and I have a few books I'd love to expose my students to, but I'm not
>decided on a central text. I've got a copy of B. H. Liddell Hart's
>History of the Second World War, also John Keegan's The Second World
>War. Any other suggestions for a single volume history of the war that
>covers all military theatres as well as the social, political, economic,
>and diplomatic aspects of the war? (I know it's a pretty tall order :-})
>
>Thanks in advance for your help.
>
>[mod note -- as far as a work that covers all the theaters, I'd recommend
>_There's a War to be Won_ by Geffrey Perrot (I think I misspelled his last
>name, but it came out in the past couple of years
Martin Gilbert's _The Second World War_ is pretty good, as well.
Mike
--
Disclaimer - All opinions provided on an "as is" basis. No warranty is expressed
or implied. Opinions do not necessarily represent those of anyone you know, nor
of the poster. Offer void where prohibitted. CAUTION: Do not use these opinions
in the presence of large, heavily armed persons who disagree with you.
Russell Isinger
From Russell Isinger <isin...@herald.usask.ca>
I would recommend the following books:
Martin Glibert, "The Second World War," London: Weidenfeld & Nicolson,
1989. A hefty tome, but it doesn't miss much. However, if it is not out
in paperback yet, you may think it too expensive for an undergraduate course.
Peter Calvocoressi and Guy Wint, "Total War. The Causes and Courses of
the Second World War," London: Penguin Books Ltd., 1972. There is a
revised paperback edition available.
I am sure that you are aware of it, but if you wanted to assign an
excellent book about World War Two I can think of none better than Paul
Fussel's "Wartime. Understanding And Behaviour In The Second World War,"
Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1989 (paperback edition available). It
is not a general history of the war but rather more of sociological
examination of the war from the point of view of the common soldier and
civilian. I enjoyed it immensely.
Hope this has been helpful.
Russell Isinger, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada
Mark Starzewski
From ma...@bart.demon.co.uk (Mark Starzewski)
In article <Cn8Dp...@law7.DaytonOH.NCR.COM> m...@mole-end.matawan.nj.us writes:
>If it weren't for the one-volume requirement, I'd say Churchill's _History
>of the Second World War_. For a work biased from one individual's viewpoint,
>it's almost as fair as can be asked for. It's been said that no ruler since
>Caesar has written anything like it. I'd certainly recommend the first
>volume (_The Gathering Storm_) as a supplemental text. A greater tale of
>political cupidity, timidity, and stupidity is probably not to be found.
>
>I might have seen somewhere a condensed, one-volume edition, under a title
>such as _War Memoirs_. Since I haven't read it, I can't recommend it, but
>it might be worth a look-see.
There is a condensed one volume version titled same. It is, however, three
inches thick in the paperback edition ;-), and does not have the usual flow of
language associated with Churchill's writings(can't remember if someone else
was responsible for the dehydration).
I would also recommend the two volumes of Sir Arthur Bryant's writings on the
same subject as a worthy supplement...
Sorry if I'm short on detail, but having recently moved I still have my
library in boxes ;-(
Regards
Mark
--
*******************************************************************************
..without warranty, Internet: ma...@bart.demon.co.uk
implied merchantability CIS: 100114,2415
or fitness for a particular purpose...Yo Dude!
********************************************************* Click,Click...brrr...
Robinder S. Bhatty
From "Robinder S. Bhatty" <rs...@columbia.edu>
In article <Cn8Dp...@law7.daytonoh.ncr.com>,
<m...@mole-end.matawan.nj.us> wrote:
>
>From m...@mole-end.matawan.nj.us
>
>In article <CMvFx...@law7.DaytonOH.NCR.COM>, "Eugene A. Smith, III" <es...@andrew.cmu.edu> writes:
>
>> I've been reading this group for awhile, but I've never posted. I've got
>> a question for you.
>>
>> I'll be teaching a World War II class this fall. ...
>> Any ... suggestions for a single volume history of the war that
>> covers all military theatres as well as the social, political, economic,
>> and diplomatic aspects of the war? (I know it's a pretty tall order :-})
Just recently, a book has come out that would fit your
stated requirements. It's called A WORLD IN ARMS (I think) and as I say,
its very new - still available only in hardover, I believe. Still, the
reviews are quite good, and it apparently covers all the aspects you
refer to.
Best of Luck! Remember, never
turn your back on them!
RSB
patterson,george r
From "patterson,george r" <pat...@cc.bellcore.com>
In article <CMvFx...@law7.DaytonOH.NCR.COM>, "Eugene A. Smith, III" <es...@andrew.cmu.edu> writes:
> I'll be teaching a World War II class this fall. ...
> Any ... suggestions for a single volume history of the war that
> covers all military theatres as well as the social, political, economic,
> and diplomatic aspects of the war? (I know it's a pretty tall order :-})
One problem with the idea of a "World War II class" is that WWI and WWII
were pretty much one long war with a cease-fire in the middle. For the
European theater, I would recommend _The German Wars_, by D.J. Goodspeed.
ISBN: 0-517-467909. It has been published by Houghton Mifflin of Boston
in 1977, and by Bonanza Books of New York in 1985.
This does not cover the Pacific theater, but it does cover the social,
political, economic, and diplomatic aspects of the European war, as well
as the military ones.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
|
| It's always better to be on the ground wishing
George Patterson - | you were up in the air than to be up in the air
| wishing you were on the ground.
|
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Roger Ethan Moore
From Roger Ethan Moore <r...@cco.caltech.edu>
"Robinder S. Bhatty" <rs...@columbia.edu> writes:
>In article <Cn8Dp...@law7.daytonoh.ncr.com>,
> <m...@mole-end.matawan.nj.us> wrote:
>>From m...@mole-end.matawan.nj.us
>>In article <CMvFx...@law7.DaytonOH.NCR.COM>, "Eugene A. Smith, III" <es...@andrew.cmu.edu> writes:
>>
>>> I've been reading this group for awhile, but I've never posted. I've got
>>> a question for you.
>>>
>>> I'll be teaching a World War II class this fall. ...
>>> Any ... suggestions for a single volume history of the war that
>>> covers all military theatres as well as the social, political, economic,
>>> and diplomatic aspects of the war? (I know it's a pretty tall order :-})
> Just recently, a book has come out that would fit your
>stated requirements. It's called A WORLD IN ARMS (I think) and as I say,
>its very new - still available only in hardover, I believe. Still, the
>reviews are quite good, and it apparently covers all the aspects you
>refer to.
I have just finished A World In Arms, and it is an excelent book, but I do
have some problems with it. It is primarily a political history, focusing
on how military and economic factors influenced the political decisions of
the world leaders. It does say quite a bit about the military aspect of the
war, but details are rarely given on any scale smaller than the Army Group.
If you are intending to focus primarily on the military aspect of the war,
I would stongly suggest _The Second World War_ (I believe this is the title)
by John Keegan. His is more of a military history which describes how
political and economic factors effected military decisions (and the obvious
feedback of how the military situation forced political leaders to make
these decisions.) He also has chapters which describe in greater detail
one of each of the most common types of battle (tank, city, naval, air, etc.)
and chapters which describe in detail the strategic dilemmas which faced
a political leader at a crucial point in the war. It is also conveniently
available in trade paperback, so it is not too expensive.
Raj (Master of Meaningless Trivia)