Short description
A companion volume to his bestselling 'Armageddon', Max Hastings' account of the battle for Japan is a masterful military history.
Long description
A companion volume to his bestselling 'Armageddon', Max Hastings' account of the battle for Japan is a masterful military history. Featuring the most remarkable cast of commanders the world has ever seen, the dramatic battle for Japan of 1944--45 was acted out across the vast stage of Asia: Imphal and Kohima, Leyte Gulf and Iwo Jima, Okinawa and the Soviet assault on Manchuria. In this gripping narrative, Max Hastings weaves together the complex strands of an epic war, exploring the military tactics behind some of the most triumphant and most horrific scenes of the twentieth century. The result is a masterpiece that balances the story of command decisions, rivalries and follies with the experiences of soldiers, sailors and airmen of all sides as only Max Hastings can.
Review
'A monumental achievement!compassionate but unsparing in its judgements.' Sunday Times 'An outstandingly gripping and authoritative account of the battle for Japan, and a monument to human bravery and savagery.' Daily Telegraph 'Absolutely excellent.' John Simpson, Observer 'Magisterial!it is truly cathartic to reach the end of the Second World War in Hastings's company.' The Times 'Brilliantly though Hastings lays out the strategic context, his real talent lies in his account of the terrible human experience that it involved!This is a book for anyone who wants to understand what happened in half the world during one of the bloodiest periods of the blood-soaked 20th century.' Spectator 'Spectacular!Hastings makes important points about the war in the East that have been all too rarely heard!excellent!compelling!searingly powerful.' Sunday Telegraph 'As Hastings brilliantly describes, conditions for fighting men on both sides were appalling!the fire-bombing of Tokyo and the decision to drop the atomic bombs were influenced by the urge to 'get this business over with', but the argument, as Hastings explains so well with his usual exemplary judgement, is far more complex.' Financial Times 'Highly readable!absorbing!excellent!admirably balanced!the author's attitude!refreshingly modern and sensitive.' Guardian 'A delight to read!absorbing!engrossing.' Scotsman 'A delight to read!its originality lies!in the meticulousness of the author's research!an absorbing read! Nemesis is an engrossing book.' Evening Standard Reviews for 'Warriors': 'With this collection, Hastings is back on home territory, where he can bring his unique blend of skills as war reporter, and social as well as military historian to bear!This is one of the best and most diverting of his shorter pieces.' Evening Standard 'All [of the stories] are corking!opinions are stated firmly and with big bold swings of the pendulum. His virtues are clarity and decisiveness -- greatly to be admired when it comes to making clear, for the lay reader, roughly what is going on in the fiendishly complex and bloody engagements he describes.' Spectator 'A wonderfully eclectic selection!a marvellous book. Wry, perceptive and engaging, it lays bare the curious mix of character traits -- good and bad -- that a successful warrior requires.' Sunday Telegraph 'His brisk prose has the qualities of his warriors: clear, decisive, forceful! Warriors will enthral everyone.' Daily Telegraph