The most devastating war in human history continues to generate substantial interest, not only among historians but also among students and the reading public, in the form of popular movies and television shows, books published and sold, and enrollment in college classes on the war. Although much has been written on the subject, the history of the Second World War is still very much a work in progress. World War II continues to be contested territory for historians. Long-held views and widely accepted interpretations are challenged on all sides. The availability of new sources (from Russia and China, for example) and innovative approaches have inspired a steady stream of recent, specialized studies which offer new perspectives on key turning points in the origins, course, and consequences of the conflict. The author will provide a clear, balanced, one volume introduction to the Second World War for general readers and students.

The most devastating war in human history continues to generate substantial interest, not only among historians but also among students and the reading public, in the form of popular movies and television shows, books published and sold, and enrollment in college classes on the war. Although much has been written on the subject, the history of the Second World War is still very much a work in progress. World War II continues to be contested territory for historians. Long-held views and widely accepted interpretations are challenged on all sides. The availability of new sources (from Russia and China, for example) and innovative approaches have inspired a steady stream of recent, specialized studies which offer new perspectives on key turning points in the origins, course, and consequences of the conflict. The author will provide a clear, balanced, one volume introduction to the Second World War for general readers and students.