With the content of an authoritative reference and the excitement of a thriller; this history of the U.S. submarine war is one of the most informative and entertaining books written on the Pacific campaign. The author; a respected journalist and World War II submariner himself; is credited with providing a complete and unbiased account of what happened. When published in 1975; it was the first such account to detail controversial aspects of the American campaign; from the torpedo scandal to discrepancies between claimed and confirmed sinkings.To get to the truth; Clay Blair interviewed scores of skippers; staff officers; and code breakers; and combed thousands of documents and personal papers. In addition; he thoroughly researched the development of the submarine and torpedo from pre-war to post-war times. As a result; he takes the reader into the submarine war at all levels―the highest strategy sessions in Washington; the terrifying moments in subs at the bottom of the ocean waiting out exploding depth charges; the zany efforts of a crew coaxing a chicken to lay an egg. He also exposes the reader to the jealous infighting of admirals vying for power and the problems between cautious older skippers and daring young commanders. Supplementing the text are nearly forty maps showing submarine activity in the context of every important naval engagement in the Pacific; more than thirty pages of photographs; multiple appendixes (including a calendar of submarine war patrols); and an index of over 2;000 entries. This is a work of great scholarship and scope that makes a timeless contribution to the history of World War II.
#892081 in Books 2008-07-01 2008-07-01Original language:EnglishPDF # 1 9.00 x .57 x 6.25l; .75 #File Name: 155635956X230 pages
Review
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful. Historiographical SurpriseBy melvo7I did not realize this study was a period piece when I began reading it. The prose and perspective was so stodgy and reminescent of professorial tweed that I only later looked at the author and publication date.The book is definitely for the experts on the period leaving several passages in Greek and cunieform untranslated. The prose is not designed for light reading or entertainment. It is still accessable; however; for unlike some more modern publications the use of jargon or undefined terms is absent. The author presents a meticulous analysis and exhaustive discussion of relevent ancient texts to piece together the most plausible explanation for events at the fall of the Neo-Babylonian Empire.There is so little published on this topic it was valuable to find so thorough and serious an analysis. The book cries out for a contemporary author to take on the topic and to use this book as a source for a more readable account. So much more historical material is now available from the Assyrian and other archives discovered and translated since this work was written.2 of 2 people found the following review helpful. Clearly written and easy to follow provided you are not impatientBy MILES THOMPSONThe the most scholarly book I have ever read concerning the last two rulers of the Neo-Babylonian empire. Clearly written and easy to follow provided you are not impatient; the author pieces together various pieces of evidence -- cuneiform texts; archaeological evidence; literary fragments; writings and references surviving in works by later Graeco-Roman authors. Highly recommended!0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. Two StarsBy John C. DavisNot what I expected.
