In 1950; Communist-backed North Korean forces invaded the US-protected South. Britain came into the war on the side of the US but; still suffering financial stricture after the demands of World War II; the British government sent poorly equipped brigades of troops to help the beleagured US forces. Anti-war dissent at home and threats to use the Atom bomb added to the danger of the situation; threatening World War III. US General MacArthur launched a surprise amphibious assault on Inchon behind North Korean lines; but victory was snatched from the combined US/British force by the entry of 600;000 Chinese troops into the war on the side of North Korea. The British and American soldiers were routed and in the battle of the Imjin River that ensued - the "Glorious Glosters" were butchered. The Korean war has been described as "the nastiest little war". Atrocities were committed on both sides; but for the next two years British and other Allied PoWs became the biggest pawns in the great peace talks. If they broke and confessed publicly that it had been an "Imperialist war"; as their captors wanted them to; it would have been a great propaganda victory for the enemy. Thus the final round of the Korean War was for the hearts and minds of British prisoners. As a result of the sacrifice in blood of the ordinary British squaddie; the North did not achieve the victory it desired; the British won the day; and an all-out nuclear war was averted. This book aims to provide an account of the Korean War; in particular Britain's involvement; and the author's narrative is supported with graphic eyewitness accounts.
#1115520 in Books Edinburgh University Press 1999-07-28Original language:EnglishPDF # 1 7.50 x 1.40 x 9.40l; 3.90 #File Name: 0748606300704 pagesEdinburgh University Press
Review
4 of 6 people found the following review helpful. A rare look at the Crusades through Muslim EyesBy AnelleyI used this book for my Master's thesis and I found it to be an interesting read in spite of having to read it for school work. Great accounts of Muslims at the time of the Crusades- what they did and what they thought. Very rare in Crusades history; sadly. It's a large; scholarly work; but broken up into many sections like a textbook and containing lots of artwork so it's very approachable for the scholar or Crusades enthusiast alike. The pictures alone are worth the price of the book. Those interested in art history of this period and cultures will find the book very valuable.13 of 20 people found the following review helpful. The Crusades: Islamic PerspectivesBy M. A MichaudThis is the best-produced academic paperback I have ever seen. The book is wonderfully illustrated. The photographs are supplemented by hundreds of intriguing drawings in the wide margins. The text is spaciously presented and easy to read. I found zero typographical errors in more than six hundred pages of text; a delight in these days of hasty editing. Hillenbrand's writing is clear; straightforward; and balanced. The book presents a much-needed new perspective on the Crusades. Five stars.14 of 17 people found the following review helpful. great but overpricedBy Jonathan B. CouserHillenbrand did a fantastic job writing this book. It is easily the most detailed; nuanced; and evenhanded treatment about the Crusades from the Islamic perspective available. The only drawback is that it is extensively illustrated; with images on nearly every page; and few of the images have any direct relationship to the text. Hillenbrand herself states that most of the illustrations were included simply to give readers a feel for the visual character of medieval Islam. This is a sensible goal; but surely could have been achieved with less. I suspect that it is because of the printing costs of so many unnecessary pictures that the cover price for the paperback is over $70 and the hardcover a whopping $250. The publishers should seriously consider issuing a second edition with 90% of the illustrations removed and a cover price around $25-35 for the paperback. Then this book could receive the wide readership it deserves.
