The Second World War: An Illustrated History

by A.J.P. Taylor

A fine copy. As new. Later printing. Paper wrappers. Trade format. 608 pp. Illus. with b/w photos. Excellent overview by one of the most prolific military historians today.

Genres: History, Nonfiction, World War II, War

224 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1975

About the author

Alan John Percivale Taylor was an English historian of the 20th century and renowned academic who became well known to millions through his popular television lectures.

Reviews

[Abdullah Hussaini · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not as good as The First World War but still can be considered as an overview of WW2. Although the writing appears drier than First WW but one cannot neglect this as still a good overview of WW2.

[Matin Pyron · Rating 4 out of 5]

کتاب خیلی مفید و کوتاهی بودش با وجود اینکه ۴۱۲ صفحه داشت
باید کتاب ظهور و سقوط رایش سوم رو حتما دوستان مطالعه کنند پیش از هر چیزی

[Dimitri · Rating 2 out of 5]

This illustrated overview carries little of the bite that Taylor displayed for the First war as a whole and the origins of the Second*... Supplanted by the equally tame Keegan** and others. All heroes of historiography suffer an uninspired day, I guess.
.
*The First World War: An Illustrated History / The Origins of the Second World War by A.J.P. Taylor.
**The Second World War byJohn Keegan

[Nat Kidder · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not one of Taylor's better efforts, but still a highly readable history, with some decent insights.

One of the book's strengths is making the leaders, often portrayed as larger than life, mere humans with human strengths and weaknesses. And the narrative is highly engaging.

Its biggest weaknesses are a curious lack of material on the northern island-hopping campaign in the Pacific -- the key to defeating Japan. And he engages in moral equivalence, particularly in the matter of Soviet-Western relations.

Written in the 1970's, it lacks a post-Cold War perspective. For example, in discussing the 1944 Warsaw uprising, he states, "An independent Poland disappeared forever in 1939.", not realizing it would re-emerge in 1989.

But all in all, a worthy read for any enthusiastic for history's last all-out multinational conflict.