Pearl Harbor: An Illustrated History

by Dan van der Vat

This definitive, illustrated history re-creates for a new generation the two hour attack at Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941, that left more than twenty-three hundred men dead, eight battleships sunk or damaged, and the United States at war. Dan van der Vat's compelling narrative contains new revelations based on groundbreaking research and is illuminated by a wealth of rare archival images-including previously unpublished personal photos and memorabilia. Evocative paintings by marine artist Tom Freeman, maps and dimensional diagrams of the battle, and contemporary color photography set the stage for the moving first-person accounts of eyewitnesses and survivors.

Genres: History, Nonfiction, World War II, Japan, War, Reference

176 pages, Paperback

First published May 9, 2001

About the author

Daniel Francis Jeroen van der Vat, born in Holland and educated in Britain he worked as a journalist for British newspapers including The Times and The Guardian.

His books on twentieth-century history include many works on Naval history.

Reviews

[Христо Блажев · Rating 4 out of 5]

Атаката над Пърл Харбър отблизо: http://knigolandia.info/book-review/p...

Историята се пише от победителите – и се чете като цяло от тяхната гледна точка. Би ми било интересно да прочета японската трактовка на събитията, довели до атаката над Пърл Харбър, но е малко вероятно това да се случи (освен в английски превод, иронично). “Пърл Харбър – денят на позора” на Дан Ван Дер Ват обаче дава относително балансирана гледна точка, представя много от японските военни – стратези и обикновени пилоти, показва икономическите и политическите фактори, които натежават в посока изненадваща атака и започване на война. Бях приятно изненадан, че не са пропуснати някои неприятни факти като жертвите сред цивилното население вследствие на приятелски огън от стрелбата по самолетите или “ловът на вещици” сред местните японци след атаката.

Унискорп ИК
http://knigolandia.info/book-review/p...

[Стефан Петков · Rating 4 out of 5]

Добро въведение в историята на нападението над Пърл Харбър.В българската историческа наука темата, за съжаление, не е широко засегната, така че книгата на Ван дер Ват запълва някои липси. Препоръчвам.

[Spacek Kim · Rating 5 out of 5]

The author gave a lot factual information about the attach on Pearl Harbor. Eye witness accounts were given and provide additional description to understanding December 7, 1941. Pictures in this book are authentic and also provide a pictorial description of what happened that day.

[Tiberiu Baranyi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very nicely put together ... a history book that is done in different but captivating manner. I recommend it.

[Stephen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Seventy-four years ago, the Pacific Ocean became awash in the blood of war. Six carriers, operating for days under radio silence, parked north of Hawaii and unleashed a complete airborne arsenal -- fighters, torpedo bombers, dive bombers, and conventional straight line bombers at the small island of Oahu. Their target was the US Pacific Fleet, moored in Pearl Harbor. though the island's US Army defenders would also be savaged by the surprise attack, and the ordinary citizens of Honolulu would be stung by the debris of war. The day following, Franklin Roosevelt declared December 7 to be a day which would live in infamy -- and so it has, to a degree. Being one of the greatest military disasters in American history, it has at least not been forgotten, 'inspiring' a movie as recently as 2001, and serving as the subject of scores of books. Dan van der Vat's textual history is light, but rich,delivering on the 'illustrated history' premise. Like the Japanese, van der Vat works Pearl Harbor over location by location, focusing in turn on the key targets: Battleship Row, Hickham Field, Wheeler Field, and so on. Firsthand accounts from Japanese airmen, US servicemen, and Hawaiian civilians appear with photographs of events as they unfolded, and pictures of artifacts -- the sword of a captured Japanese submariner, the scorched Red Cross patch worn by an aide worker, that sort of thing. Fulls-spread photographs of the Navy's mighty battleships crumbling under bombs and torpedoes abound, but the book also features art by Tom Freeman. Despite generally depicting scenes of destruction, these pieces fetching to the eye and impressive in their detail, especially near Battleship Row. There are also full-page spreads of Pearl Harbor itself, which -- given the book's proportions -- make it an excellent visual reference. The author included many "then and now" shots; it's surprising how much of the base has survived since the 1940s. This illustrated history serves quite well as an overview for the Pearl Harbor attack, especially given the first hand accounts and the ending chapter which points out that despite the loss of life, for Japan ultimately December 7 was a strategic flub. The third wave against oil tanks and repair facilities was called off, and most of the ships damaged were revived. Even those which were never restored, like the Arizona and Utah, contributed parts to repair other ships. Within six months the Japanese fleet had been checked and reversed, and the long and grim work of rooting the Empire out island by island had begun. The extravagant amount of visual media makes the book quite attractive to WW2 buffs, as well.

[Laurel · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the best book that I have read in a very long time. The illustrations are fabulous; they are file photos and paintings. This is a MUST for any teacher who would like to interest his or her students in the "date which will live in infamy," [F. D. Roosevelt, of course.:] Interestingly, the book is so accurate that the author corrects his own subtitle, knowing the correct word is date, not day. This stunning archive of reports gleaned from various government investigations of the day, including witness accounts from both Japanese and Americans. It is horrifying, inspirational, and even funny.

We all know that the attack came in two waves. Once the soldiers were aware and preparing for the second wave, orders were given to separate as many of the ships as possible. Not all of the officers were on their ships. Younger soldiers knew they had to move their vessels, which they did. As one ship moved into safer waters, its captain followed in a motorboat trying to catch up to his crew that had left without him.

I know it sounds hackneyed, but this time it is true. Every American and every Japanese should read this book. When I visited Pearl Harbor, there were as many Japanese tourists as Americans on our tour boat out to the U.S.S. Arizona memorial (graveyard). They sat on one side and we sat on the other. Everyone was quiet once we could see the memorial, as it was not wise to be speaking in Japanese while in Pearl Harbor.

[Sheila · Rating 4 out of 5]

An excellent historical look at the events leading up to and following the attack on Pearl Harbor, with lots of historic photographs, paintings and diagrams.

I already knew a lot of the history of Pearl Harbor, including the 1,177 men who died on the Arizona that day, but the item that stopped me most in my tracks was the following detailing the salvage operation on the sunken ships:
" But it was only in June 1942, after the raised West Virginia was towed to dry dock, that twenty bodies were found inside her. Scratches on the bullhead revealed that at least some of the men were still alive on December 23."

So sad. To be trapped in a sunken ship, so close to help, but with nobody knowing you were there. To die after 16 days trapped in a sunken ship. Hard to even fathom. And just a footnote in all of the events in this date that will live in infamy.

[Kayla · Rating 3 out of 5]

I want to go back! For the weather, the fun, and the history!

I liked the pictures and illustrations. It was neat that they had perspective from several eyewitnesses. About half way through - I stopped reading all of the information. I skimmed to pictures and eyewitness accounts. I didn't learn anything that I didn't learn last year when I was there. The pictures were awesome!

[Alex Doroteo · Rating 5 out of 5]

good book

[Mike Crawford · Rating 2 out of 5]

The Willmot book has more maps, and while older (and potentially not the latest), it is a more authoritative attempt at history; this one is more story-telling.