The Battle For History

Although more than fifty years have passed since the end of W.W.II, there has as yet been no definitive history of that conflict. Existing histories have raised as many questions as they have answered. Now one of our most esteemed military historians assesses the literature that has emerged from W.W.II--and the controversies that have arisen from that literature--in a book that combines stunning erudition with crisp prose and highly personal discernment. Keegan evaluates works that range from general histories to biographies of the war's principle figures, from accounts of individual campaigns to studies of espionage and resistance. What emerges is not just an essential guide for any serious student of World War II, but also the fascinating story of the ways in which the war has been refought by two generations of its chroniclers.

Table of Contents

1. Controversy and the Second World War

2. Histories of the Second World War

3. Biographies

4. Campaigns

5. The Brains and Sinews of War

6. Occupation and Resistance