2005-03-10 A Historical lesson

Very complete, very concise (considering the enormity of the subject), this extremely well researched book offers an almost day-by-day history of the war. Unfortunately, it reads more like a textbook; there is no personal comment, little analysis of the personalities involved and no background. By starting the book on 1 Sept 1939 there is no consideration given to the German/European political situation 1918-1939. Likewise, whilst the Nazi atrocities are described in detail as part of the fabric of war (which they were, of course), background to the Nazi philosophies or pre-war history might would have given these details a further dimension. Of course, the book is big enough already, but less minutiae and more analysis - as in the superb histories by John Keegan - would have made the most momentous series of events in history a little more interesting.