Books : Memoirs of the Second World War: An Abridgement of the Six Volumes of the Second World War With an Epilogue by the Author on the Postwar Years With MAPS and DIAGRAMS
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Type of bind: Hardcover
Dewey Decimal Number: 940.53
EAN num: 9780395522622
ISBN number: 0395522625
Label: Houghton Mifflin
Manufacturer: Houghton Mifflin
Quantity: 1
Page Count: 1065
Printing Date: November 06, 1990
Publishing house: Houghton Mifflin
Sale Popularity Level: 146064
Studio: Houghton Mifflin
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Product Description:
The quintessence of the war as seen by it's greatest player, in a one-volumn abridged edition that captures all the drama of the original volumes.
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Rated by buyers 
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Churchill's memoirs certainly are a classic, which has to be on every WW II listmania list. The abridged edition omits many parts and of his six volume set, but the omissions are ever compensated by the authors highly refined contemplation on the causes and political aspects of the Second World War. Perhaps, the book could even be named "Diplomacy of the Second World War".
Churchill's lucid language and reflections upon grand strategy of the war, fully compensates for the absence of decent maps and other visual aids. A reader will be surprised about the ease he speaks describing the events and processes, which happened on such a grandiose scale. The author himself comments this by saying, that statesman are not called upon only to settle easy questions, since these often settle themselves. To settle difficult ones, he says, a statesman has to have something more than powerful one-track mind.
Churchill's narrative gets even more exciting, when he dwells upon several "what if" scenarios. On the other hand, to stick to ground, he embellishes his account with ordinary, prosaic details of everyday life - special meals, good sleep habits etc. Occasionally, one might also get an impression, that his story turns slightly arrogant, for instance, when he speaks about the divisions as if the pieces on the board, or addressing soldiers in Carthage, saying, that he had no idea what he had said to them. Although at the end one might get inkling that Churchill or his story in this book does not unfold completely, nevertheless, the verities he brings to a reader clearly outweigh things unsaid. As he puts it, "it is more agreeable to have the right to act, even in a limited sphere, than the privilege to talk at large".
Rated by buyers -
With so many books that have been written from the American viewpoint (and I was born in the good old USA), it was refreshing to get the British view, straight from the Lion's mouth. Yes, he does make himself a bit more of a hero then he needed to, and it is a bit slanted, but what memoirs aren't? In fact this makes me very sad that Stalin and Roosevelt never wrote one, it would be wonderful to have been able to compare the three memoirs.
I really enjoyed his "proper" English tone and words. By the time I was done reading it, it almost made me wish I had read the full 4,000+ unabridged one. Perhaps one day I will find the time. A must read for anyone getting deep into WWII.
Rated by buyers -
`Memoirs of the Second World War' by Winston Churchill
This abridged (6 volumes) edition of Churchill's WWII memoirs is as important yesterday as it was when penned. One is left with a true sense of the thoughts passing through the Prime Minister's mind which led to the extraordinary choices he was to decide through the bulk of the `40's. I've always felt the European perspective of the war years was under appreciated in America, when after all, these were the souls who dealt with the ravages of war at their front door.
Churchill's beautiful prose and detailed account of all major Allied decision making is required reading for any history, and certainly any WWII aficionado. It probably should be for all American high school students, as well. Whether or not you agree with these opinions, I definitely think you'll find a passionate, wonderfully composed piece of history in this excellent abridgement from one of history's greatest intellects.
Rated by buyers -
This book is one of the most comprehensive I've ever read.
I have a huge quantity of books about Second World War, including biographies of important people who took part in it; I can ensure this one is always within easy reach of my hands.
Of course, you must be conscious before reading this book that it's been written by an English leader who was responsible not only for his country but for lots more and the War itself. He wrote it, based upon his documents and remembrances of those hard days.
I didn't read the six volume set that is his thorough and complete biography, however "Memoirs of the Second Word War" is a wide-ranging book, starting in the thirties and going through all periods of war, till some time post-war.
If you have a deep knowledge of WWII, might see that some facts are missing.
In this book he does not make any mention of allies who took little but important part during those tough days. For example, he just talk about the capture of Monte Cassino , in Italy, without making any mention of Monte Castelo and Montese which resulted in prison of one entire German Division (148ยบ Infantry) in a hard fighting, by FEB (Brazilian Expeditionary Force). These details however, do not take his merits away. On the contrary, Sir Winston Churchill show us others things that we, mere mortals, would not imagine that could be happen at that time, such as how dubious, distrustful and cheek Stalin was!
He also exposes his disagreements and discussions with American allies when they had different point of views in some issues, and shows himself as a human being and not as a superman.
We must be aware that, as he has said, "It must be not supposed that I expect everybody to agree with what I say", so it is a book to explain his point of view of this important event and not to please someone. Of course, you do not have to get this book as unique reference for researches or studies but as an addition to them.
"Memoirs of the Second War" is a masterpiece which must be read for everyone who enjoy and study WWII.
Rated by buyers -
Since this book was updated, there are new facts have come out about the statistics of WWII and the roles the Allies and the Axis played in it.
That's to be expected.
It is one sided with Churchill at times believing in his absolute right and his problems getting his view across to the Americans and the Russians.
At times he lays too much emphasis on the fact that Britain won the war with the "help" of the Allies. And at other times he states that without the Allies Britain would have been sunk.
As confusing and horrible as that time was, reading another book about the American side would be also helpful as we had to fight the Japanese also and it was our POW's on the defensive there. It seems to downplay the effect the Japenese had on the war which was not trivial at all.
Though he seems to describe the battle of Leyete and Midway fairly well.
It's a good read, and it's interesting to see the other "side" of the war from a great man and you won't be sorry to read it.
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