The War: An Intimate History, 1941-1945
by Geoffrey C. Ward, Ken Burns
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Book Reviews of The War: An Intimate History, 1941-1945
Book Review: A Stunning Book
Summary: 5 Stars
The photographs alone are worth the price of this book, covering all theaters of war, all branches of the service, and the american homefront. I have seen many of these photographs published in other books, and many I have not see before, but to have them all in one book is something special. The illustrations are also well done.
The writing is powerful, easy to read and easy to understand. From an account of a man who was 17 years-old and living near Pearl Harbor on December 7th, 1941; to Ernie Pyle walking on the beach after D-Day, looking at items left behind by the dead - stationary that would never be written upon, or photographs looking up from the sand.
The book itself is a heavy, handsome hardcover. It would make an excellent addition to anyone's personal library. I highly recommend it.
Book Review: A Companion To The Series That Also Stands Well On Its Own
Summary: 5 Stars
The main attraction of this companion volume to the blockbuster PBS program is that it allows its readers time to linger over the photographs it displays within it, both new ones and those shown in the series, and thereby gives them time to discover details that might have eluded the eye on the televised version. By reading over the accompanying text the public will find this to be much more than a picture book or a re-hashing of the Burns' broadcast. Included are many harrowing and heartfelt first-hand accounts given by those who stand as living links to the most catastrophic and world-changing event of the millennium just past. I found The War: An Intimate History a compelling testament to the true nature of the ill-dubbed "last good war" and hope it finds its way to many homes and libraries in America and beyond.Book Review: Great
Summary: 5 Stars
Started watching the dvd set a few days ago and couldn't stop watching it until I saw the next one. An absolute educational piece along with a great mixture of stories involving 4 U.S. towns in the U.S. and testimonies from veterans and relatives of those veterans.
This set was so great that the only setback to it was that it wasn't long enough, but this is usual for Ken Burn's work. His work is so detailed and fantastic that it makes you just want more.
This piece is perfect for the education of youngsters in school who do not know the history of this country and how it united during that time period and how one man's lust for power and desire to conquer the world displayed the ultimate display of evil that had to be stopped and was at God's will...
Book Review: Phenomenal Storytelling and Never-Before-Seen Photos
Summary: 5 Stars
I have read several of Geoffrey C Wards books, specifically his companion books to the Jazz, Mark Twain and Baseball documentaries but I have to say Mr Ward has outdone himself here.
He has refined his writing style and more than ever clearly and concisely tells a story while blending it seamlessly into a historical context. He puts a human face on the past making it very real and vivid for the reader.
This book tells the story of 4 American cities and their citizenry and how they weathered WWII. It is a page turner. There were numerous photos I had never seen before which add immeasurably to reading experience. I cannot wait to see the show on PBS.
Ward, with an assist from Ken Burns, has penned (computered?) another great read.
Book Review: An insight into the human impact of war
Summary: 4 Stars
Another remarkable achievement by Ken Burns. This is a compelling and insightful examination of the impact of war at the basic human level. We see both soldiers and the families they leave behind impacted by war in a way which is vitally important so that we don't forget. It is obviously written from the American perspective which is natural for an American historian of Burns' repute. For another equally compelling glimpse of the impact of war on common people, but with a broader, European aspect, I would highly recommend the just released, Night of Flames: A Novel of World War II, an outstanding historical novel, also by an American author.