World War II
A New History
- Published: September 2009
- format: Paperback
- isbn: 9780521608435
- extent: 483 pages
- contains: 46 b/w illus. 14 maps 8 tables
- dimensions: 250 x 177 x 24 mm
- Used, good condition
This book, first published in 2009, is a magisterial global history of World War II. Beginning in 1937 with the outbreak of the Sino-Japanese War, Evan Mawdsley shows how the origins of World War II lay in a conflict between the old international order and the new and then traces the globalisation of the conflict as it swept through Asia, Europe, and the Middle East.
His primary focus is on the war's military and strategic history though he also examines the political, economic, ideological, and cultural factors which influenced the course of events. The war's consequences are examined too, not only in terms of the defeat of the Axis but also the break-up of colonial empires and the beginning of the Cold War. Accessibly written and well-illustrated with maps and photographs, this compelling new account also includes short studies of the key figures, events and battles that shaped the war.
Evan Mawdsley is Professor of International History in the Department of History, University of Glasgow. His previous publications include The Russian Civil War (1983/2008), The Soviet Elite from Lenin to Gorbachev: The Central Committee and its Members, 1917–1991 (with Stephen White, 2000), The Stalin Years:The Soviet Union, 1929–1953 (2003) and Thunder in the East:The Nazi-Soviet War, 1941–1945 (2005).
Reviews
'To write a concise book about the biggest war in world history is no small task, but Evan Mawdsley has done it with masterful skill and insight. He casts a fresh light on the war. … What makes this a must-buy for anyone interested in the subject is the beautifully produced maps, illustrations and the fifty-seven short boxes on topics ranging from 'General Ludendorff and total war' to 'The Katyn massacre'. This is a superb read for students and general readers alike, but also an authoritative work of reference.' BBC History Magazine
'This objective account of grand strategy of victors and losers in WWII is a direct hit. What emerges is an original thesis, a new insight into the complicated story of the global conflict between 1937 and 1945: factually reliable, cogently argued and concisely written. Magnificent … A new Weinberg is born.' Jürgen Förster, University of Freiburg
