Concise Historical Atlas of World War Two: The Geography of Conflict

By Ronald Story

Book Overview

World War Two was a war of rapid and far-reaching conquest and movement, and a good sense of world geography is essential to grasping its magnitude and sweep. The Concise Historical Atlas of World War Two: The Geography of Conflict consists of 50 full-color maps that vividly convey not only the key military battles and campaigns but also the cultural and political geography of the war. Each map covers a significant phase of World War Two and is accompanied by an adjacent page of explanatory text that clarifies the shifting frontiers and populations of the region represented. These descriptions explain features of the conflict in question, describe changes in circumstances and the movements of battles, contextualize the events, and suggest longer-term consequences of campaigns. Offering a vivid summary of the war over space and time, this unique, full-color atlas covers all theatres of the war. It is ideal for courses on World War Two, American and European history in the twentieth century, U.S. political and military history, and world history. It is also a fascinating resource for anyone interested in the sprawling landscape of the Second World War.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0195182200
• ISBN13: 9780195182200
• Release Date: December 2005
• Publisher: Oxford University Press
• Length: 128 Pages
• Weight: 0.65 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.3" x 7.5" x 9.2"

Customer Reviews

Lively text and readable maps

Story's Concise Historical Atlas is an excellent overview of the war, probably the best brief treatment I've seen. The maps are clear, brightly colored. Most of them are easy to grasp. The main battles and campaigns are well covered. There also are some nice surprises, such as continental Africa, Spain, the Chinese Communist Long March, the building of the bomb, and the Japanese camp system, that war surveys don't usually include. The maps stretch over a huge 50-year period, which is a big help in conveying the roots and consequences of the war. The commentaries that go with each map are also good. The writing is crisp, with lots of good basic information, useful insights. They have a dramatic quality that's quite powerful and makes you want to keep turning the pages. Some people might think there's too much coverage of the Eastern Front and mainland Asia, and there are a few errors and typos that need to be corrected in a future edition. Overall, though, a successful effort. Oxford is to be commended.