World War II
A New History
2nd Edition
Published on 30. April 2020
Book
Hardback
410 pages
978-1-108-49609-4 (ISBN)
Description
This is a revised and updated edition of Evan Mawdsley's acclaimed global history of World War II. Beginning with the outbreak of the Sino-Japanese War, Evan Mawdsley shows how the war's origins lay in a conflict between the old international order and the new and traces its globalisation as it swept through Asia, Europe and the Middle East. The primary focus is on the war's military and strategic history, though 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 of the break-up of colonial empires and the beginning of the Cold War. Accessibly written and well-illustrated with maps and photographs, the book also includes insightful short studies of the figures, events and battles that shaped the war, as well as fully updated guides to further reading.
Reviews / Votes
Review of the first edition: 'It is a rare textbook that is both cutting-edge and new: the book proves that we need to place the start of the Second World War in East Asia in 1937, rather than Europe in 1939 or Russia and Pearl Harbour in 1941. It changes how we write history.' Times Higher Education Review of the first edition: 'To write a concise book about the biggest war in history is no small task, but Evan Mawdsley has done it with masterful skill and insight ... What makes this a must-buy for anyone interested in the subject is the beautifully produced maps, illustrations and 57 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.' Joe Maiolo, BBC History Review of the first edition: 'Fresh, insightful judgements and well-judged overall balance make this a masterful book. Its effectiveness is enhanced by the use of side panels that convey important factual information about the tools of war ... without interrupting the flow of the narrative. In every respect - conception, design, construction and delivery - this is a book that really works.' John Gooch, War in History Review of the first edition: 'Professor Mawdsley is to be much congratulated on writing such a clear and perceptive account, and one that provides much food for thought.' Charles Messenger, The Journal of Military HistoryMore details
Edition
2nd Revised edition
Language
English
Place of publication
Cambridge
United Kingdom
Target group
College/higher education
Professional and scholarly
Edition type
Revised edition
Illustrations
Worked examples or Exercises
Dimensions
Height: 250 mm
Width: 175 mm
Thickness: 27 mm
Weight
887 gr
ISBN-13
978-1-108-49609-4 (9781108496094)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Other editions
Additional editions
E-Book
04/2020
Cambridge University Press
€26.99
Available for download
E-Book
04/2020
2nd Edition
Cambridge University Press
€28.99
Available for download
Previous edition
Book
09/2009
Cambridge University Press
€91.60
Article exhausted; check for reprint
Person
Evan Mawdsley is an Honorary Professorial Research Fellow at the University of Glasgow. His extensive teaching experience at Glasgow included a specialist course on the grand strategy of World War II. He is the author of a number of recent important books and articles on World War II, including Thunder in the East: The Nazi-Soviet War (2006/2015), December 1941: Twelve Days that Began a New World War (2009), and The War for the Seas: A Maritime History of World War II (2019). He was also general editor of the three-volume Cambridge History of the Second World War (2016).
Content
Preface to Second Edition; Acknowledgements; Introduction; 1. The World in 1937; 2. Japan and China, 1937-1940; 3. Hitler's border wars, 1938-1939; 4. Germany re-fights World War I, 1939-1940; 5. Wars of ideology, 1941-1942; 6. The Red Army versus the Wehrmacht, 1942-1944; 7. Japan's lunge for empire, 1941-1942; 8. Defending the perimeter: Japan, 1942-1944; 9. The 'World Ocean' and allied victory, 1939-1945; 10. The European periphery, 1940-1944; 11. Wearing down Germany, 1942-1944; 12. Victory in Europe, 1944-1945; 13. End and beginning in Asia, 1945; 14. Conclusion; Further reading; Notes; Index.