The World War Two Reader

This comprehensive reader provides an overview of recent research on the Second World War and includes chapters by some of the best known and innovative scholars working today. It gives attention to the fighting of the war throughout the world, and to its political and strategic backdrop. The representation and memory of war feature prominently in the book, with case studies of the film "Saving Private Ryan" and the controversial public display of the "Enola Gay," the plane that dropped the atomic bomb on Hiroshima.

"The World War Two Reader" ""includes a comprehensive introduction, chronology, guides to the key terms and the key figures, and contextual introductions to each chapter providing context and historiography.

From highly respected field academic Gordon Martel, The World War Two Reader is a rarework that provides a complete and up-to-date overview of the recent historiography on World War Two. Huge in scope, both geographically and thematically, this excellent reader examines twenty-one articles by some of the best known and most innovative scholars in the field.Taking a global approach, Martel discusses all aspects of the war including: the military aspect the political and strategic backdrop ideology gender and women’s roles the home front social aspects. Including a comprehensive introduction, chronology, guides to key terms and figures, and introductions to chapters providing context and historiographical background, The World War Two Readerprovides wide ranging and innovative reading for all students of the history of the modern world.

Part 1: Strategy: Failures, Shocks and Mythologies Part 2: Soldiers: Ideology, Race and Gender Part3: Home Fronts: People, Places and Politics Part4: Memories: Victims, Heroes and Controversies

Gordon Martel is Professor and Chair of History at the University of North British Columbia. His books for Routledge include Origins of the Second World War Reconsidered (1999) and American Foreign Relations Reconsidered: 1890-1993 (1994).