Retribution: The Battle for Japan, 1944-45
by: Max Hastings
List Price: $35.00
Prices subject to change.
Price: $23.10
You Save: $11.90 (34%)Prices subject to change.
Availability: Usually ships in 24 hours
Product Description:
Hailed in Britain as “Spectacular . . . Searingly powerful” (Andrew Roberts, The Sunday Telegraph), a riveting, impeccably informed chronicle of the final year of the Pacific war. In his critically acclaimed Armageddon, Hastings detailed the last twelve months of the struggle for Germany. Here, in what can be considered a companion volume, he covers the horrific story of the war against Japan.
By the summer of 1944 it was clear that Japan’s defeat was inevitable, but how the drive to victory would be achieved remained to be seen. The ensuing drama—that ended in Japan’s utter devastation—was acted out across the vast stage of Asia, with massive clashes of naval and air forces, fighting through jungles, and barbarities by an apparently incomprehensible foe. In recounting the saga of this time and place, Max Hastings gives us incisive portraits of the theater’s key figures—MacArthur, Nimitz, Mountbatten, Chiang Kai-shek, Mao, Roosevelt, Churchill, and Stalin. But he is equally adept in his portrayals of the ordinary soldiers and sailors—American, British, Russian, Chinese, and Japanese—caught in some of the war’s bloodiest campaigns.
With unprecedented insight, Hastings discusses Japan’s war against China, now all but forgotten in the West, MacArthur’s follies in the Philippines, the Marines at Iwo Jima and Okinawa, and the Soviet blitzkrieg in Manchuria. He analyzes the decision-making process that led to the bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki—which, he convincingly argues, ultimately saved lives. Finally, he delves into the Japanese wartime mind-set, which caused an otherwise civilized society to carry out atrocities that haunt the nation to this day.
Retribution is a brilliant telling of an epic conflict from a master military historian at the height of his powers.
Hailed in Britain as “Spectacular . . . Searingly powerful” (Andrew Roberts, The Sunday Telegraph), a riveting, impeccably informed chronicle of the final year of the Pacific war. In his critically acclaimed Armageddon, Hastings detailed the last twelve months of the struggle for Germany. Here, in what can be considered a companion volume, he covers the horrific story of the war against Japan.
By the summer of 1944 it was clear that Japan’s defeat was inevitable, but how the drive to victory would be achieved remained to be seen. The ensuing drama—that ended in Japan’s utter devastation—was acted out across the vast stage of Asia, with massive clashes of naval and air forces, fighting through jungles, and barbarities by an apparently incomprehensible foe. In recounting the saga of this time and place, Max Hastings gives us incisive portraits of the theater’s key figures—MacArthur, Nimitz, Mountbatten, Chiang Kai-shek, Mao, Roosevelt, Churchill, and Stalin. But he is equally adept in his portrayals of the ordinary soldiers and sailors—American, British, Russian, Chinese, and Japanese—caught in some of the war’s bloodiest campaigns.
With unprecedented insight, Hastings discusses Japan’s war against China, now all but forgotten in the West, MacArthur’s follies in the Philippines, the Marines at Iwo Jima and Okinawa, and the Soviet blitzkrieg in Manchuria. He analyzes the decision-making process that led to the bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki—which, he convincingly argues, ultimately saved lives. Finally, he delves into the Japanese wartime mind-set, which caused an otherwise civilized society to carry out atrocities that haunt the nation to this day.
Retribution is a brilliant telling of an epic conflict from a master military historian at the height of his powers.
Alternate Versions:
Related Items:
- Armageddon: The Battle for Germany, 1944-1945
- Endgame, 1945: The Missing Final Chapter of World War II
- The Day of Battle: The War in Sicily and Italy, 1943-1944 (Liberation Trilogy)
- The Coldest Winter: America and the Korean War
- A Terrible Glory: Custer and the Little Bighorn - the Last Great Battle of the American West
- see more
Browse for similar items by category:
Customer Reviews
Average Rating:
Rating: 
- well written
this book was worth the purchase
written well
gave many interesting facts
Rating: - Here, This is For Pearl Harbor!
Max Hastings has done it again.He has thrown convention to the side.His take of the final year of the battle in the Pacific during World War II is indeed a breakthrough.
Just as he did in his take on the end of the European War of World War II, Hastings relied on the people who fought in the fields of these epic times.Obviously Hastings couldn't have done these interviews all over the globe by himself, he indeed had a staff to forage into the Pacific hinterland.As I stated ... Read More
Rating: - A Terrific Book
This is one of the best books I've ever read about the Pacific War.It is extremely well-written. In addition, it provides unique insights into the nature of MacArthur's command, as well as the roles of the British in Burma and the Russians in Manchuria.Another interesting aspect of Hastings' book is the stress he places on Japanese sources.
In sum, this is a terrific book.
Rating: 
- Review of Retribution by Max Hastings
Excellent book.Hastings provides a good sense of proportion in describing the opposing forces, the casualties, and the importance of specific actions.Battle coverage is a little uneven; For example covers Burma thoroughly, but omits Saipan entirely.Good evaluation of the commanders on both sides.I endorse his judgement that the atomic bombs were necessary and a casualty saver for both the U.S. and Japan (but I may be biased since I was scheduled to participate in Coronet, the invasion of Honshu.) ... Read More
Rating: - A wonderful book. I loved it.
Every page of this book was fascinating. All my previous knowledge of WWII was limited to the European arena.This book was a complete education on the Japan side of the war. I do a lot of business in Japan.With this book, I was able to gain insights into the Japanese perception of victory and honor which might influence their business behavior as well.This was a great book.
- well writtenthis book was worth the purchase
written well
gave many interesting facts
- Here, This is For Pearl Harbor!Max Hastings has done it again.He has thrown convention to the side.His take of the final year of the battle in the Pacific during World War II is indeed a breakthrough.
Just as he did in his take on the end of the European War of World War II, Hastings relied on the people who fought in the fields of these epic times.Obviously Hastings couldn't have done these interviews all over the globe by himself, he indeed had a staff to forage into the Pacific hinterland.As I stated ... Read More
- A Terrific BookThis is one of the best books I've ever read about the Pacific War.It is extremely well-written. In addition, it provides unique insights into the nature of MacArthur's command, as well as the roles of the British in Burma and the Russians in Manchuria.Another interesting aspect of Hastings' book is the stress he places on Japanese sources.
In sum, this is a terrific book.
- Review of Retribution by Max HastingsExcellent book.Hastings provides a good sense of proportion in describing the opposing forces, the casualties, and the importance of specific actions.Battle coverage is a little uneven; For example covers Burma thoroughly, but omits Saipan entirely.Good evaluation of the commanders on both sides.I endorse his judgement that the atomic bombs were necessary and a casualty saver for both the U.S. and Japan (but I may be biased since I was scheduled to participate in Coronet, the invasion of Honshu.) ... Read More
- A wonderful book. I loved it.Every page of this book was fascinating. All my previous knowledge of WWII was limited to the European arena.This book was a complete education on the Japan side of the war. I do a lot of business in Japan.With this book, I was able to gain insights into the Japanese perception of victory and honor which might influence their business behavior as well.This was a great book.
