The Oxford Companion to World War II

Rating:
Summary: Informative with Style
Review: The sheer volume of information this reference book presents under one cover is indeed staggering, but it is even more laudable for its ease of use and a clear, concise, and cogent writing style. Together those qualities make for hours of enjoyable reading and do much to make both the commonly known and the more remote history of World War II accessible to a wide range of readers.

Longer articles are robust without becoming oppressive. Entries are cross-referenced and the narrative flow of each is palpably audible - insightful and often imbued with a twinkle of humor.

"Like several other lesser powers caught in the crush of the war, the Philippines became a battlefield between Axis and Allied forces. Besides being small and inconveniently located (for the peace of mind and body of their inhabitants), the Philippines laboured under the additional disadvantage of being neither entirely independent nor wholly under the control and protection of a great power....

As soon as Japanese forces took control of Manila, the Japanese C-in-C in the Philippines, Lt. General *Homma, ordered the Filipino civilian officials to remain at their posts and to carry on their duties as before. Failure to do so would be punishable by death. An inclination to avoid such a fate, as well as a desire to mitigate the harshness of the *occupation, prompted a number of prominent Filipinos to meet Japanese officers for the purpose of establishing a new government...."
[pp. 684-85]

One need not be daunted by its width of spine nor fineness of print (and that is the one criticism I have of it; although surely a necessity, the small print may be an obstacle for some readers). The paperback binding on my copy has remained firm and straight, but at 1000+ pages I would still recommend getting the hardcover edition for durability's sake.

Rating:
Summary: Worth every cent !
Review: This book is without question the most useful and comprehensive reference book on the Seond World War to appear in a single-volume, paperback format. It presents data ranging from amazing weapon specifications to wonderfully detailed biographies. Along with the many facts and dates of WWII, the book also includes information that while not common knowledge, is vital to a complete understanding of the conflict. For example, the book explains the strategies, theories, and the complex organization of the axis and allies. In addition, this wealth of information is presented in an easily accessible manner. While it can be read like a book, it is most useful as a quick reference. When I'm reading a book and come upon something I'm not familiar with, I just look in the Oxford Companion for a concise, yet complete explanation. It truly is a superb book.

Rating:
Summary: Extremely helpful reference book on WW2
Review: This compilation of World War Two information is incredibly useful for all purposes. It has in-depth information that breaks down every aspect of the war, including detailed charts and statistics, historical biographies, and provides articles on countless subjects that a person may have regarding World War II. I used this as a major reference source during the preparation of my history class presentations I do each day about World War II. The charts and stats tables used throughout the book make it indispensable, and well worth the cost.

Rating:
Summary: Extremely helpful reference book on WW2
Review: This compilation of World War Two information is incredibly useful for all purposes. It has in-depth information that breaks down every aspect of the war, including detailed charts and statistics, historical biographies, and provides articles on countless subjects that a person may have regarding World War II. I used this as a major reference source during the preparation of my history class presentations I do each day about World War II. The charts and stats tables used throughout the book make it indispensable, and well worth the cost.

Rating:
Summary: Excellent Reference
Review: This is an excellent reference of World War II. Well written, some subjects receive minor mention (as they should) while other subjects receive pages of detailed information. One of the best World War II books I own.

Rating:
Summary: Excellent Reference
Review: This is an excellent reference of World War II. Well written, some subjects receive minor mention (as they should) while other subjects receive pages of detailed information. One of the best World War II books I own.

Rating:
Summary: A great book for the world war two enthusiast.
Review: This is BY FAR the best book I have ever seen on World War II. It is a fact crammed encyclodedia that will please both the serious scholar and the casual reader. I cannot recommend it highly enough.--Greg Klebanoff