Inferno: The World at War, 1939-1945
A global history of the war focused on the experience of ordinary people — soldiers and civilians — caught in.
The Verdict
Max Hastings's magisterial single-volume history of the entire war, and one of the best ever attempted. Hastings ranges across every theater but keeps returning to the human experience — the soldier, the civilian, the victim — drawing on letters and diaries to convey what the war actually felt like to live and die in. Opinionated, beautifully written, and global in scope, it is the one-volume history for readers who want both the grand sweep and the ground-level truth.
Who Should Read It
Read it if you want
- A single-volume history of the whole war
- Readers who want the human experience foregrounded
- Global scope, all theaters
- Strong, readable, opinionated narrative
Look elsewhere if you want
- Deep coverage of any single campaign
- A short read
- Readers wanting neutral, just-the-facts history
Why We Rated It 4.6
Historical Context
Hastings's 2011 history covers the global conflict from 1939 to 1945 across all major theaters, weaving strategic narrative together with the testimony of soldiers and civilians from many nations.
Events Covered
Editions & Reading Notes
Read It Alongside
Where to Buy
ISBN: 978-0307475534
Other Books About the Same Events
More by Max Hastings
Frequently Asked Questions
- Is Inferno the same as All Hell Let Loose?
- Yes — Inferno is the US title and All Hell Let Loose the UK title for the same single-volume history of the war.
- Is it a good one-book history of WWII?
- It is among the best, especially for readers who want the global sweep combined with the experience of ordinary people.