The Second World War
A single-volume history of the entire war by the most influential military historian of the 20th century.
The Verdict
The single-volume history by the most influential military historian of his generation. John Keegan covers the whole war, but his gift is structural: rather than marching through chronology, he organises the conflict around themes, theatres, and the nature of command, giving readers a framework that pure narrative histories miss. It is lucid, intelligent, and shaped by the same humane curiosity about how men fight that made The Face of Battle famous. A first book on the war that respects the reader's mind.
Who Should Read It
Read it if you want
- One authoritative volume on the whole war
- Readers who want a thematic framework
- Admirers of Keegan's approach to military history
- A thinking reader's overview
Look elsewhere if you want
- A pure chronological narrative
- Specialists wanting campaign-level depth
- Readers who prefer story to analysis
Why We Rated It 4.5
Historical Context
Published in 1989, Keegan's history surveys the war across all theatres, combining narrative with thematic essays on logistics, command, and the experience of combat. Keegan, long the defence editor of the Daily Telegraph, was best known for The Face of Battle, which reshaped how military history is written.
Events Covered
Editions & Reading Notes
Read It Alongside
Collector's Corner
Where to Buy
ISBN: 978-0143035732
Read This Against
The same events seen from a different vantage point. The fullest understanding often lives in the space between accounts that don't agree.
Other Books About the Same Events
More by John Keegan
Frequently Asked Questions
- Is Keegan's The Second World War a good overview?
- Yes — it is among the best single-volume histories, valued for its thematic clarity as much as its coverage.
- How is it structured?
- Thematically as well as chronologically, with essays on command, logistics, and the experience of war between the narrative sections.