ReviewsAdvance praise forNeptune's Inferno "With this grand, sweeping, history-correcting book, James Hornfischer takes his place among the elite historians of the United States war in the Pacific during World War II. Like a Curtiss Helldiver,Neptune's Infernocatapults the reader high into the skies for a clear perspective on the vast oceanic conflict, then dives relentlessly to propel us right into the smoke and fire and human valor of the brutal inferno known as Guadalcanal. Along the way, and drawing on newly available papers, Hornfischer clears up lingering misconceptions about this battle, including the full extent of the U.S. Navy's role in the victory. And in his character portraits of the brilliant, quirky top admirals and generals of the fractious Army-Navy command, Hornfischer offers a worthy counterpart to Doris Kearns Goodwin'sTeam of Rivals."-Ron Powers, author ofMark Twain: A Lifeand co-author ofFlags of Our Fathers "Neptune's Infernois a superb portrait of the U.S. Navy's critical role in the Guadalcanal campaign, both the surface and aerial combat. Comprehensive and yet immensely readable-and featuring much new information-it covers not only the admirals but the junior officers and bluejackets as well. . . . Highly recommended."-John B. Lundstrom, author ofThe First Team
Dewey Edition22
Dewey Decimal940.54265933
Synopsis"A literary tour de force that is destined to become one of the . . . definitive works about the battle for Guadalcanal . . . James D.] Hornfischer deftly captures the essence of the most pivotal naval campaign of the Pacific war."-- San Antonio Express-News The Battle of Guadalcanal has long been heralded as a Marine victory. Now, with his powerful portrait of the Navy's sacrifice, James D. Hornfischer tells for the first time the full story of the men who fought in destroyers, cruisers, and battleships in the narrow, deadly waters of "Ironbottom Sound." Here, in stunning cinematic detail, are the seven major naval actions that began in August 1942, a time when the war seemed unwinnable and America fought on a shoestring, with the outcome always in doubt. Working from new interviews with survivors, unpublished eyewitness accounts, and newly available documents, Hornfischer paints a vivid picture of the officers and enlisted men who opposed the Japanese in America's hour of need. The first major work on this subject in almost two decades, Neptune's Inferno does what all great battle narratives do: It tells the gripping human stories behind the momentous events and critical decisions that altered the course of history and shaped so many lives. Praise for Neptune's Inferno "Vivid and engaging . . . extremely readable, comprehensive and thoroughly researched." --Ronald Spector, The Wall Street Journal "Superlative storytelling . . . the masterwork on the long-neglected topic of World War II's surface ship combat." --Richard B. Frank, World War II "The author's two previous World War II books . . . thrust him into the major leagues of American military history writers. Neptune's Inferno is solid proof he deserves to be there." -- The Dallas Morning News "Outstanding . . . The author's narrative gifts and excellent choice of detail give an almost Homeric quality to the men who met on the sea in steel titans." -- Booklist (starred review) "Brilliant . . . a compelling narrative of naval combat . . . simply superb." -- The Washington Times, "A literary tour de force that is destined to become one of the . . . definitive works about the battle for Guadalcanal . . . [James D.] Hornfischer deftly captures the essence of the most pivotal naval campaign of the Pacific war."-- San Antonio Express-News The Battle of Guadalcanal has long been heralded as a Marine victory. Now, with his powerful portrait of the Navy's sacrifice, James D. Hornfischer tells for the first time the full story of the men who fought in destroyers, cruisers, and battleships in the narrow, deadly waters of "Ironbottom Sound." Here, in stunning cinematic detail, are the seven major naval actions that began in August 1942, a time when the war seemed unwinnable and America fought on a shoestring, with the outcome always in doubt. Working from new interviews with survivors, unpublished eyewitness accounts, and newly available documents, Hornfischer paints a vivid picture of the officers and enlisted men who opposed the Japanese in America's hour of need. The first major work on this subject in almost two decades, Neptune's Inferno does what all great battle narratives do: It tells the gripping human stories behind the momentous events and critical decisions that altered the course of history and shaped so many lives. Praise for Neptune's Inferno "Vivid and engaging . . . extremely readable, comprehensive and thoroughly researched." --Ronald Spector, The Wall Street Journal "Superlative storytelling . . . the masterwork on the long-neglected topic of World War II's surface ship combat." --Richard B. Frank, World War II "The author's two previous World War II books . . . thrust him into the major leagues of American military history writers. Neptune's Inferno is solid proof he deserves to be there." -- The Dallas Morning News "Outstanding . . . The author's narrative gifts and excellent choice of detail give an almost Homeric quality to the men who met on the sea in steel titans." -- Booklist (starred review) "Brilliant . . . a compelling narrative of naval combat . . . simply superb." -- The Washington Times