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dtab62 's review for:
Pearl Harbor: From Infamy to Greatness
by Craig Nelson
Most of my knowledge of Pearl Harbor came from reading Walter Lord's classic Day of Infamy decades ago. Craig Nelson's book is not only a worthy supplement but in many ways surpasses it. Without giving away spoilers, Nelson reveals that the Japanese war leaders were even more duplicitous and, as FDR famously put it, dastardly than was previously known in regards to their diplomatic dealings with the USA. But conversely, the US also made more missteps, overlooked intelligence, and failed to react to what should have been red flags. In addition, there are other facts revealed about the aftermath that I found amazing, bordering on incredible. Small spoiler here: for example, the planned invasion of Japan was to begin with poison gas attacks by the US.
While Lord had the luxury of having many survivors to consult for Day of Infamy, Craig has the luxury of declassified and otherwise discovered material that was not available to Lord. And perhaps in deference to both the survivors and the dead, Lord conveyed the massive destruction and death but did so more delicately than Nelson. This is not a bad thing, but Pearl Harbor is more graphic and probably more realistic "you are there" picture of the horror of December 7, 1941.
I would never discourage anyone from reading Day of Infamy, it's a great piece of historical literature. But I would strongly recommend Pearl Harbor: From Infamy to Greatness as well. And with all due respect to Mr. Lord, if I had to choose I would suggest Nelson's book as being more definitive.
While Lord had the luxury of having many survivors to consult for Day of Infamy, Craig has the luxury of declassified and otherwise discovered material that was not available to Lord. And perhaps in deference to both the survivors and the dead, Lord conveyed the massive destruction and death but did so more delicately than Nelson. This is not a bad thing, but Pearl Harbor is more graphic and probably more realistic "you are there" picture of the horror of December 7, 1941.
I would never discourage anyone from reading Day of Infamy, it's a great piece of historical literature. But I would strongly recommend Pearl Harbor: From Infamy to Greatness as well. And with all due respect to Mr. Lord, if I had to choose I would suggest Nelson's book as being more definitive.