The Story of World War II

By: Donald L. Miller, Henry Steele Commager

Narrated by: Michael Kramer

Length: 24 hrs and 52 mins

Publisher's summary

Drawing on previously unpublished eyewitness accounts, prizewinning historian Donald L. Miller has written what critics are calling one of the most powerful accounts of warfare ever published. Here are the horror and heroism of World War II in the words of the men who fought it, the journalists who covered it, and the civilians who were caught in its fury. Miller gives us an up-close, deeply personal view of a war that was more savagely fought - and whose outcome was in greater doubt - than one might imagine. This is the war that Americans on the home front would have read about had they had access to the previously censored testimony of the soldiers on which Miller builds his gripping narrative.

Miller covers the entire war - on land, at sea, and in the air - and provides new coverage of the brutal island fighting in the Pacific, the bomber war over Europe, the liberation of the death camps, and the contributions of African Americans and other minorities. He concludes with a suspenseful, never-before-told story of the atomic bombing of Nagasaki, based on interviews with the men who flew the mission that ended the war.

Donald L. Miller is the John Henry MacCracken Professor of History at Lafayette College. He is a creator and associate producer of the HBO documentary He Has Seen War and has been chief consultant for numerous award-winning PBS productions. He is author of the prizewinning City of the Century: The Epic of Chicago and the Making of America.

©1945 Henry Steele Commager; renewed by Lou Reda Productions and Mary Steele Commager. Revisions; and introduction 2001 by Donald L. Miller (P)2012 Blackstone Audio, Inc.

Critic reviews

"This is the book that deserves to be titled The Story of World War II...." (James Bradley, New York Times best-selling author)

"A major publishing event. Donald Miller’s additions to the original account are outstanding, and the total effect is one few readers will ever forget." (David McCullough, Pulitzer Prize and National Book Award-winning author)

"Whenever you do a film, there’s always a book that you want in your hip pocket to settle all questions. The Story of World War II was that book." (Ken Burns, creator of the seven-part documentary The War)

Gripping, factual, sobering

it was incredibly accurate to the point of being grima times. it's an excellent account of what actually happened and the book captures the tragedy of World War II.

This is an awesome account of the entirety of World War Two.

It has lots of first hand accounts of what the Great War was like from all different accounts. Soldiers on both sides, people on the home front, as well as historians. I loved it.

Fascinating, even for non War buff

I got this as part of a two for one special a while back, and wasn't sure if I'd even be that interested. It is so compelling and so well done mixing the historical narrative with the first person accounts that I couldn't turn it off. Exceptional.

So much truth told where propaganda was prevalent

I’m a lover of true American history, but in public forums you get so little of unbiased history truthfulness. That’s what makes this book such a refreshing read. A telling of history in raw form by the people who lived in.

This is an incredible story.

Amazing and very gripping detail of events. Never thought I would like a war story like this one.

Great work

I learned quite a bit from this book. Very well done and very well read.

Great stories

Chapter after Chapter the stories expand your insight into the mind of the solders in each stage of the war.
Great resource of information of first hand tells of the action from both sides of the War.
Just a Great read.

chilling

how do you review the true horrors of War? I read many books about the major battles and Main players of World War II. I was aware good many of the atrocities committed but, never did I imagine how truly atrocious and widespread the evils committed by our enemies. this book spills out the madness that World War II was. it does so in a no-holds-barred Manor. I have never before encountered. how the young man of the United States Army, marines, Navy, and Air corps managed to function, persevere, and Triumph through such terrifying times..

this book spells out the horrors of War like no other I have read before. the book is a difficult read, but must be read.

absolutely amazing

Gives you a whole new insight into ww2

what the men went through and the sacrifices they had to make.


A must read for anyone who is remotely interested in history.

The best book that I have read to date about WWII.

I am very familiar with the history of WWII having read many of the finest books available about all aspects of the wars and it's different leaders. This book told story after story from a variety of participants who shared their personal perspective about some aspect of the war. I felt as though I was with them and experiencing the highs and lows of the carnage that surround them day and night. For me, this was a great read, but an often difficult one because of the new insight that I gained into the details of the life and death struggles going on constantly. We must never forget these brave Americans and allies who paid dearly for our freedom. I now cherish that freedom more than ever before and will always celebrate their courage and sacrifice.