Neptune's Inferno

The U.S. Navy at Guadalcanal

By: James D. Hornfischer

Narrated by: Robertson Dean

Length: 18 hrs and 38 mins

Publisher's summary

With The Last Stand of the Tin Can Sailors and Ship of Ghosts, James D. Hornfischer created essential and enduring narratives about America’s World War II Navy, works of unique immediacy distinguished by rich portraits of ordinary men in extremis and exclusive new information. Now he does the same for the deadliest, most pivotal naval campaign of the Pacific war: Guadalcanal.

Neptune’s Inferno is at once the most epic and the most intimate account ever written of the contest for control of the seaways of the Solomon Islands, America’s first concerted offensive against the Imperial Japanese juggernaut and the true turning point of the Pacific conflict. This grim, protracted campaign has long been heralded as a Marine victory. Now, with his powerful portrait of the Navy’s sacrifice - three sailors died at sea for every man lost ashore - 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 brilliant cinematic detail, are the seven major naval actions that began in August of 1942, a time when the war seemed unwinnable and America fought on a shoestring, with the outcome always in doubt. But at Guadalcanal the US proved it had the implacable will to match the Imperial war machine blow for violent blow.

Working from new interviews with survivors, unpublished eyewitness accounts, and newly available documents, Hornfischer paints a vivid picture of the officers and enlisted men who took on the Japanese in America’s hour of need: Vice Admiral William “Bull” Halsey, who took command of the faltering South Pacific Area from his aloof, overwhelmed predecessor and became a national hero; the brilliant Rear Admiral Norman Scott, who died even as he showed his command how to fight and win; Rear Admiral Daniel Callaghan, the folksy and genteel “Uncle Dan”, lost in the strobe-lit chaos of his burning flagship; Rear Admiral Willis Lee, who took vengeance two nights later in a legendary showdown with the Japanese battleship Kirishima; the five Sullivan brothers, all killed in the shocking destruction of the Juneau; and many others, all vividly brought to life.

The first major work on this essential subject in almost two decades, Neptune’s Inferno does what all great battle narratives do: It cuts through the smoke and fog to tell the gripping human stories behind the momentous events and critical decisions that altered the course of history and shaped so many lives. This is a thrilling achievement from a master historian at the very top of his game.

©2011 James D. Hornfischer (P)2011 Random House Audio

Critic reviews

"Outstanding. The author offers balanced assessments of the leaders on both sides, but the real heroes are the American bluejackets, who too often paid with suffering and death for those leaders' slowness to learn. And as in his first two books, 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)

"This work's major strengths are its careful organization, readable prose, and...well-reasoned conclusions. Depictions of battles and ships are enlivened with...apt comments from participants and relevant character sketches of the key figures." (Proceedings Magazine)

"Neptune's Inferno is an exceptional piece of military history. Hornfischer has broadened and deepened our understanding of the U.S. Navy's role in the Solomons campaign in this eminently readable account of the bloody naval battles of attrition in the fall of 1942 that doomed the Imperial Japanese Navy to defeat and irrevocably shifted the strategic initiative in the Pacific War." (Dr. Peter R. Mansoor, colonel, US Army (ret.), Gen. Raymond E. Mason Jr. Chair in Military History, The Ohio State University)

Best audio book of my experience.

Hornfischer is a genius, which is well established. This book should rock you, unless you are somehow deficient. Mostly I should like to congratulate Robertson Dean for his superb narration. Too many fine books suffer mightily in audio format from odd, distracting, or goofy narration. Mr. Dean's performance only added to the power of an overwhelming tale, and precisely because he never endeavors to "perform" the book for the listener. Mr. Dean achieves the minor miracle of becoming the voice in my head that I should always have when reading.

Awesome Book!!!

A book well worth the time. Highly recommend for anyone interested in the early battles of the Pacific War.

Excellent work about a much-forgotten chapter in American history

Several years ago I read “The Last Stand of the Tin Can Sailors” also by Hornfischer. It was the best book about naval combat I have ever read. So I was drawn to this book and it didn’t disappoint. Hornfischer does a great job of pulling you into the moment and giving you a visceral understanding of what happened. It’s also very human-focused and doesn’t have the 10,000 feet above feel of many military histories. It is unfortunate that some acts of bravery are almost universally remembered and yet the sacrifice of thousands of sailors in 1942 is most often a footnote.

Riveting!

Best telling of the Guadalcanal sea battles I have read. I found myself cheering at times, enthralled by the sea engagements. I got a sense of the fear, horrors of death and dismemberment during the engagements. I have a better understanding of the fog of war, the contribution of technology, it’s limitations and the critical decisions and the mistakes made under duress. No amount of preparation can determine what people will do under the pressures of fear of life and death.
Truly one of my favorite telling of a turning points of the war. Thank you for your contribution to a time when America’s military reached its highs and lows and bravery and humanity shown through.

Great novel

Riveting. Great novel. Highly recommended. Brought tears to my eyes a few times. I have learned a much greater respect for the USN.

The detail

It was a perfect requiem to the people involved in that struggle. They, willingly and sometimes unwillingly, paid a very heavy price in countering the fanatical Japanese regime of the time. My heart goes out to those extraordinary American sailors.

The WWII Pacific Theater Explodes In My Lazy Chair

The book was engaging . . . no, riveting! I'd wager most Americans have heard of Guadalcanal. I know I had, I saw The Guadalcanal Diary, my father notched 10 war patrols aboard the submarine USS Sailfish in the Pacific, however he was not near iron bottom sound during the epic battle. This exceptional offering was as if I was hearing about this island for the first time.

For me, ANY book is better than a movie on the same subject. Also, a history book needs to be crafted very carefully so as to not end up dry. Hornfischer made it come alive! I enjoy detail, but others may not. Inferno was rich in detail as well as an honest effort to cover all aspects of the battle even when unsettling or negative. I had been mistaken, or had forgotten, that this was more than a Marine show. The Navy suffered immense losses and bad luck there, and also resounding success and good fortune. I found myself in awe of the graphic descriptions of naval battle in all its horrific action. I was shocked at the errors in tactics that caused some of the US losses. I was equally thrilled with the equally brilliant changes on the fly by some commanders which went against all previous schooling in surface warfare.

I found myself being taught history without knowing it was happening. The author remained fluid and readable from beginning to end, which I feel is very rare in this genre. Most lose ends were tied up at the end in a very satisfying manor. Hornfischer's word pictures were so vivid that I would have to stop the audio at times to let them play in my mind for a few minutes.

If you wish to learn more about Tom Brokaw's Greatest Generation, this epic book will satisfy! Be brave as this story may not be for the faint of heart. I found myself saying "unbelievable" under my breath many times. I choose not to give up much story detail here, but rather to convince anyone who might be considering Neptune's Inferno to buckle up and immerse yourself in a very meaningful book!

Desperate battles, well told

What was one of the most memorable moments of Neptune's Inferno?

The moments of the first battle

Have you listened to any of Robertson Dean’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

Dean did an excellent job. He is the right narrator for this book. Spot on.

Any additional comments?

For anyone that has a passing interest in naval history you must get this book. This was a pivotal moment in the Pacific. Not many people know about these battles and Hornfischer does an excellent job of telling them. This was where the navy blees more than the army or marines did. These were cutthroat battles at ranges that were pointblank. Two admirals were killed in combat during them. This is the battle where Halsey did his best work of the war.

Great story, beautifully told

Would you consider the audio edition of Neptune's Inferno to be better than the print version?

Yes - I listened to this whilst I mowed and gardened - made weekly chores a treat.

Who was your favorite character and why?

Not really applicable for this non fictional work

Have you listened to any of Robertson Dean’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

No, but I like him reading this book and would recommend him.

If you were to make a film of this book, what would be the tag line be?

Not my call.

Any additional comments?

Great product

An enriching experience

As a Marine, this book allows you to live the experience of your navy brethren during the Guadalcanal campaign. It was particularly eye opening to learn that casualties suffered by the Navy exceeded that of the Marines by a 3:1 ratio. It also puts in very stark perspective the harsh and unforgiving nature of the Pacific Theatre. I recommend it to every Marine.