Longest Year

This ';highly recommended' account of 1944arguably the most important year in modern historyreads like a suspenseful drama (The History Channel). Historian Victor Brooks argues that 1944 was ';the longest year' for Americans of that era, both in terms of US casualties and in deciding the outcome of World War II. But rather than focusing on military battles and strategy alone, Brooks chronicles the year as a microcosm of disparate military, political, and civilian events that came together to define a specific moment in time. As US forces launched an offensive against the Japanese in the Mariana Islands and Palau, folks at home enjoyed morale-boosting movies and songs. And as American troops invaded the island of Leytelaunching the largest naval battle during the warPresident Franklin D.Roosevelt and Thomas E.Dewey were in the home stretch leading up to the election of 1944. ';The Longest Year will interest both WWII buffs, with its descriptive blow-by-blow approach, and newcomers to the topic, with its clear-cut context.' Booklist ';In this powerful and fast-paced book, Brooks makes a convincing case that 1944 is one of the most important years in American history... A great read.' Steven M.Gillon, scholar-in-residence, The History Channel ';Brooks unravels the story with accessible detail for lay readers.... A seasoned historian delivers a fluently readable history.' Kirkus Reviews