The Two-Ocean War: A Short History of the United States Navy in the Second World War

Samuel Eliot Morrison is one of the best writers of history and this book is a prime example of his craft. Morrison has a very practical common sense style that equals clear, concise prose that cuts to the heart of the matter without a lot of diversion. This book is his "short" history of the war. He has also written the official multi-volume history of WWII called: "The History of US Naval Operations in WWII". It is widely regarded as the definitive history on the subject.

I found this single volume history to be magnificent. Thanks to this work I discovered a love of U.S. naval history that has lasted for the last two decades. I give this book my highest recommendation.

If the "Two Ocean War" is any guide, Morrison's 15-volume series on the naval battles of WW2 must be a treat. Here is a writer of the old school, who fully expects an honorable loser to "go down with his ship," even if he characterizes this demise as the "cruel ritual of the Sea." More than one captain met that fate, especially in the early phases of the Pacific conflict. This is a splendidly told account of the Atlantic and Pacific conflicts, featuring U-boats, the Date That Will Live in Infamy, the Five Minutes at Midway, the Toyko Express, Island Hopping, Okinawa and Iwo Jima. An epic.