Symonds, Craig L.

An often-moving account of a group of young officers in World War II, skillfully told by one of the country’s premier authorities on U.S. Naval history and recommended for anyone interested in military history.

A scholarly yet extremely accessible work that will be of value to anyone interested in World War II; this will likely be a new standard on the topic.

Symonds has a gift for making complex and technical issues easy to understand, and his straightforward style makes for enjoyable reading. This book will appeal to general readers interested in either U.S. naval history or naval aspects of the Civil War. His thematic structure allows readers to understand the big picture of naval tactics and strategy without being overwhelmed by minutiae.

Well documented through interviews, official records, and secondary sources, the book will show readers that Midway was, as Wellington would have said, "a close-run thing." General military history enthusiasts will be fascinated, and specialists will revel in the careful dissection of the action.