War and Remembrance

I enjoyed Winds of War and wanted to enjoy this novel as well but I found some issues that wore on me. In attempting to write an WWII epic there are certain areas of focus and others that aren't focused on but there are some glaring issues. While the author obviously adores Roosevelt he portrays him as the greatest person of the 20th century (this seems to be the German opinion too), gives some respect to the Soviets and constantly runs down Churchill and the British forces around the world. Without Chruchill and the British holding back the Nazis the world would be much different. As a Canadian I am disappointed that Canada's war effort was totally ignored, one that was much longer than the American efforts and at a much higher comparitive level. The same with the scant mention of the Polish resistance which played a key role in tieing up the German army in the east during the entire war. In the end this is a propaganda piece rather than a war epic of substance.

"The Winds of War" and "War and Remembrance" are the pinnacle of human drama during possibly the most terrifying time in human history. Fifty million souls lost with the only possible conclusion by rational people: humankind cannot live through another world war. These works are a fine way to study this history. I highly recommend them.

Sequel to Mr. Wouk's Winds Of War. A must-read if you like his 1st installment of pre-WW2 days. Read history in a fictional account, like Michener's, Clavell's books. You might include Tom Clancy in this type of writing. If one has read Clancy do you find it uncanny the names of fictional Red Chinese, some Soviet, characters are now leaders or have figured prominently in the recent past? Read War And Remembrance... you just might be able to 'wing' that history test! -the Brazzaville bard