In cities, jungles, deserts -- in Europe, Africa, the Pacific -- the finest book on our biggest war since "The Longest Day"

WWII is a summing up, a look back at the pain and humor, the adventure and the boredom, the experience that was the Second World War.

IT IS THE BOOK THAT FUTURE HISTORIANS MAY WELL READ AS THE SINGLE VOLUME THAT MOST REVEALS THE ESSENCE OF THAT WAR.