1940: Myth and Reality (Library of Social Science; 618) - Hardcover

Ponting, Clive

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0929587685 ISBN 13: 9780929587684

Publisher: Ivan R. Dee, 1991

Synopsis

Britain's Finest Hour revealed as a muddle of ineptitude and propaganda. Thoroughly researched and well written, Clive Ponting's book stands just about every preconceived notion concerning Britain's role in World War II on its head. ―William L. O'Neill.

About this title

About the Author:

Senior Lecturer in politics at the University of Wales, Clive Ponting is the author of several books, including "A Green History of the World, "which "The Observer "hailed as "the single book to engage the enthusiast, silence the cynic, enlighten the ignoramus," and "The Twentieth Century: A World History".

From Publishers Weekly:

In a radical new look at Britain's "finest hour," Ponting ( The Right to Know ) reviews the mythology that grew up around the dramatic events of 1940 (Dunkirk, the Battle of Britain, the Blitz, Churchill's inspiring leadership) and concludes that it was also the most painful year in British history. Due to an overextended empire, too many enemies and too few allies, and inadequate military, industrial and economic resources, the outlook for England was bleak indeed as the Germans threatened a cross-Channel invasion. As the country's strategic position collapsed, the only way to avoid a humiliating compromise peace with Hitler was to beg for major assistance from the United States. But the Americans drove a hard bargain, and once U.S. material began to flow eastward across the Atlantic, Washington used its financial power ruthlessly to keep Britain in a state of dependence through the rest of the war. Britain's contribution to final victory, in the author's harsh view, was marginal. The country's great achievement was to survive the year 1940 and preserve for the Americans a base from which to launch the D-Day invasion of the Continent. Ponting's argument is compelling, his reasoning sure, his conclusions jarring.
Copyright 1991 Reed Business Information, Inc.

About this edition

• Publisher: Ivan R. Dee
• Publication date: 1991
• ISBN 10: 0929587685
• ISBN 13: 9780929587684
• Binding: Hardcover
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 273