A Comprehensive HistoryApril 24, 2007 Hugh Bird(Melbourne, Australia) 3 out of 3 found this review helpful
Paul Ham has managed to bring alive a time and place that we are now over half a century removed from. He tells the tale Of the Kokoda Track campaign from the first day the Japanese ships appeared off the northern beaches of Papua New Guinea and the troops came ashore, through to their utter destruction many hard months later at the hands of the Australian and US troops. He tells the story from the view of the soldier in the field, on both sides, to the perspectives of the highest offices of command and the egos at large there. This was the first great reversal on land of the rampaging Japanese army. That a group of ragtag part time soldiers was able to slow them says something of the troops, and also of the terrain and conditions these troops were asked to fight in. I asked for this book for a Christmas present and just stated the title thinking I would get the Peter FitzSimons book. I was a little disappointed when I found I had received this book instead. But I have to say by the time I had finished this book, the mistake was most welcome. I have not yet read the Peter FitzSimons book but I would have to say it would be hard pressed to top this book. This is an outstanding read. There's not a wasted word or a dull sentence in the whole book. I would wholeheartedly recommend it to anyone interested in the campaigns of World War 2.
