Winston Churchill's first volume of the Second World War is an outstanding historical work, providing inner working details of the run up to the war, the mistakes, issues, and reasons for the war.

Providing documentation from the participants in many of the fateful decisions that allowed Germany to regain her strength, providing fascinating background context for those decisions, Churchill always delivers. I admit, it's lengthy, it's detailed, but it is an incredible delight to read. ( )

This series comprises my grandfather's favorite books. Clearly I remember them on their shelf to the left of the fireplace, their paper jackets torn with fond use. After studying WW2 in 10th grade, I tried to read this first one, but I found it dry and tedious. My reading has matured somewhat in the intervening years and I relish Churchill's straightforward tone and concise prose.

I read this now because I found, among my sister's papers, a thank you note Grampy had written her after she, unfailingly the thoughtful finder of the perfect present, had sent him something related to these books. ( )