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    The Conquering Tide: War in the Pacific Islands, 1942-1944
    The Conquering Tide: War in the Pacific Islands, 1942-1944
    The Conquering Tide: War in the Pacific Islands, 1942-1944
    Audiobook27 hours

    The Conquering Tide: War in the Pacific Islands, 1942-1944

    Written by Ian W. Toll

    Narrated by P.J. Ochlan

    4.5/5

    ()

    About this audiobook

    The devastation of Pearl Harbor and the American victory at Midway were prelude to a greater challenge: rolling back the vast Japanese Pacific empire, island by island. This masterful history encompasses the heart of the Pacific Warthe period between mid-1942 and mid-1944when parallel Allied counteroffensives north and south of the equator washed over Japan's far-flung island empire like a "conquering tide," concluding with Japan's irreversible strategic defeat in the Marianas. It was the largest, bloodiest, most costly, most technically innovative and logistically complicated amphibious war in history, and it fostered bitter interservice rivalries, leaving wounds that even victory could not heal. Often overlooked, these are the years and fights that decided the Pacific War. Ian W. Toll's battle scenesin the air, at sea, and in the junglesare simply riveting. He also takes the reader into the wartime councils in Washington and Tokyo where politics and strategy often collided, and into the struggle to mobilize wartime production, which was the secret of Allied victory. Brilliantly researched, the narrative is propelled and colored by firsthand accountsletters, diaries, debriefings, and memoirsthat are the raw material of the telling details, shrewd judgment, and penetrating insight of this magisterial history. This volumecontinuing the "marvelously readable dramatic narrative" (San Francisco Chronicle) of Pacific Cruciblemarks the second installment of the Pacific War Trilogy, which will stand as the first history of the entire Pacific War to be published in at least twenty-five years.
    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherRecorded Books, Inc.
    Release dateSep 21, 2015
    ISBN9781490699202
    The Conquering Tide: War in the Pacific Islands, 1942-1944
    Author

    Ian W. Toll

    Ian W. Toll has been a Wall Street analyst, a Federal Reserve financial analyst, and a political aide and speechwriter. Six Frigates is his first audiobook. He lives with his wife and two-year-old son in San Francisco.

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    Reviews for The Conquering Tide

    4.5/5

    127 ratings10 reviews

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    • 5/5
      It was nicely layered with interpersonal, interservice and international implications without missing the common soldier !
    • 5/5
      Insightful study of the emotional, physical, mental and, religious state of Lincoln and America at this pivotal point in history.
    • 4/5
      Very well written. Took interesting paths to arrive at various points of the campaigns. Highly recommended .
    • 4/5
      The first two volumes of this projected trilogy are a fascinating and well-written history with plenty of information about the Japanese plans and status throughout the war. A lot of very thrilling reading, too.
    • 4/5
      This is the second in a three-part history. In reviewing the first volume, I stated, "This is top-rate historical literature. It may not have quite the smooth narrative flow that Shelby Foote had for his legendary, The Civil War: A Narrative trilogy, but, if this is just the first of the author's World War II in the Pacific trilogy, then I'm all in." I should acknowledge that I had made the mistake -- all mine -- that this was a series on the Pacific Theater of World War II. As the title clearly states, it covers the war in the Pacific Islands and not the entire Pacific Theater. This was not as obvious to me in the first volume because it starts with Pearl Harbor and expands logically outward from there. This volume makes it much more clear that the author is reporting on the Admiral Nimitz half of the Pacific conflict, which naturally is strongly oriented to the Navy and the Marines, while only periodically bumping up against the General McArthur, Army-oriented half. (I feel compelled to find a suitable history set that covers that in much more detail.) I should also note that while the first volume was more compact in covering basically the first six months of the war, this second volume covers the next two years, and must, as a necessity, delve into broader and more diverse areas of the war effort. To that extent, it simply does not feel as cohesive in what it covers as the first volume. It does not mean, however, that the areas covered are insignificant. As the first volume did excellent work on covering the Pearl Harbor attack and the Battle of Midway, in particular, this volume goes into particular detail on the battles of Guadalcanal, Tarawa, Saipan, and the Philippine Sea. The reporting makes it very clear how extremely important taking and holding Guadalcanal was, as well as how inevitable the defeat of Japan had become following the Battle of the Philippine Sea. As I stated on the first volume review, true history buffs should relish a chance to read this book, too.
    • 4/5
      5674. The Conquering Tide War in the Pacific Islands, 1942-1944, by Ian W. Toll (read 10 Feb 2020) This book, published in 2015, is the second volume of a trilogy on the naval war in the Pacific in World War II. The first volume is Pacific Crucible War at Sea in the Pacific, 1941-1942 which I read on 21 July 2012. This second volume tells of the Guadalcanal operation (August 1942 to Feb 1943). which was a close run thing; Tarawa was in 1943 and was a horrific battle. The conquest of Saipan, while bloody, was a clear-cut victory as was the Battle of the Philippine Sea in 1944. The book covers the naval war up to mid 1944. The third book of the trilogy is scheduled to be published in June 2020 and I will read it as the author tells a clear story and it will be good to read of our total triumph.
    • 5/5
      While at times it seemed to bog down in details it continued to engage the listener with a perspective both intimate and insightful. I particularly enjoyed the insights into Japanese society and the personalities of the major players in the Japanese military and government. Understanding is always with striving for. The failings of the imperial system and it's immature and insulated emperor much. One is left marveling at the willingness of the naval aviators to engage in such reckless and dangerous missions. The US commitment to rescue downed pilots and crews was certainly a key. The unwillingness of the Japanese command to recognize battle fatigue or even simple fatigue was important as well.
    • 4/5
      A lively version of the campaigns from Guadalcanal to the "Great Marianas Turkey Shoot." Toll has given his readers some useful information on the Washington and Tokyo dimension to the struggle. The maps are pretty good, the photo selection has some apt shots, and the prose is often good. A good book, especially if you have his volume one of the "Pacific War Trilogy". I don't, but now I'm looking for it to get his take on Pearl Harbour. He has a good reason for Spruance's handling of the Turkey Shoot.
    • 5/5
      Another excellent book by Toll and the second in the series about the US Navy's time in the Pacific in WWII. A well-trodden path to be sure but freshly and superbly done. Bothe the Japanese and US sides are covered with more on the US side, understandably. I like the way the author encapsulates the actors, the action, and one gets a real sense of the scope, the environment, and the terror of the battles. I'd have liked more on the logistics of the Pacific campaign - I think it was Nimitz who said this won the campaign - but not to take anything away from this enjoyable opus.Can't wait for the final book!
    • 4/5
      Ian Toll's first book Pacific Crucible details 4 major battles in the first 6 months of the Pacific War. The Conquering Tide covers the rest of 1942 through most of 1944 thus is considerably more expansive. After each battle, there are many, I found myself reading the equivalent Wikipedia article to learn more. Which isn't to say Toll's telling is flawed, rather he provides everything Wikipedia lacks - quality writing, drama, story, context and the glue to tie it together. But Wikipedia greatly compliments, the two are a good mix because by design Toll's book is not a super detailed study. Most of the major Pacific War articles on Wikipedia are Featured meaning they represent the best on the site.The first quarter of the book is about Guadalcanal and is IMO the best part because of the mix of naval, ground and air combat in a single location over an extended time with back and forth. It was where the US stopped Japanese momentum. It could be a book in its own right. This then leads to the island hopping blue sea beach invasions of legendary Tarawa, and finally Saipan. By mid 1944 the US has overwhelming troop and material strength and the war becomes lop-sided. How will Japan respond?I have to say it has been a real pleasure to read these two books almost back to back. The Pacific War has always been somewhat opaque to me, but Toll has proven an excellent guide to understanding. He gives a feeling of being there in person, experiencing the war as a soldier, or Admiral, or pilot. I can't wait for the concluding volume.