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Interviews

The Penguin Podcast: episode 10 – history special

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Features

6 popular myths about the D-Day landings debunked by historian James Holland

The Making of the Post World War II Order in the West

The Visionaries

A sweeping look at what happens when we forget the lessons of history, from the Sunday Times bestselling author James Holland'The remedy we need at the time we need it' The Atlantic 
'A brilliant reassessment of the two wartime US presidents... and timely reminder' Saul David 
'Essential reading for anyone who cares about leadership and the future' Anthony Scaramucci, former White House Communications Director 
 
The post-war world wasn't an accident - it was designed. So what happens when we forget the lesson?Although the Second World War was still a long way from being won, even by early 1941, US President Franklin Delano Roosevelt was already planning for peace. America’s entry into the war may still have been almost a year away, but he could already see the new world order that needed to emerge from the smouldering ashes of Europe. 
 
Three years later, the Marshall Plan would emerge, a forward-thinking combination of global philanthropy and canny self-interest, which kickstarted unprecedented European growth and a chance for the world as a whole to rebuild after the ruinous catastrophe of war. 
 
From the world on the eve of war in 1914 through to the Versailles Treaty, to the Great Depression and the political earthquakes that followed, The Visionaries takes a broad sweep of history with important lessons for today. It’s a reminder that while history does not repeat itself, patterns of human behaviour certainly do.

James Holland has delivered a masterwork. The Visionaries is the gripping, behind-the-curtain story of the men and women who rebuilt the world after the carnage of World War II—and, in the process, engineered an age of unprecedented peace and prosperity. Holland shows that the postwar order didn’t happen by accident; it was designed with courage, clarity, and an audacious belief in human progress. This book reminds us that leadership matters, ideas matter, and that vision—real vision—can bend the arc of history. A must-read for anyone trying to understand how stability is built, how prosperity scales, and how we can protect what those architects created. Essential reading for anyone who cares about leadership and the future.

Anthony Scaramucci, former White House Communications Director

A brilliant reassessment of the two wartime US presidents - FDR and Truman - whose far-sighted ideas helped to rebuild a shattered world and deliver 80 years of (mostly) peace and prosperity for the West, and a timely reminder during a time of flux that freedoms dearly won are much more easily lost.

The statesmen who rebuilt western Europe and northeast Asia after 1945 got more things right than any leaders ever before or since. At this moment when so many seem to have forgotten their lessons - and forsaken their legacy - James Holland retells their magnificent story vividly and accessibly. The remedy we need at the time we need it.

Highly readable and deeply researched…Holland has provided grist for readers of all political and national persuasions to understand the structures upon which today’s international order was formed and the dangers that exist if they are to be cavalierly done away with. One hopes that the work put into this book will be read, digested, and acted upon.

James Webb, former Senator and Secretary of the Navy

In The Visionaries, James Holland brings to bear his prodigious knowledge of the long Second World War era to provide not only a fresh look at that crucial period but also a series of reflections for our own time. Threats to democracy can emerge quickly and powerfully, and if we are not on our guard, as Holland demonstrates, they can threaten the entire international order.

Holland skilfully weaves an enthralling read that both entertains and educates. Make room on your bookshelves.

Sweeping take on the carving out of post-Second World War West... gripping

James Holland has delivered something very different but equally readable here. In uncertain times, it is a book that offers hope for better ones ahead.

James Holland is an internationally acclaimed and award-winning historian, writer, and broadcaster. The author of a number of best-selling histories including most recently The Savage Storm and Cassino '44, he is also the author of ten works of fiction and a dozen Ladybird Experts. 
 
He is the co-founder of the annual Chalke Valley History Festival which is now in its twelfth year, and he has presented - and written - many television programmes and series for the BBC, Channel 4, National Geographic and the History and Discovery channels. 
 
With Al Murray, he has a successful Second World War podcast, We Have Ways of Making You Talk, which also has its own festival, and is a research fellow at St Andrew's University and a Fellow of the Royal Historical Society. He can be found on Twitter as @James1940 and on Instagram as @jamesholland1940.

Five Months of Hell in Italy

Cassino '44

James Holland is now our foremost authority on the Italian campaign. He knows the ground intimately and expertly. In this gripping, beautifully written book, Holland breathes fresh life into the grim story of Cassino. Told from the perspectives of all the participants, packed with new insights and quality scholarship, Cassino 1944 makes a major contribution to our understanding of the fighting in Italy. Highest recommendation!

John C. McManus, PhD, author of To the End of the Earth: The U.S. Army and the Downfall of Japan, 1945

James Holland has given us another gripping historical narrative. This one unfolds from the grandeur of a palace turned wartime headquarters to a soon-to-be infamous Italian abbey that came to symbolize the complexities of the often-overshadowed Italian campaign. Holland writes with eloquence and power about the harsh realities of a brutal battle that grabbed the world’s attention and helped to decide the future of Italy

Professor Michael S. Neiberg, author of When France Fell: The Vichy Crisis and the Fate of the Anglo-American Alliance

Astonishingly thorough and meticulously researched; it should become a standard work on this campaign…A formidable achievement

In his new book Cassino '44, celebrated historian and bestselling author James Holland has crafted a heart-pounding narrative of the brutal Allied fight to take Rome. Using a kaleidoscope of voices and sources, including a wealth of letters and diaries, Holland not only drops readers into the action but illuminates the tragic impact of war on the civilians. This is history at its finest!

James M. Scott, Pulitzer Prize finalist and author of Black Snow, Rampage and Target Tokyo

James Holland is an internationally acclaimed and award-winning historian, writer, and broadcaster. The author of a number of best-selling histories including most recently The Savage Storm and Cassino '44, he is also the author of ten works of fiction and a dozen Ladybird Experts. 
 
He is the co-founder of the annual Chalke Valley History Festival which is now in its twelfth year, and he has presented - and written - many television programmes and series for the BBC, Channel 4, National Geographic and the History and Discovery channels. 
 
With Al Murray, he has a successful Second World War podcast, We Have Ways of Making You Talk, which also has its own festival, and is a research fellow at St Andrew's University and a Fellow of the Royal Historical Society. He can be found on Twitter as @James1940 and on Instagram as @jamesholland1940.

‘It should become a standard work on this campaign’ Telegraph 
'James Holland is now our foremost authority on the Italian campaign' John C. McManus 
'A heart-pounding narrative of the brutal Allied fight to take Rome... This is history at its finest' James M. Scott, Pulitzer Prize finalist 
'Holland writes with eloquence and power about the harsh realities of a brutal battle that grabbed the world’s attention and helped to decide the future of Italy' Professor Michael S. Neiberg 
___________ 
 
There are no such thing as an easy victory in war but after triumph in Tunisia, the sweeping success of the Sicilian invasion, and with the Italian surrender, the Allies were confident that they would be in Rome before Christmas 1943. 
 
And yet it didn't happen. Hitler ordered his forces to dig in and fight for every yard, thus setting the stage for one of the grimmest and most attritional campaigns of the Second World War. 
 
By the start of 1944, the Allies found themselves coming up against the Gustav Line: a formidable barrier of wire, minefields, bunkers and booby traps, woven into a giant chain of mountains and river valleys that stretched the width of Italy where at its strongest point perched the Abbey of Monte Cassino. 
 
It would take five long bitter winter months and the onset of summer before the Allies could finally bludgeon their way north and capture Rome. By then, more than 75,000 troops and civilians had been killed and the historic abbey and entire towns and villages had been laid waste. 
 
Following a rich cast of characters from both sides - from frontline infantry to aircrew, from clerks to battlefield commanders, and from politicians and civilians caught up in the middle of the maelstrom - James Holland has drawn widely on diaries, letters and contemporary sources to write the definitive account of this brutal battle. The result is a compelling and often heart-breaking narrative, told in the moment, as the events played out, and from the perspective of those who lived, fought and died there.

Alvesdon

A sweeping, heartland World War II family drama from the acclaimed historian and Sunday Times bestselling author. 
 
A TIMES BEST SUMMER READ 2024 
 
'A beautiful, evocative novel that captures the fear and mood of the early days of the war' Dermot O'Leary 
________ 
 
Even at home, the war is never far away… 
 
The village of Alvesdon has been home to the Castells for generations. But the year is 1939 and the peace and tranquillity there is about to be shattered once more by the storm clouds of war in Europe. 
 
As three generations of the family gather, they must all face the prospect of their lives being transformed beyond recognition the moment Britain declares war on Germany. 
 
When the inevitable happens and Britain finds itself at war, the younger members of the family and farm workers are called up to fight and those who remain must battle to keep the home fires burning and the farm afloat. 
 
The gentle certainties of rural life are replaced by the urgent clamour of war, in the air, at sea and on land, where events unfold with dizzying rapidity and unexpected consequences… 
 
Stretching from the glorious summer of 1939 to the Battle of Britain the following year, acclaimed historian James Holland paints a compelling and immersive fictional portrait of how the war changed everything. 
________ 
 
'The depth and breadth of [Holland's] knowledge is evident in the vivid portrayal of all the varied theatres of conflict' The Times 
 
‘James Holland’s greatest strength . . . is that he brings humanity to his work’ Spectator 
 
James Holland, Sunday Times bestseller, September 2024

James Holland's professional as a historian of the Second World War is evident in the vivid and nuanced portrayal of all the varied theatres of conflict.

A beautiful, evocative novel that captures the fear and mood of the early days of the war

A Times 2024 Best Summer Read 
 
The village of Alvesdon has been home to the Castells for generations. But the year is 1939 and the peace and tranquillity there is about to be shattered once more by the stormclouds of war in Europe. As three generations of the family gather, they must all face the prospect of their lives being transformed beyond recognition the moment Britain declares war on Germany. 
 
When the inevitable happens and Britain finds itself at war, the younger members of the family and farm workers are called up to fight and those who remain must battle to keep the home fires burning and the farm afloat. The gentle certainties of rural life are replaced by the urgent clamour of war, in the air, at sea and on land, where events unfold with dizzying rapidity and unexpected consequences. 
 
Stretching from the glorious summer of 1939 to the Battle of Britain the following year, acclaimed historian James Holland paints a compelling and immersive fictional portrait of how the war changed everything. For one family and for a community, their way of life can never really be the same again…

(Jack Tanner: book 5)

The Devil's Pact

Sicily, 1943: TO CHANGE THE COURSE OF HISTORY, DIRTY DEALS MUST BE DONE... 
 
With North Africa secured, the Allies launch an invasion of Sicily, and the 2nd Battalion, King's Own Yorkshire Rangers are in the vanguard of the assault on the Italian beaches. 
 
But promotion to Company Commander has brought fresh trouble for Jack Tanner. Not only has his new Battalion Commander decided to make his life as difficult as possible, but they soon find themselves battling against some of the toughest, most determined troops in the Wehrmacht. 
 
In the bitter fighting that follows, Tanner witnesses a new reality. Forced to question the cause for which they have fought so long, Tanner and his trusted sidekick, Sykes, find themselves embroiled in a deeply personal fight, in which they have to use all their resolve, skill and experience if they are to stand any chance of survival... 
 
Have you read the other Jack Tanner adventures? Discover The Odin Mission, Darkest Hour, Blood of Honour and Hellfire now! 
_______________ 
 
Readers love The Devil's Pact 
 
'A rollicking good and authentic read' 
'Fantastic - couldn't put it down' 
'Terrific writing' 
'Great writer, great book' 
'Enthralled from start to finish every time'

The Brutal Battle for Italy 1943

The Savage Storm

'Richly impressive, hard to surpass' William Boyd 
'A notable account of an epic human experience' Max Hastings 
&lsquo;James Holland brings every inch of this battle vividly to life&rsquo; History Revealed 
&lsquo;This excellent book&hellip;The Savage Storm reinforces Holland&rsquo;s reputation as certainly the busiest and probably the most popular military historian of the second world war working today&rsquo; Spectator 
&lsquo;A must for anyone wanting to better understand the brutal campaign&hellip; thoroughly deserves a place on the bookshelf&rsquo; Soldier Magazine 
_____________________ 
 
From the bestselling author of Brothers in Arms comes the story of the most pivotal Allies campaign of World War II. 
 
With the invasion of France the following year taking shape, and hot on the heels of victory in Sicily, the Allies crossed into Southern Italy in September 1943. They expected to drive the Axis forces north and be in Rome by Christmas. And although Italy surrendered, the German forces resisted fiercely and the swift hoped-for victory descended into one of the most brutal battles of the war. 
 
Even though shipping and materiel were already being safeguarded for the D-Day landings, there were still huge expectations on the progress of the invading armies, but those shortages were to slow the advance with tragic consequences. As the weather closed in, the critical weeks leading up to Monte Cassino would inflict a heavy price for every bloody, hard fought mile the Allied troops covered. 
 
Chronicling those dark, dramatic months in unflinching and insightful detail, The Savage Storm is unlike any campaign history yet written. James Holland has always recounted the Second World War at ground level, but this version telling brings the story vividly to life like never before. Weaving together a wealth of letters, diaries, and other incredible documents, Holland traces the battles as they were fought - across plains, over mountains, through shattered villages and cities, in intense heat and, towards the end, frigid cold and relentless rain - putting readers at the heart of the action to create an entirely fresh and revealing telling of this most pivotal phase of the war. 
_____________________ 
 
Praise for James Holland 
 
'Impeccably researched and superbly written' Observer 
'Holland has something new to say.... Filled with insight and detail' Neil Oliver 
'James Holland is the best of the new generation of WW2 historians' Sebastian Faulks 
'[A] captivating and dramatic account. . . Drawn from letters and diaries, Holland&rsquo;s immersive narrative is told through the eye-level perspectives... Readers will be enthralled' Publishers Weekly 
&lsquo;A remarkable achievement by a historian at the height of his powers. Holland has successfully illustrated both the significance and the savagery of the Italian campaign... through a powerful and compelling narrative&rsquo; Military History Matters

A notable account of an epic human experience

The best of the new generation of WW2 historians

Great...One of the new generation of historians who bring a freshness and a proper spirit enquiry

A master of spinning narrative military history from accounts of men and women who were there

An Illustrated History

The Second World War

Discover the story of the Second World War brought to life in full colour by renowned historian James Holland and award-winning artist Keith Burns 
 
'A fully immersive experience. A comprehensive yet fast-paced and gripping insight into the Second World War. Not just accessible, but riveting. An absolute pleasure to read' GET HISTORY 
 
'A ground-breaking collaboration between bestselling historian James Holland and award-winning artist Keith Burns presents the war in full colour, bringing the text vividly to life' HISTORY OF WAR 
__________ 
 
From the great cities of Europe to the jungles of Burma, and from the deserts of North Africa to the remote islands of the South Pacific and the freezing waters of the Arctic, the Second World War touched every continent and ocean on the planet. And from the Blitzkrieg to the atom bomb, the fighting fuelled new technological development on land, at sea and in the air at a ferocious pace. Our future was forged by war. 
 
Combining compelling personal stories with a clear and accessible appreciation of the strategic and operational battle for supremacy between the Allies and the Axis powers, bestselling historian James Holland weaves an irresistible narrative, with over 250 illustrations by acclaimed artist Keith Burns, commissioned specially for this project. 
 
Together, they bring events in The Second World War: An Illustrated History to life with stunning drama and dynamism. 
 
Over five years in the making, their groundbreaking collaboration has produced a unique and unforgettable account of the most extraordinary events the world has ever seen. 
__________ 
 
'Gripping text, masterful imagery and touching personal stories make this a must-buy for anyone with an interest in World War Two' CLASSIC MILITARY VEHICLES 
 
'A bold attempt to expand the market for military history . . . aimed at a general reader who wants to get an overall grasp of a massive subject . . . this is an impressive achievement' BOOKBRUNCH

A bold attempt to expand the market for military history . . . aimed at a general reader who wants to get an overall grasp of a massive subject . . . this is an impressive achievement

A ground-breaking collaboration between bestselling historian James Holland and award-winning artist Keith Burns presents the war in full colour, bringing the text vividly to life

Gripping text, masterful imagery and touching personal stories make this a must-buy for anyone with an interest in World War Two

The war itself becomes something tangible, a fully immersive experience where the reader is transported to the mosquito-infested, stinking, dripping jungles of Burma, or to the arid, baked expanses of the North African desert . . . Both sides of the book - the written and the drawn - independently are stunning. But together they create something greater: a comprehensive yet fast-paced and gripping insight into the Second World War. This illustrated history ticks every box. For the reasonably uninitiated, there is enough explanation, enough references to films and TV series, and enough action to make the book not just accessible, but riveting. For those familiar with the Second World War, Holland's style, his arguments and his anecdotes, along with the exquisite illustrations of Burns, make The Second World War: An Illustrated History an absolute pleasure to read

From the internationally acclaimed historian James Holland comes an enthralling and illuminating account of the key battles and crucial turning points of the Second World War, brought vividly to life with over 280 full colour illustrations from award-winning artist Keith Burns. 
 
Complex, total and global, the Second World War was the deadliest conflict in human history, with over 300 million soldiers seeing combat. The movements and turns of these six deadly years have had far-reaching consequences which still impact our global relations today. From the horrors of the Western Front to the paddy fields of Burma, The Second World War: An Illustrated History takes us through each key moment across the history, in an accessible and authoritative account from a master military historian and captivating illustrator.

James Holland (Author) James Holland is an internationally acclaimed and award-winning historian, writer, and broadcaster. The author of a number of best-selling histories he has presented - and written - a large number of television programmes and series. He has a weekly Second World War podcast, We Have of Making You Talk, with Al Murray, and is Chair of the Chalke Valley History Festival. He is a research fellow at St Andrew's University. Keith Burns (Illustrator) Keith Burns is an award winning aviation artist and commercial illustrator. He has illustrated comics for the past decade, his collaborations with writer Garth Ennis, Johnny Red and Out of the Blue being the most recent. In 2012 he joined the Guild of Aviation Artists. In 2015 he won the Messier Dowty award for best acrylic painting in show, and in 2016 he was made a full member of the Guild, had his first solo exhibition at the RAF Club in London and won Aviation Painting of the 
Year. He has produced commissions for the RAF, the Army, the Imperial War Museum and Forces Charities. Over the last few years Keith has supplied art for various stamp collections for Jersey Post.

(WW2 #12)

Victory Against Japan 1944-1945: A Ladybird Expert Book

BOOK 12 OF THE LADYBIRD EXPERT HISTORY OF THE SECOND WORLD WAR, FROM AWARD-WINNING HISTORIAN JAMES HOLLAND 
 
Featuring stunning illustrations from Keith Burns, bringing the story to life in vivid detail 
 
Why did Japan decide to attack at Pearl Harbour? 
What was the Japanese vision of a Greater Asian Co-Prosperity Sphere? 
How did the American strategy turn the tide against Japanese offensives? 
 
Uncover the complexities of the brutal war against Japan. 
 
From the surprise attack on Pearl Harbour, Oahu, to the Philippines Campaign, the Allies were finally able to turn the tide against the onslaught of Japanese forces. 
 
Ending in Japanese surrender after the devastating atomic bombings of Nagasaki and Hiroshima, the war in Japan was eventually won, but at the cost of civilian lives. 
 
THE WAR THAT LED TO TWO ATOMIC BOMBINGS 
 
Written by historian, author and broadcaster James Holland, Victory Against Japan is an essential introduction to the tactics that finally brought an end to the Second World War. 
__________ 
 
Discover the full Ladybird Expert WW2 series: 
Blitzkrieg 
The Battle of Britain 
Battle of the Atlantic 
The Desert War 
The Eastern Front 
The Pacific War 
The Bomber War 
The War in Italy 
The Battle for Normandy 
The War in Burma 
Victory in Europe 
Victory Against Japan

- Why did Japan decide to attack at Pearl Harbour? 
- What was the Japanese vision of a Greater Asian Co-Prosperity Sphere? 
- How did the American strategy turn the tide against Japanese offensives? 
 
Uncover the complexities of the brutal war against Japan. From the surprise attack on Pearl Harbour, Oahu, to the Phillipines Campaign, the Allies were finally able to turn the tide against the onslaught of Japanese forces. Ending in Japanese surrender after the devastating atomic bombings of Nagasaki and Hiroshima, the war in Japan was eventually won, but at the cost of civilian lives. 
 
THE WAR THAT LED TO TWO ATOMIC BOMBINGS 
 
Written by historian, author and broadcaster James Holland, Victory Against Japan is an essential introduction to the tactics that finally brought an end to the Second World War.

(WW2 #11)

Victory in Europe 1944-1945: A Ladybird Expert Book

BOOK 11 OF THE LADYBIRD EXPERT HISTORY OF THE SECOND WORLD WAR, FROM AWARD-WINNING HISTORIAN JAMES HOLLAND 
 
Featuring stunning illustrations from Keith Burns, bringing the story to life in vivid detail 
 
What was Operation Bagration? 
Why did the Warsaw Uprising fail? 
How were the Nazis finally crushed? 
 
BRITAIN'S VICTORY IN EUROPE was a pivotal moment in the impending end of WW2, but it was no easy feat. 
 
With most of Europe under Axis control, the Allies battled through the brutal winter of 1945 to overcome German forces and finally defeat Hitler. 
 
THE PINNACLE MOMENT IN BRITAIN'S WW2 SUCCESS 
 
Written by historian, author and broadcaster James Holland, Victory in Europe is an essential, accessible introduction to Britain's triumph over the Nazis. 
__________ 
 
Discover the full Ladybird Expert WW2 series: 
Blitzkrieg 
The Battle of Britain 
Battle of the Atlantic 
The Desert War 
The Eastern Front 
The Pacific War 
The Bomber War 
The War in Italy 
The Battle for Normandy 
The War in Burma 
Victory in Europe 
Victory Against Japan

(WW2 #10)

The War in Burma 1943-1944: A Ladybird Expert Book

BOOK 10 OF THE LADYBIRD EXPERT HISTORY OF THE SECOND WORLD WAR, FROM AWARD-WINNING HISTORIAN JAMES HOLLAND 
 
Featuring stunning illustrations from Keith Burns, bringing the story to life in vivid detail 
 
Why were British troops in Burma? 
What was The Defence of the Admin Box? 
How did the British defeat the Japanese troops? 
 
THE BURMA CAMPAIGN was one of the most prolonged campaigns in the South-East Asian theatre of war, but it was also one of the most dramatic. 
 
Against Japanese troops, and monsoon weather, the Allies finally prevailed, demonstrating to the world that the Axis powers could be defeated in the East. 
 
BRITAIN'S TURNING POINT IN THE WAR IN THE EAST 
 
Written by historian, author and broadcaster James Holland, The War in Burma is an essential, accessible introduction to Britain's triumph in the East. 
__________ 
 
Discover the full Ladybird Expert WW2 series: 
Blitzkrieg 
The Battle of Britain 
Battle of the Atlantic 
The Desert War 
The Eastern Front 
The Pacific War 
The Bomber War 
The War in Italy 
The Battle for Normandy 
The War in Burma 
Victory in Europe 
Victory Against Japan

Part of the ALL-NEW LADYBIRD EXPERT SERIES 
- Why were British troops in Burma? 
 - What was The Defence of the Admin Box? 
- How did the British defeat the Japanese troops? 
 
THE BURMA CAMPAIGN was one of the most prolonged campaigns in the South-East Asian theatre of war, but it was also one of the most dramatic. Against Japanese troops, and monsoon weather, the Allies finally prevailed, demonstrating to the world that the Axis powers could be defeated in the East. 
 
BRITAIN'S TURNING POINT IN THE WAR IN THE EAST 
Written by historian, author and broadcaster James Holland, Burma 1943-1944 is an essential, accessible introduction to Britain's triumph in the East.

(WW2 #9)

The Battle for Normandy, 1944

BOOK 9 OF THE LADYBIRD EXPERT HISTORY OF THE SECOND WORLD WAR, FROM AWARD-WINNING HISTORIAN JAMES HOLLAND 
 
Featuring stunning illustrations from Keith Burns, bringing the story to life in vivid detail 
 
Why did the Allies attack on D-Day? 
How did the Allies pick Normandy as a target? 
What was Operation Overload, the second front against the Nazis? 
 
JUNE 6 1944 
 
D-Day was a deciding conflict in World War II. But the invasion was not a straightforward attack. 
 
From feeding Nazi spies false information on the attack, to developing new technology like the Mulberry harbours, D-Day changed the course of the War for good. 
 
THE LARGEST SEABORNE INVASION IN HISTORY 
 
Written by historian, author and broadcaster James Holland, The Battle for Normandy is an essential introduction to the naval invasion that began the liberation of Western Europe from the Nazis. 
__________ 
 
Discover the full Ladybird Expert WW2 series: 
Blitzkrieg 
The Battle of Britain 
Battle of the Atlantic 
The Desert War 
The Eastern Front 
The Pacific War 
The Bomber War 
The War in Italy 
The Battle for Normandy 
The War in Burma 
Victory in Europe 
Victory Against Japan

Part of the ALL-NEW LADYBIRD EXPERT SERIES 
- Why did the Allies attack on D-Day? 
- How did the Allies pick Normandy as a target? 
- What was Operation Overload, the second front against the Nazis? 
 
JUNE 6 1944: D-Day was a deciding conflict in World War II. But the invasion was not a straightforward attack. From feeding Nazi spies false information on the attack, to developing new technology like the Mulberry harbours, D-Day changed the course of the War for good. 
 
THE LARGEST SEABORNE INVASION IN HISTORY 
 
Written by historian, author and broadcaster James Holland, D-DAY 1944 is an essential introduction to the naval invasion that began the liberation of Western Europe from the Nazis.

One Legendary Tank Regiment's Bloody War from D-Day to VE-Day

Brothers in Arms

'War as it should be described - ordinary men facing extraordinary horror' The Times 
'Epic and moving...Holland brings this cramped universe vividly to life' Daily Telegraph 
'Does not disappoint... Holland takes us down to the individual's experience' Times Literary Supplement 
______ 
 
From the bestselling author of Normandy '44 and Sicily '43, a brilliant new history of the last days of the war. 
 
It took a certain type of courage to serve in a tank in the Second World War. Encased in steel, surrounded by highly explosive shells, a big and slow-moving target, every crew member was utterly vulnerable to enemy attack from all sides. Living - and dying - in a tank was a brutal way to fight a war. 
 
The Sherwood Rangers were one of the great tank regiments. They had learned their trade the hard way, in the burning deserts of North Africa. From D-Day onwards, they were in the thick of the action til the war's end. They and their Sherman tanks covered thousands of miles and endured some of the fiercest fighting in Western Europe. Their engagements stretch from the Normandy beaches to the bridges at Eindhoven. They were the first British unit into Germany, grinding across the Siegfried Line and on into the Nazi heartland. 
 
Through compelling eye-witness testimony and James Holland's expert analysis, Brothers In Arms brings to vivid life the final bloody scramble across Europe and gives the most powerful account to date of what it was really like to fight in the dying days of World War Two. 
 
The new, sweeping World War II book from James Holland, THE SAVAGE STORM, is available now.

Brothers in Arms does not disappoint...he has an eye for detail...He seemingly incorporates technical information about tanks and anti-tank weapons so that we get a feel for how men interacted with the technology of war...likewise, amid the numbers that demarcate hills of military deployments, Holland takes us down to the individual's experience.

War as it should be described - ordinary men facing extraordinary horror. Caught in the drama of battle, we sometimes forget the good men who died. Holland, to his credit, forces us to remember

Powerful and moving...James Holland's greatest strength as a military historian is that he brings humanity to his work. Brothers In Arms does more than just tell the story of the Sherwood Rangers...Holland has delved into their world and brought their characters to life.

Their [the Sherwood Rangers] story can be seen as a reflection of the British war as a whole and Holland tells it very well, using his trademark technique of immersive detail and a cast of well-defined characters. If you are a fan of his style and I am, you will find that once again it works brilliantly

An intimate and harrowing portrayal of warfare

It took a certain type of courage to serve in a tank in World War Two. Encased in steel, surrounded by highly explosive shells, a big and slow-moving target, every crew member was utterly vulnerable to enemy attack from all sides. Living - and dying - in a tank was a brutal way to fight a war. 
 
The Sherwood Rangers were one of the great tank regiments. They had learned their trade the hard way, under the burning sun of North Africa, on the battlefields of El Alamein and Alam el Halfa. By the time they landed on Gold Beach on D-Day, they were toughened by experience and ready for combat. 
 
From that moment on, the Sherwood Rangers were in the thick of the action til the war's end. They and their Sherman tanks covered thousands of miles and endured some of the fiercest fighting in Western Europe. The first British unit to cross into Germany, their engagements stretch from the Normandy beaches, to the bridges at Eindhoven, and the grinding crossing of the Siegfried Line and on into the Nazi heartland.

Sicily '43

From the bestselling author of Normandy '44, containing new and unpublished research, this is the largely untold story of the critical campaign that became a vital precursor to D-Day.

Marshalling a wealth of primary and secondary sources into an engrossing narrative, Holland fills a yawning gap in histories of WWII. This magisterial account is a must-read for military history fans.

Perfect territory for a military historian of Holland's talents

Historians too often neglect that emotional tapestry. War is characterised as arrows on a map, tables of munitions, cold casualty statistics. Holland's skill lies in bringing these warriors to life with vivid prose. He's a prolific historian of the war, but each book is constructed with great care and emotional commitment...Holland is obsessed with war, but fortunately does not seem to love it. He recognises its beauty, but also its vileness

Holland argues very effectively that the success of Husky was a turning point in the war

Holland makes the capture of the island one of the great turning-point battles of the war

James Holland delivers the account in his usual engaging style and supplements it with excellent pictures and maps

Brilliantly blending his historical fact with vivid personal testimony by participants, Holland makes a persuasive case for the conquest of Sicily as a turning-point in the war

'James Holland is the best of the new generation of WW2 historians.' Sebastian Faulks 
'Holland's skill lies in bringing these warriors to life with vivid prose.' The Times 
Shortlisted for the 2021 British Army Military Book of the Year 
_________________________________________________ 
This is the story of the biggest seaborne landing in history. 
 
Codenamed Operation HUSKY, the assault on Sicily on 10 July 1943 remains the largest amphibious invasion ever mounted. That day, over 160,000 Allied troops were dropped from the sky or came ashore to begin the fight for Europe. 
 
The subsequent thirty-eight-day Battle for Sicily was one of the most dramatic of the entire war, involving daring raids by special forces, deals with the Mafia, attacks across mosquito-infested plains and perilous assaults up almost sheer faces of rock and scree. 
 
Made worse by virulent disease and extreme heat, the Allies also had to fight their way across an island of unforgiving landscape and limited infrastructure against a German foe who would not give up. 
Victory would signal the beginning of the end of the War in the West. From here on, the noose began to tighten around the neck of Nazi Germany. The coalition between the United States and Britain finally came of age. And it was a crucial dry run for Operation OVERLORD, the invasion of Normandy on D-Day a year later.

(WW2 #8)

The War in Italy: A Ladybird Expert Book

* PRE-ORDER YOUR COPY NOW * 
 
- Why did the Allies decide to invade Southern Italy? 
- How did the weather and Italian terrain complicate the fighting? 
- How did General Mark Clark's Allied Armies win the final battle? 
 
Discover the mounting conflict and complex campaigns of the war in Italy. From Operation HUSKY to Clark's final offensive, the Allied campaign tightened the noose around Nazi Germany and saw the end of Italian Fascism, though it was at a cost of high civilian casualty and destruction. 
 
AN EPIC OF GRIT, DETERMINATION AND SACRIFICE 
 
Written by historian, author and broadcaster James Holland and with immersive illustrations by Keith Burns, THE WAR IN ITALY 1943-1945 is an accessible and enthralling introduction to these critical battles and their impact on the outcome of World War II

- Why did the Allies decide to invade Southern Italy? 
- How did the weather and Italian terrain complicate the fighting? 
- How did General Mark Clark's Allied Armies win the final battle? 
 
Discover the mounting conflict and complex campaigns of the war in Italy. From Operation HUSKY to Clark's final offensive, the Allied campaign tightened the noose around Nazi Germany and saw the end of Italian Fascism, though it was at a cost of high civilian casualty and destruction. 
 
AN EPIC OF GRIT, DETERMINATION AND SACRIFICE 
 
Written by historian, author and broadcaster James Holland and with immersive illustrations by Keith Burns, THE WAR IN ITALY 1943-1945 is an accessible and enthralling introduction to these critical battles and their impact on the outcome of World War II

Book 7 of the Ladybird Expert History of the Second World War

The Bomber War: A Ladybird Expert Book

Part of the new Ladybird Expert series, The Bomber War is an accessible, insightful and authoritative introduction to the airborne Allied fight against Nazi Germany. 
 
- How did aeroplane technology change the theatre of war? 
- How did the Blitz affect Britain's ability to fight? 
- How did the Allies finally triumph? 
 
DISCOVER how the complex impact of bomber technology shaped the outcome of World War II. From the Blitz to the Battle of the Ruhr, the Bomber War transformed the state of warfare in the twentieth century. 
 
GERMANY'S DEADLY TACTICS, THE ALLIES' BRUTAL VICTORY 
 
Written by historian, author and broadcaster James Holland and with immersive illustrations by Keith Burns, THE BOMBER WAR is an accessible and enthralling introduction to these critical battles and their impact on the outcome of World War II.

Praise for WW2 Ladybird Experts Series

Shines a light on some of the darkest and most dramatic moments of the six-year conflict.

The artwork is gloriously retro, echoing the original Ladybird house style but containing completely up to date information.

Part of the new Ladybird Expert series, The Bomber War is an accessible, insightful and authoritative introduction to the airborne Allied fight against Nazi Germany. 
 
- How did aeroplane technology change the theatre of war? 
- How did the Blitz affect Britain's ability to fight? 
- How did the Allies finally triumph? 
 
DISCOVER how the complex impact of bomber technology shaped the outcome of World War II. From the Blitz to the Battle of the Ruhr, the Bomber War transformed the state of warfare in the twentieth century. 
 
GERMANY'S DEADLY TACTICS, THE ALLIES' BRUTAL VICTORY 
 
Written by historian, author and broadcaster James Holland and with immersive illustrations by Keith Burns, THE BOMBER WAR is an accessible and enthralling introduction to these critical battles and their impact on the outcome of World War II.

D-Day and the Battle for France

Normandy ‘44

From established historian James Holland, this is the top ten bestselling and second biggest history book of 2019.

As an account of this mighty and vitally significant clash of armies, Normandy ’44 stands as richly impressive, hard to surpass

A superb account of the invasions that deserves immense praise…To convey the human drama of Normandy requires great knowledge and sensitivity. Holland has both in spades

An invigorating new history of the Allied invasion of France

A readable account of one of the 20th century's most defining battles provides a strategic overview enlivened by personal accounts of the horror ... for the general reader there are plenty of surprises

An impressive new account of D-Day ... Holland knows his stuff when it comes to military matters ... he reads the minds of the generals, their tactics, their blunders - on both sides

Laced with firsthand accounts...the book provides an invaluable narrative

Any past criticism of General Montgomery’s leadership and tactics is put into a fresh focus … armed with the newly-presented facts we are able to make sense of the broader picture

An epic telling of the Normandy invasion … one of Britain’s foremost military historians

'A devastating new account..Holland knows his stuff when it comes to military matters' Daily Mail, Book of the Week 
'A superb account of the invasion that deserves immense praise. To convey the human drama of Normandy requires great knowledge and sensitivity. Holland has both in spades' The Times 
________________ 
 
Renowned World War Two historian James Holland presents an entirely new perspective on one of the most important moments in recent history, unflinchingly examining the brutality and violence that characterised the campaign. 
 
D-Day and the 76 days of bitter fighting in Normandy that followed have come to be seen as a defining episode in the Second World War. Its story has been endlessly retold, and yet it remains a narrative burdened by both myth and assumed knowledge. 
 
In this reexamined history, James Holland presents a broader overview, one that challenges much of what we think we know about D-Day and the Normandy campaign. The sheer size and scale of the Allies' war machine ultimately dominates the strategic, operational and tactical limitations of the German forces. 
 
Drawing on unseen archives and testimonies from around the world and introducing a cast of eye-witnesses including foot soldiers, tank men, fighter pilots and more, James Holland's epic telling profoundly recalibrates our understanding of its true place in the tide of human history. 
 
The new, sweeping World War II book from James Holland, THE SAVAGE STORM, is available now.

Volume 1: Germany Ascendant 1939-1941

The War in the West - A New History

The first part of an astonishing and revelatory new history of the Second World War from one of the UK's most exciting and expert young historians

From the top ten bestselling author of Normandy 44 and Sicily 43 
 
The Second World War is the most cataclysmic and violent sequence of events in recent times. But for the past seven decades, our understanding of it has relied upon conventional wisdom, propaganda and an interpretation skewed by the information available. James Holland has spent over twelve years conducting new research, interviewing survivors, visiting battlefields and archives that have never before been so accessible and challenging too-long-held assumptions about the war that shaped our world. 
 
In Germany Ascendant, the first part of this ground-breaking new history, James Holland introduces the war, beginning with the lead-up to its outbreak in 1939 and taking us up to mid-1941 as the Nazis prepared to unleash Operation Barbarossa, the invasion of Russia. To tell the real story, he weaves together the experiences of dozens of individuals, from civilians and soldiers, to sailors, pilots, leading military strategists, industrialists and heads of state, and uncovers the strategy, tactics and events that informed not only the military aspects of the war but also the economic, political, and social aspects too. 
 
The War in the West is a truly monumental history of the war on land, in the air, and at sea. In it, James Holland has created a captivating and epic narrative which redefines and enhances our understanding of one of the most significant conflicts in history.

Book 6 of the Ladybird Expert History of the Second World War

The Pacific War 1941-1943

Part of the ALL-NEW LADYBIRD EXPERT SERIES 
 
- Why did Japan attack Pearl Harbour? 
- How did the Americans underestimate the Japanese? 
- What were 'banzai charges,' and how did the discipline of the Japanese lead to their downfall? 
 
FOLLOW the lethal turns of World War II through the theatre of the Pacific War. From the devastating attack on Pearl Harbour to the decisive triumph of the Allies at Guadalcanal, the entry of Japan and America to the fighting changed the course of World War II completely. 
 
JAPAN'S DEADLY OFFENSIVE, AMERICA'S DECISIVE VICTORY 
 
Written by historian, author and broadcaster James Holland, THE PACIFIC WAR 1941-1943 is an essential, accessible introduction to the battles that defined Pacific conflict in World War II.

Part of the new Ladybird Expert series, The Pacific: 1941-43 is an accessible, insightful and authoritative introduction to the Allied counter-offensive against the Empire of Japan and Axis forces in the South Pacific. 
 
Historian, author and broadcaster James Holland draws on the latest research and interviews with participants to bring colour, detail and a fresh perspective to the story. 
 
Inside, you'll discover how tactics, organisation and new technologies were brought to bear, about the different challenges faced by both the Axis and the Allies, and, above all, the skill, bravery and endurance of those engaged in a contest that was of critical importance to the outcome of the war. 
 
For an adult readership, the Ladybird Expert series is produced in the same iconic small hardback format pioneered by the original Ladybirds. Each beautifully illustrated book features the first new illustrations produced in the original Ladybird style for nearly forty years.

Volume 2: The Allies Fight Back 1941-43

The War in the West: A New History

The second instalment in a revealing and forceful new multi-volume history of the Second World War from one of the UK's most exciting and expert young historians

James Holland has established himself as one of the premier World War II Historians

Holland shoots down the myth of German invincibility . . . All the great turning points of 1941-43 are here. A triumph

Makes us eager for the third and final part of what now ranks as a towering work of historical research and writing

Holland brings a fresh eye to the ebb and flow of the conflict . . . [A] majestic saga

This second volume easily reaches the benchmark set by it’s predecessor . . . the style is crisp, engaging, absorbing, it really does have the feel of a fresh and revisionist perspective on the momentous events that occurred between 1941 and 1943

From Hitler's invasion of Russia, America's entry into the conflict and the devastating Thousand Bomber Raids over Germany, to the long grinding struggle in the deserts of North Africa and the crucial Battle of the Atlantic, the middle passage of the Second World War was all about turning back the Nazi tide. 
 
These catalytic moments would come to define the course of the war and its outcome. They encompass the most vicious fighting, the most hair-raising strategy and the most breathtaking bravery. Across the battlefronts on land, sea and air, to the streets, fields and factories of Britain, America, Africa and Europe, Holland shows, in his own dramatic and compelling style, how the fortunes of war were changed and what happened when the Allies were finally able to fight back . . . 
 
'Impeccably researched and superbly written... Holland's fascinating sage offers a mixture of captivating new research and well-considered revisionism' Observer 
 
'Exceptional... Holland's success is built in part on an engaging writing stule and in part on a genuinely fresh approach to events' Wall Street Journal 
 
'The best of the new generation of WW2 historians' Sebastian Faulks

A Pair of Silver Wings

'Brings history to life' Guardian 
______________ 
 
It can take a lifetime to heal the wounds of war. 
 
Edward Enderby has never spoken about being an RAF fighter pilot. But fifty years after the greatest conflict the world has ever seen, he must finally confront the memories he has tried so hard to forget. 
 
From the bright skies over England in 1941, through the dark days of the Siege of Malta, to a bitter partisan struggle in Italy, his takes a momentous journey that will change him forever. 
 
And despite the damage the war has wrought, Edward has one last chance to save himself from his past…

The Biggest Air Battle of World War Two

Big Week

Perfectly timed for the anniversary, this is the new single-battle epic from bestselling author, James Holland - the only book of its kind on this battle.

'James Holland is a master' BBC History 
 
It was to be the battle to end the air war once and for all. 
 
During the third week of February 1944, the combined Allied air forces launched their first-ever round-the-clock bomber offensive against Germany. 
 
The aim was to smash the main factories and production centres of the Luftwaffe and at the same time draw the German fighter force up into the air and into battle. 
 
Big Week is the knife-edge story of bomber against flak gun and fighter, but also, crucially, fighter against fighter. Following the fortunes of pilots and aircrew from both sides, this is a blistering narrative of one of the most critical periods of the entire war. Big Week was the largest air battle ever witnessed, but it has been largely forgotten – until now.

James Holland

Al Murray

A gripping, eye-opening and satisfying new account

James Holland has written about nearly every major battle of World War II, from Burma to Berlin. So it makes sense that in Victory ’45: The End of the War in Eight Surrenders he and his co-author, Al Murray, focus on the conclusion of the greatest global conflagration in history . . . The biggest, most well-known capitulations are here . . . But the authors find much to tell in the lesser surrenders.

A hugely engaging account of the rather tortured circumstances of the end of World War Two. If you thought it was all a rather simple process, think again.

Finely detailed . . . Not simply targeted to WWII enthusiasts, Victory ’45 illustrates for those with a broader historical interest the myriad challenges in bringing to heel the dogs of war.

The End of the War in Eight Surrenders

Bestselling historians James Holland and Al Murray tell the unflinching story of the eight surrenders that brought victory to the Allies and ended the Second World War. 
 
‘A gripping, eye-opening and satisfying new account’ The Express 
_________ 
 
From the Italian Alps to northern Germany, to London, New York, Washington and Tokyo, Victory ’45 tells the story of the extraordinary summer when the greatest conflagration the world had ever known finally came to an end after eight surrenders that heralded the Allied victory. 
 
Comprised of eight chapters based around each of those surrenders and the victory celebrations which followed, it will be rich in character and human drama with revealing stories and perspectives behind the end of the war not yet told before. Each chapter will follow the viewpoints of a number of key characters as they traverse these world-changing events – from ordinary servicemen and women and civilians to generals and political leaders. 
 
What took place during the negotiations of those surrenders and the terms that were agreed there would determine the directions the participating countries would take in the years that followed and ultimately the shape of our current world.

James Holland

Books by James Holland

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Duty Calls2 Books

Jack Tanner5 Books

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The Penguin Podcast: episode 10 – history special

6 popular myths about the D-Day landings debunked by historian James Holland

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WW2 Historian James Holland Breaks Down Call of Duty: WW2

WW2 Historian James Holland Breaks Down More World War 2 Films & TV

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Books by James Holland

Sign up to the James Holland newsletter

Series by James Holland

Duty Calls2 Books

Jack Tanner5 Books

Articles featuring James Holland

The Penguin Podcast: episode 10 – history special

6 popular myths about the D-Day landings debunked by historian James Holland

Videos

WW2 Historian James Holland Breaks Down Call of Duty: WW2

WW2 Historian James Holland Breaks Down More World War 2 Films & TV

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