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Title: Pacific Fury
Author:Peter Thompson
Publisher:William Heinemann: Australia
This book chronicles the Pacific War from Australia's point of view. The focus of the book is the effects upon Australia of the various events of the war from before Pearl Habour, when Australia plotted with Britain on how to get the US involved in the war, Britain's token commitment to the defense of Singapore via inadequate supply and obsolete equipment, this is exemplified by the the British line when conflict was looming, that the Brewster Buffalo Fighter was more than a match for the Japanese and the disastrous Force Z with the loss of the Prince of Wales Battleship and Repulse Heavy Crusier.
The book then goes on to the after effects of the Malaya, Philippines and Singapore disasters to the Allies. Much is made of the inadequate and often decadent nature of the Allied Leadership in the particular theaters.
The book is broken up into four main sections, Part 1 Rising Sun, Part 2 Darkest Days , Part 3 Afternoon Light and Part 4 Atomic Sunset.
Parts 3 and 4 deal with turning the tide against Japan in the battles on New Guinea, Kokoda, Milne Bay, Buna and Gona as well as battles in the China/Burma threater and references to Guadalcanal. A lot of focus is placed on the leadership styles and aspirations of MacCarther, Blamey and their respective teams. It discusses issues and conflicts between the Allied command in Australia and the Asian area.
Attocities, warcrimes, treatment of Allied Prisoners and internees is discussed as well. Together with this is also the escallating scale of the effect of Allied retribution upon Japan, culminating with the huge fire bombing air raids and the two nuclear bombs.
In the final parts the book shows American's rise to the dominate power in the pacific and Britain's humiliating slide from empire to nation. It also demonstrates how Australia, albeit reluctantly at times, changes her main allegiance from Britain and her empire, to the new market driven USA.
The book is well written is an easy newspaper article style, however plenty of cross reference check and resource material is available. Black and white photographs enhance the book.