Author Description

On December 7th, 1941, the Empire of Japan stunned the world by launching an attack on the U.S. naval base at Pearl Harbor, what would prove to be one of the most important events of the 20th century, pulling the United States into World War II. Many books have been written outlining this extraordinary event, but few can match Zvonimir Freivogel’s masterful work: by tracking the development of the U.S. and Japanese Navies from far before 1941, Freivogel provides the necessary context of the event, its political and military circumstances, scrupulously reconstructing the Japanese attack from its conception to its execution, but without omitting the human drama at its core. Illustrated with 253 spectacular photographs, his thrilling account of the date which would live in infamy examines the technical details of ships and aircraft involved on both sides, outlines the reasons for the American failure to defend Pearl Harbor, and analyzes the attack’s aftermath and consequences, dispelling a few popular myths along the way. The author’s immense knowledge on the topic and his peerless attention to detail come together to create a comprehensive, accurate, and thoroughly researched book on one of the most dramatic moments of World War II.