Crucible of Hell: Okinawa: the Last Great Battle of the Second World War (Paperback)

'Gripping, even gruesome, yet deeply moving, Crucible of Hell sweeps us masterfully from a coral charnel house in the Pacific to the mushroom cloud over Hiroshima.' - David Reynolds, author of Island Stories

'Excellent. Saul David's gripping narrative is admirably clear' - Antony Beevor

'Vivid and deeply moving, Crucible of Hell paints a rich portrait of one of the most horrific battles in modern memory. David masterfully evokes the desperation and courage of soldiers, civilians, and commanders on both sides, constantly switching perspectives to capture the deep story of Okinawa's horror. Hard to put down, harder to forget.' - Stephan Talty, author of Saving Bravo: The Greatest Rescue Mission in Navy SEAL History

'A superb soldier's-eye history of Okinawa, the Second World War's ghastliest battle ... The meticulousness of his research really starts to display itself ... A highly readable and informative book that often reads like a screenplay, but depicts suffering that was all too real ... [David] is peerless now among our military historians' - The Daily Telegraph

'David restores a human dimension to this battle - both sides are brave, stoic, frightened, barbaric and occasionally cowardly. This is narrative history at its most visceral as battles unfold almost in real time ... A gripping reconstruction of the action' - The Times

'Graphic and compelling ... Written with style and verve ... David brings the ghastly mayhem of war to life in a vivid way' - The Literary Review

'Superbly researched, well-written ... Reminds us that the defining characteristic of war is the mass destruction of individuals, both physically and psychologically' - The Spectator

'Brilliant ... harrowing. The attention to detail is exemplary: we see the conflict from just about every angle' - Keith Lowe, BBC History Magazine