Review by Choice Review
As did the chroniclers of old, Catchpole tells the heroic deeds of the European and American men who fought in Korea from 1950 to 1953. What distinguishes this volume from the many other histories of the Korean War is the author's focus on the British Commonwealth units. As often as not, the Americans appear only to drop napalm on their allies, shell them, or shoot down Commonwealth planes. Although the action of this book takes place in Korea, the topography has been transformed by English names such as the Hook, Heartbreak Ridge, Pork Chop, and White Horse Hill. Korean military units play little part in the battles narrated here, and Korean refugees are nearly always associated with security breaches. Because the author offers so few references to primary sources, it is not readily apparent whether he has used any previously unpublished materials. The scholarly authority of the book is further undermined by numerous spelling errors. In short, this book, a one-sided history of war in its narrowest sense, is in no sense a history of Korea. S. A. Hastings Purdue University
Copyright American Library Association, used with permission.
Review by Booklist Review
This latest Korean War commemorative tome is a valuable one-volume overview of the whole conflict, from the initial division of Korea into occupation zones that in due course became separate countries, to the postwar consequences for Korea, the U.S., Japan, and Britain. Into the narrative of comparatively familiar events Catchpole mixes better-than-average coverage of non-U.S. contributions to the fray, of the Korean War's role in initiating Japan's postwar recovery, and of the normalization of Japanese-American relations, as well as of the stalemate period of the fighting, from mid-1951 on. Catchpole has no use for Syngman Rhee and, if possible, even less use for Douglas MacArthur. He is partial to Harry Truman, but he rejects propagandistic extremes and incorporates the latest research on the ambiguous Russian and Chinese attitudes toward the whole affair. Even for a small Korean War collection, this book deserves serious consideration. --Roland Green
From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Review by Publisher's Weekly Review
A 34-year veteran of the British Continental Army who retired a lt. colonel in 1987, Catchpole has published map histories of the U.S., China and Russia, as well as the sweeping study Clash of Cultures. This single-volume account covers the conflict from North Korea's early victories and attempts to penetrate the Pusan defense line and MacArthur's amphibious assault at Inchon, which reversed the tide of the war, drawing in the Chinese People's Liberation Army, all the way up to the 10-minute Battle in the Yellow Sea just two years ago. Writing from the British perspective, Catchpole naturally highlights British involvement in this unpopular war, which was the first to take place under United Nations auspices. That perspective makes for a fresh take on events like MacArthur's decision to move to the Chinese border in late 1950. Under Americans commanders throughout the war, British troops suffered the second highest number of casualties of the UN nations. Chapters encompass naval and air warfare, and contributions of Canadian, New Zealand and Australian troops, and examine the effect of the war on the home fronts. Scrutiny of UN covert operations, prisoner of war problems, the positive effects of the war on Japan and consequences for the rest of the Far East round things out. The British amateur historian's-eye view of things is likely to appeal only to those who have exhausted U.S.-focused accounts. Maps not seen by PW. (Oct. 30) (c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved
(c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved
Review by Library Journal Review
For the 50th anniversary of the Korean War (1950-53), retired British Army veteran Catchpole has produced a well-balanced, succinct history of the first war fought by the United Nations against an aggressor state. This trim volume adequately covers the politics, diplomacy, wartime operations, and aftermath of an undeclared war that still has no peace treaty. The author's research is solid and his narrative lively, providing vivid anecdotal insight into the prelude to war, the ground combat, the surprise Chinese intervention, naval and air warfare, prisoners of war, propaganda, public opinion, and little-known aspects of partisan warfare and covert operations. New scholarship includes recently unclassified Chinese and Russian source material. Catchpole clearly reveals the contentious relationship between General MacArthur and President Truman and is accurately critical of MacArthur and other high-ranking U.S. Army officers for their arrogance and lack of tactical and strategic foresight. There are strong references to British and Commonwealth contributions to the UN effort. This excellent one-volume history is highly recommended for public and academic libraries. (Maps not seen.)DCol. William D. Bushnell, USMC (ret.), Sebascodegan Island, ME (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
(c) Copyright Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Review by Kirkus Book Review
A history of the strategies, operations, and tactics of the Korean War, timed to coincide with that conflict's 50th anniversary. Fifty years after the outbreak of the war, publishers and television producers are inundating the public with accounts of the conflict. Standing apart from these opportunistic offerings is British historian Catchpole's (Clash of Cultures, not reviewed) impressively researched new account. A career officer in the British army, Catchpole successfully combines his professional military insight and keen historical awareness to untangle the Korean War's complex mix of modern warfare and Cold War politics. Many historians successfully describe the dramatic opening of the war by focusing on the initial lack of US combat readiness, General MacArthur's brilliant amphibious landings at Inchon, the resultant UN offensive that almost drove the North Korean forces out of the country, and China's entry into the conflict. As the war stabilized into entrenched mountain warfare and the UN commitment in Korea dramatically increased, however, these same historians often got lost in the conflict's shift from military to political objectives. Catchpole avoids this pitfall in two ways: first, he incorporates new material from the recently opened Russian and Chinese archives into his book; and second, he includes several excellent chapters detailing British and Commonwealth service in the conflict. This new material transforms the traditionally messy narrative about the war's end into a coherent story of international cooperation and bravery in the face of communist aggression. The result is a balanced and accessible history that sheds new light on a complicated war. A practical introduction to the Korean War, particularly useful for readers interested in British military contributions to the conflict. (maps and diagrams throughout) Copyright ©Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Review by Choice Review
Review by Booklist Review
Review by Publisher's Weekly Review
Review by Library Journal Review
Review by Kirkus Book Review
