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Guadalcanal Diary: 2nd Edition
Book #55 in the
U.S. Landmark Books Series
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Book Overview
history U.S.A. $14.95
Canada $22.50
This celebrated classic gives a soldier's-eye-view of the Guadalcanal battles--crucial to World War I, the war that continues to fascinate us all, and to military history in general. Unlike some of those on Guadalcanal in the fall of 1942, Richard Tregaskis volunteered to be there. An on-location news correspondent (at the time, one of only two on Guadalcanal), he lived alongside the soldiers: sleeping on the ground--only to be awoken by air raids--eating the sometimes meager rations, and braving some of the most dangerous battlefields of World War I. He more than once narrowly escaped the enemy's fire, and so we have this incisive and exciting inside account of the groundbreaking initial landing of U.S. troops on Guadalcanal.
With a new Introduction by Mark Bowden--renowned journalist and author of Black Hawk Down--this edition of Guadalcanal Diary makes available once more one of the most important American works of the war.
Frequently Asked Questions About Guadalcanal Diary: 2nd Edition
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How long does it take to read Guadalcanal Diary: 2nd Edition?
It takes about 5 Hours and 34 minutes on average for a reader to read Guadalcanal Diary: 2nd Edition. This is based on the average reading speed of 250 Words per minute.
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What is the reading level for Guadalcanal Diary: 2nd Edition?
The recommended reading level for Guadalcanal Diary: 2nd Edition is College Freshman and Up .
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How long is Guadalcanal Diary: 2nd Edition?
Guadalcanal Diary: 2nd Edition is 272 pages long.
- Who wrote Guadalcanal Diary: 2nd Edition?
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Which number is Guadalcanal Diary: 2nd Edition in the U.S. Landmark Books series?
Guadalcanal Diary: 2nd Edition is book #55 in the U.S. Landmark Books Book Series and comes after and comes before
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Book Reviews (13)
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Read even if you know Guadalcanal well...
Derived From Web , Jun 2, 2022
After reading Invasion Diary, I picked this up immediately. It did not fall back, although it chronologically let me down before his Invasion Diary - work. I had always passed this book, having read numerous accounts of Guadalcanal and knowing the events by heart, thinking there was nothing else to know. Well, this book is indeed the same events we know like the back of our hand, but is told in a way that brings it all home fresh ; it is written with skill. Of course, I am impressed with Tregaskis for how he ignored the danger to capture the story, but I think I'm more impressed with his skill in translating the events around him into something that comes alive. I wish I had read this years ago.
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Solomon Islands
Derived From Web , Jun 2, 2022
My father fought in the Solomons... Reading this account and...... I had no idea of the hardships that soldiers went through there........... no food, very little potable water, disease, dense jungle... besides having to fight he Japanese...... a dark time for America's military with all the support given to the European theater.
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Of all the others…
Derived From Web , Jul 18, 2021
Of all the books of this problematic series, this was, for me at best, difficult to read. I can appreciate where it comes from patriotically and perhaps its journalistic merits are primarily difficult to ascribe. The process of finishing it was a struggle. At the same time, my sensibilities towards Japanese aggression have not changed, my perspectives on FDR's personal and political goals for America's involvement in Asia before and post WII have changed markedly over time, so that it is not surprising that both the writing and fighting depicted are jingoistic. Of all the works in this series on the war, this expanded my horizons in no way comparable to my appreciation of the others.
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No
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Gritty account of the violence and heroism on Guadalcanal
Derived From Web , May 14, 2021
Dick Tregaskis writes an exciting and eye-witness account of this campaign. Having the guts to spend time with the Marines by landing very soon after the first wave, he takes the reader through seven weeks of the most pivotal and one of the most violent fights in the Marine Corps history. Tregaskis saw it all, the violence and the human side of it, and describes the wounded and dead as well as the humor that men used to prevent them from going crazy. He talks personally about it, saying that War takes on a very personal flavor when other men fire at you, and you feel little compassion at seeing them killed. He also discussed how lopsided a victory the fierce battle of the Tenaru River was-871 jackaps dead to 27 marines.
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Real war action.
Derived From Web , Apr 9, 2019
From the perspective of an American soldier, great history of the Pacific theater of WWII. No holds barred, it was real blood and guts, but a well-written piece of work at the same time.
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Guadacanal Diary, Battlecry !!!!
Derived From Web , Oct 29, 2018
An excellent account of the sea fighting and ground fighting in the Solomon Islands during WWII and the men who fought these battles.
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Great read by one of the best.
Derived From Web , Oct 23, 2018
This book tells the story of the men who fought the battle that was considered the turning point of the war in the Pacific. Unlike many books of this genre, good politics are absent and we are the negative guys. It is nice to read a story about brave men written by a man who was there.
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Excellent Narrative
Derived From Web , Sep 27, 2018
The author brings back a historical event that too few of us know and the sacrifice made by the USMC who gave it all.
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Battle Stories
Derived From Web , Mar 4, 2018
I really enjoyed reading this book, I have always been a fan of World War II history and enjoyed the writing of this author, I am learning more about this time, in the Pacific. I would recommend this book to anyone looking to learn more about this period of time.
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Important first hand in sight, but only a fair read.
Derived From Web , Aug 2, 2017
As a military youngster, I was always eager for war stories, a topic that my father religiously avoided. After finally retiring from the Navy in recent years, I have begun to study the Pacific War and now understand why. The book is a terse, newspaper account of the first few months of the action on Guadalcanal. While excellent journalism by a commentator who was actually there sharing foxholes with the Marines, it is a bit dry and suffers from the lack of real intelligence, which 50 years of revelation have provided. Even actions reported by the author, such as the night bombardment of the Henderso field by two Japanese battleships, is just well. It must have been terrifying, but we don 't get that sense. This book is an important part of the historical record, but not as complete as others, nor very exciting.
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