In his introduction, John Keegan discusses Churchill's historical methods and the extraordinary achievement of The Second World War. This volume also includes appendices, an index, maps and diagrams.

Winston Churchill's six-volume history of the cataclysm that swept the world remains the definitive history of the Second World War. Lucid, dramatic, remarkable both for its breadth and sweep and for its sense of personal involvement, it is universally acknowledged as a magnificent reconstruction and is an enduring, compelling work that led to his being awarded the Nobel Prize for Literature. Closing the Ring chronicles the period between June 1943 and July 1944 as the Allies consolidated their gains towards a drive to victory: the fall of Mussolini, Hitler's 'secret weapon', the mounting air offensive on Germany, strategies to defeat Japan and the plans for D Day.

BOOK I

THE ONSLAUGHT OF JAPAN

AUSTRALASIAN ANXIETIES.

THE SETBACK IN THE DESERT

PENALTIES IN MALAYA

A VOTE OR CONHDENCE

CABINET CHANGES

THE FALL OF SINGAPORE

THE U-BOAT PARADISE

THE LOSS OF THE DUTCH EAST INDIES

THE INVASION OF BURMA

CEYLON AND THE BAY OF BENGAL

THE SHIPPING STRANGLEIHOLD

INDIA: THE CRIPPS MISSION

MADAGASCAR

AMERICAN NAVAL VICTORIES. THE CORAL SEA AND MIDWAY ISLAND

THE ARCTIC CONVOYS

THE OFFENSIVE IN THE ATIIER

MALTA AND TIIE DESERT

"SECOND FRONT NOW!"

THE MOLOTOV VISIT

STRATEGIC NATURAL SELECTION

R.OMMEL ATTACKS.

MY SECOND VISIT TO WASHINGTON

THE VOTE OF CENSURE

BOOK II

AFRICA REDEEMED

THE EICHTH ARMY AT BAY

DECISION FOR "ToRcH"

MY JOURNEY TO CAIRO. CHANGES IN COMMAND

Moscow: THE FIRST MEETING

MOSCOW: A RELATIONSHIP ESTABLISHED

RETURN TO CAIRO

THE FINAL SHAPING OF "TORCH"

SUSPENSE AND STRAIN

SOVIET "THANK YOU"

THE BATTLE UP ALAMEIN

THE TORCH IS LIT

THE DARLAN EPISODE

PROBLEMS OF VICTORY

OUR NEED TO MEET

THE CASABLANCA CONFERENCE

ADANA AND TRIPOLI

HOME TO TROUBLE

RUSSIA AND THE WESTERN ALLIES

VICTORY IN TUNIS

MY THIRD VISIT TO WASHINGTON

PROBLEMS OF WAR AND PEACE

ITALY THE GOAL

INDEX