Guadalcanal, in Three Volumes: Starvation Island; The Carrier Battles - The Pivotal Aircraft Carrier Battles of the Eastern Solomons and Santa Cruz, August - October, 1942; Decision at Sea: The Naval Battle of Guadalcanal, November 13-15-1942

xxxi, [1], 478; viii, [12], 505, [3]; xv, [3], 430 pp. 8vo. Complete in three hardcover volumes. Includes: Starvation Island; The Carrier Battles; Decision at Sea. Volume 1: Starvation Island "follows the men and commanders of this WWII campaign in an integrated, brilliantly told narrative of the desperate struggle at sea, on land, and in the air." "Volume 2 of Hammel's Guadalcanal trilogy is even better than his previous book ( Guadalcanal: Starvation Island ). While that work focused on a land battle, this one concentrates on the desperate air-sea battle of the Eastern Solomons and Santa Cruz islands. There have only been five carrier versus carrier battles in naval history; Coral Sea, Midway, and the Marianas have been criticized and analyzed many times. The battles treated here have until now been neglected. Hammel begins his study with a useful discussion of the development of U.S. and Japanese carriers, aircraft, pilot training, weapons, etc. Hammel does not write dry history. His battle sequences are masterfully portrayed. Essential for World War II collections, along with volume 1." - Library Journal; Volume 3: "Details the Naval Battle of Guadalcanal in November of 1942, a crucial step toward America's victory over the Japanese during WWII. Blends detailed historical records with personal accounts of many of the officers and enlisted men involved, creating an engrossing narrative of the strategy and struggle as seen by both sides. Includes major new insights into the battles, including an account of the American forces' failure to effectively use their radar advantage."