This is the definitive narrative history of the people, politics, and events of the Second World War - the epic conflict that shaped the modern world.

From the build-up to the fighting, through to the reverberations still felt in the aftermath, this is a compelling, accessible, and immediate history of the war, perhaps the most complex, frightening, and destructive event in world history.

Discover how deep-seated local fears and hatreds escalated into one vast global conflict that was fought out to the bitter end - from the rise of Hitler and the Nazi party to Pearl Harbor, the D-Day landings, and Hiroshima. And find out how key battles, political and economic forces, individual leaders, and technological advances influenced the course of the war.

Packed with images, including rarely seen images and unforgettable first-person accounts, A Short History of World War II is a uniquely accessible account of history’s most devastating conflict.