In this book William Henry Chamberlin offers his perspective as a seasoned journalist on the United States' involvement in World War II. Written only five years after the unconditional surrender of Germany and Japan, the book is a window into its time. The book focuses on the precursors to World War II and the war's aftermath, rather than on the events of the war itself. Chamberlin begins with an analysis of World War I and its consequences and describes the factors that led to the outbreak of war in Europe during the 1930s. He then turns to World War II and presents his opinions on the conflict at home regarding direct U.S. engagement in the war. He details the events and diplomatic decisions that eventually led to the U.S. entrance into the Atlantic and Pacific conflicts The last third of the book describes the uneasy alliance between the Soviet Union and the United States and England during the war and the disquieting consequences of the partitioning of land after the war. Chamberlin is critical of the concessions made to the Soviet Union and laments what he sees as lost opportunities to curtail Soviet power. --from back cover.