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Challenge for the Pacific
- Guadalcanal: The Turning Point of the War
- Narrated by: Kevin Foley
- Length: 13 hrs and 32 mins
- Unabridged Audiobook
- Categories: Biographies & Memoirs, Military & War
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Publisher's Summary
From the Japanese soldiers' carefully calculated - and ultimately foiled - attempt to build a series of impregnable island forts on the ground to the tireless efforts of the Americans who struggled against a tenacious adversary and the temperature and terrain of the island itself, Robert Leckie captures the loneliness, the agony, and the heat of 24-hour-a-day fighting on Guadalcanal.
Combatants from both sides are brought to life: General Archer Vandegrift, who first assembled an amphibious strike force; Isoruku Yamamoto, the naval general whose innovative strategy was tested; the island-born Allied scout Jacob Vouza, who survived hideous torture to uncover the enemy's plans; and Saburo Sakai, the ace flier who shot down American planes with astonishing ease.
Propelling the Allies to eventual victory, Guadalcanal was truly the turning point of the war. Challenge for the Pacific is an unparalleled, authoritative account of this great fight that forever changed our world.
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Average Customer RatingsReviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
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- Randall
- 01-03-18
Too much like a text book
This is my second Robert Leckie book. I enjoyed Strong Men Armed, but this book was too much like a text book. Although it had all the facts, dates and names, and was very informative, it was a dry reading. I think there are much better Guadalcanal books available. Neptune's Inferno, by James D. Hornfischer, or Hell in the Pacific, by Jim McEnery. Another Great book (from the Japanese perspective) is Japanese Destroyer Captain, by Tameichi Nishii.
They were both entertaining and informative.
104 people found this helpful
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- Daniel
- 09-27-14
An objective, but human description of Guadalcanal
Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?
I read Leckie's "Helmet for My Pillow," a very personal account of his experience on Guadalcanal, and was interested in his more formal writing. Leckie was a sportswriter before entering the Marines, and he seems to have found his life's work in writing about war. "Helmet" is all foreground, a careening memoir of goldbricking, insubordination, miserable conditions, bacchanalia while on leave in Australia, and occasional valor. Chance and boredom and resentment of authority are mixed with fear and heroism.
"Challenge for the Pacific" has a human thread throughout, giving life to the cultures -- American, native, and Japanese -- that collided on the island, but it also provides historical context and the arc of battle. It is well-organized, researched, and written. Leckie tells an objective story here, but one remembers that he was there when he describes the emotions of the Marines when they finally left the island, a small moment that no ordinary historian could have captured.
I want to read more of Leckie.
16 people found this helpful
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- Greg
- 05-28-21
Very well narrated.
This book should be required reading for American schools to remind kids what these young men, not much older than they are went through and the sacrifices they made to fight for our freedom from tyrannical leaders. They should know these young men carried the scars from the battles for the rest of their lives. they could never forget the horrors they saw.
1 person found this helpful
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- Jan Gareau
- 02-24-21
Awesome Freaking Awesome I love the story
This story of the Marines was incredible. Their heroic struggle to say the island was incredible.
1 person found this helpful
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- Del M. Hanson
- 10-28-20
Always A Pleasure
I first discovered Robert Leckie in 1965 when I found “A Helmet For My Pillow” on a paperback rack. I’ve reread it twice, and watched “The Pacific” twice as well, which had led me to his historical writing.
He presents the history of the battle for Guadalcanal from a very personal point of view, which makes the book an extremely interesting read.
1 person found this helpful
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- David L. Gagnon
- 06-12-20
Well written historical book.
If I were a Japanese person I would would be offended at his imitation the Japanese voice. I like Robert Leckie’s character from the “Pacific” series and did enjoy his vast knowledge of American and Japanese interest histories of Guadalcanal, the Senseless dying of Japanese soldiers for the emperor was absolutely disgusting.
1 person found this helpful
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- Christopher Pritchard
- 01-09-15
Every American should hear this.
I have listened to this six times. What a book, full of real history plus real characters. Full of excitement and suspense.
9 people found this helpful
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- Ray
- 04-28-12
Puts you in the action
This telling of the Guadalcanal story captures the desperation and valor of this critical campaign. The story flows like a novel, and unlike many history books, it really draws you into the story.
What made this story significant to me is the family connection. My father served with the 1st Marine Division on Guadalcanal and I recall him speaking of being abandoned on that island. He was seriously injured during Japanese shelling and evacuated to New Zealand. This book puts all this into context for me.
I previously listened to “Neptune’s Inferno“ which covers the naval battles of the Guadalcanal campaign. That book is an excellent follow up reading as there is little overlap, but they are closely linked nonetheless.
10 people found this helpful
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- Kekistani Sailor
- 03-06-12
Listening to this book puts you in the action...
First rate description from one of our Marine heroes who actually fought on that Island as a front-line infantryman. Very enjoyable and well written. Kudos to the skillful narration too!
9 people found this helpful
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- brendan j mackey
- 07-16-21
one of Robert Leckies best
once I started listening I couldn't stop.
will definitely be listening to it again and again