Craig Philips

Excellent, grappling with aspects of end of empire that tend to fall through the cracks' -AL MURRAYAs the fate of the world is decided, so too is that of the British, Dutch and French empires. In India a generation committed to independence must decide whether to support 'the Raj' or fight alongside the Japanese. One military family is bitterly divided. Will it be the brother who fights under British command, or the one who follows Subhas Chandra Bose and his Indian National Army, who goes on to help build a new and free Indi? n Borneo a little known Australian special forces campaign - secretly controlled from London - goes horribly wrong as questions are asked about whether its true purpose is military or imperial. And in Indochina and the East Indies British Generals free and arm Japanese prisoners of war and use them in savage campaigns that aim to put colonial rulers back into their palaces. Clearing away the haze of nostalgia, many uncomfortable truths emerge - challenging our view of what victory in the Second World War truly meant.

'I love how Phil Craig gave me perspectives on the Second World War that I had never accessed before, and the personal stories bring colonial history to life so engagingly. This book is a triumph.'Jane Caro'An ambitious project impressively navigated with great storytelling, interweaving analysis and anecdote in a documentary style. Dunkirk, Lend Lease, Singapore, Belsen, the Arctic convoys, Chandra Bose, etc, are all connected but few historians rise to the challenge - or perhaps wish to stray far from 'favourite memories.' Chris Masters 'A riveting new account of a forgotten, if not hidden, history in the final months of the second world war. As all the best histories should, it reveals aspects of our national war-time story that have been overlooked for many years. For its new perspective, grounded in deep research. Australian readers will be alternately enthralled and enraged by 1945 The Reckoning at the naked exercise of imperial and commercial power in our region that Phil reveals, in the final months of a war we were told was for liberation and self determination.'Prof Jenny Hocking, Emeritus Prof Monash University. 'Engrossing, good natured and perceptive...His style is conversational, like a popular podcaster, but never glib or shrill. His judgments are often understated but shrewd...Craig's fashionably inclusive approach does not exclude conservative, collaborationist voices. Instead, the author seeks to understand them within their particular social and historical context. A solid and measured history in which Craig tells big stories through poignant images.'Mark Dapin, The Australian'It's an epic canvas, ambitious, in some ways even Tolstoy-esque. Along the way Craig incorporates the tales of ordinary people - such as a very astute English nurse - caught up in extraordinary times. On both the narrative and thematic level this is skilfully told history for the general reader.' The Sydney Morning Herald'Craig's vision is as global as was the war. His kaleidoscopic approach combines viewpoints from various theatres of war: for a few pages we are immersed in Burma, then we are teleported to Borneo, Singapore and, as the conflict spreads, Tokyo, London, Yalta and Formosa... He traces historical patterns by threading individual stories into a coherent and satisfying narrative, and he brings one other great gift to his task, a gift honed in his TV incarnation - a highly developed visual sensibility. It is easy to imagine this book being turned into a box-office triumph. As a parting gift to curious readers, the closing pages reveal the personal connection that explains why Craig was prompted to tell this epic story, with all its subplots. But no spoilers here... buy the book!' Ken Haley, Inside Story 'An unrelenting account of terror; example follows example of brutality and barbarity. There are accounts of battles; of bodies blown to bits; of atrocities and wanton killing committed by both sides - decapitation, head-hunting and the Allies paying for it. Yet in his account of these events, Phil Craig pays particular attention to the kindness, charity and humanity of his protagonists and others who occur along the way.' Braham Dabscheck, New Town Review of Books