A dispassionate look at war worth fighting through

Moral Combat: A History of World War II

MICHAEL BURLEIGH is a fine historian and writer. His analysis of World War II and its multiple aspects is generally outstanding. His prose is typically clear and accessible, with his The Third Reich: A New History setting a new standard. This, however, falls short of that standard.

War histories are 10-a-penny, so finding a new niche or aspect is an achievement all in itself. Burleigh, to his credit, has often done this, and Moral Combat is no exception.