Despite the volumes written about World War II, many questions remain un-answered. In this balanced and thoughtful chronicle, historian and World War II expert Len Deighton dares to explore intriguing questions, including why the British weren't more prepared for the Blitz and why Hitler failed to thoroughly support his U-boat program. He also warns that we haven't yet learned the lessons of World War II, as ethnic cleansing, Middle East violence, and the widening gap between rich and poor still plague the world.

Len Deighton is the author of more than thirty books of fiction and nonfiction, including the classic novels The Ipcress File and Funeral in Berlin, as well as his internationally acclaimed histories of World War II. Born in London, he served in the RAF before graduating from the Royal College of Art, which later elected him a Senior Fellow. While he has lived in many different places, at present he is living in Europe.