1942

“A notable achievement, for Fritzsche restores the humanity of diverse multitudes subjected to the war’s erasure and fascism’s effort to obliterate the very ‘idea of individuality.’”–New York Times Book Review
“Fritzsche succeeds in portraying 1942 as a critical inflection point in the history of the 20th century.”–Washington Free Beacon
“This sweeping narrative of the Second World War has plenty to offer. With its strong prose and compelling structure, this is a book many people will enjoy.” –Orange Blossom Ordinary
“It is no exaggeration to say 1942 is his masterpiece…1942 is the perfect kind of history, engrossing and well told with lessons for us today.”–Air Mail
“A haunting, panoramic account…This work will resonate with historians, political analysts, and anyone seeking a deeper understanding of how war reshapes society far beyond the battlefield.”–Booklist
“Fritzsche’s rich commentary blends political narratives with discussions of popular culture, from Nazi propaganda to Dr. Seuss’s anti-Japanese political cartoons. The result is an elegant and expansive analysis of the cultural life of total war.”–Publishers Weekly
“An admirable and useful addition to the history of World War II.”–Kirkus
“Simply magnificent. A remarkable rethinking of the upheavals across the planet in a key year of World War II, 1942 is bold in conception, rich in detail, and a riveting read.”–Sheila Fitzpatrick, author of The Shortest History of the Soviet Union
“1942 is the rare book that explores World War II as a really global war, significantly affecting countries remote from the theaters of action. The writing is crisp, elegant, and utterly gripping.”–Prasenjit Duara, Duke University
“An unparalleled time of displacement and desolation, wartime 1942 literally transformed the human condition. Ranging across the globe, Fritzsche’s haunting panorama of expanding violence illuminates this convulsive year with characteristic erudition and analytical power.”–Ira Katznelson, author of Fear Itself
“Most histories of World War II are written with an outcome that everyone knows. But what if the clock were stopped in the midst of a global war? Peter Fritzsche has done just that, offering an intriguing perspective on a world at war. This panoramic narrative reminds us that nothing in history is inevitable.”–Richard Overy, New York Times-bestselling author of Blood and Ruins
“With his keen eye for lived experience and his expertise as a historian, Fritzsche has written a highly readable, sharply observed, and stunningly perceptive history of life and death in 1942.”–Michael Geyer, University of Chicago

Peter Fritzsche is the W. D. & Sarah E. Trowbridge Professor of History at the University of Illinois and the author of eleven previous books, including Hitler’s First Hundred Days and the award-winning Life and Death in the Third Reich. He lives in Urbana, Illinois.

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