"The New Yorker Book of War Pieces"

Before I begin my review of this remarkable book, let me just say that I feel the New Yorker is the finest magazine published in the English language. And has been since 1925. There. That said, this book gives one an incredible glimpse into the world of the Second World War, as experienced by the people who lived through it. Ordinary citizens, soldiers, and journalists. And the stories, while reported chronologically, cover the entire globe. The writing, as you'd expect from writers like A.J. Liebling, Rebecca West, Brendan Gill, and Phillip Hamburger is first rate. You feel you're right there in the thick of the action with them. It's one of those books you just don't want to end.