Skies of Thunder

The deadly World War II mission over the roof of the world

Caroline Alexander

$55

Hardback

Forthcoming
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English

Bonnier Books Ltd
20 May 2025

True stories of heroism, endurance & survival; Military history; Second World War

'Riveting' - The New York Times

THE LITTLE-KNOWN STORY OF THE ALLIES' FIGHT IN WWII'S CHAOTIC AND LETHAL CHINA BURMA-INDIA THEATER.

In April 1942, the Imperial Japanese Army captured Burma, closing the only ground route from India to China. Supplies now had to be flown over the foothills of the treacherous Himalayas, on the most dangerous air route in the world.

Delving into memoirs, diaries, and official records, Caroline Alexander tells the story of the airmen who braved this perilous journey, flying unreliable aircraft through monsoons and enemy fire, with primitive navigation tools. The result is a litany of both deadly crashes and astonishing feats of survival.

Highlighting the efforts of units like the Chindits and Merrill's Marauders, and examining the political tensions between Roosevelt, Churchill, and Chiang Kai-shek, this book also exposes the fractures between the Allies and the impact of their decisions on post-war relations.

By: Caroline Alexander
Imprint: Bonnier Books Ltd
Country of Publication: United Kingdom
Dimensions: Height: 240mm, Width: 162mm, Spine: 43mm
Weight: 742g
ISBN: 9781804189870
ISBN 10: 1804189871
Pages: 496
Publication Date: 20 May 2025
Audience: General/trade , ELT Advanced
Format: Hardback
Publisher's Status: Forthcoming

CAROLINE ALEXANDER is the The New York Times bestselling author of The Endurance, The Bounty and other acclaimed works of non-fiction, as well as a new translation of Homer's Iliad. She read Philosophy and Theology at Oxford University as a Rhodes scholar and has a doctorate in classics from Columbia University. Her work has appeared in The New Yorker, Granta, and National Geographic among other publications.

Reviews for Skies of Thunder: The deadly World War II mission over the roof of the world

'Riveting' * The New York Times * 'A clear and engaging narrative ... A thorough, but never dull, history for the reader curious about the reality of World War II' * The New York Journal of Books * 'Well-detailed and engagingly told' * The Wall Street Journal * 'A thrilling aviation adventure that also casts an assured historical lens on a lesser-known arena of WWII diplomacy, this is sure to enrapture readers' * Publishers Weekly (starred review) * 'Readers interested in the China-Burma-India Theater of World War II and Asian history will enjoy Alexander's detailed and beautifully written account' * Library Journal (starred review) *