Includes bibliographical references (p. 417-437) and index.

For novelist and historian Groom, 1942, the year the United States became fully involved in World War II, was the defining year in a war that defined the 20th century. In this popular history written for a general American audience, he describes the political and military experiences of that year as seen from the perspective of the US and, to a lesser extent, their British allies. His narrative provides both a broad overview of the war in that year, as well as many anecdotes ranging from the meetings of top generals and politicians to the experiences of soldiers on the field.