June 1941: Hitler and Stalin by John Lukacs


PRESENTATION COPY INSCRIBED AND SIGNED BY THE AUTHOR ON THE FRONT FREE END PAPER THUS: "For Philip and Marjorie, with all of the affection I can muster, John Lukacs."; Yale University Press 2006 1st ed/1st printing, 169pp., text generally in decent order, very slight creasing to the left hand edge of page 90, very slight staining to the page extremities at the right hand side & bottom (+ very slight scuffing/rubbing in the case of the latter), very slight rubbing to top, bottom & sides of boards & spine, both boards & spine slightly faded at the top & bottom, the dust jacket has slight shelf wear with a number of marks & scratches on front & rear



This brilliant new work by the author of the best-selling Five Days in London, May 1940 is an unparalleled drama of two great leaders confronting each other in June 1941. It describes Hitler and Stalin’s strange, calculating, and miscalculating relationship before the German invasion of Soviet Russia, with its gigantic (and unintended) consequences. John Lukacs questions many long-held beliefs; he suggests, for example, that among other things Hitler’s first purpose involved England: if Stalin’s Communist Russia were to be defeated, Hitler’s Third Reich would be well-nigh invincible, and the British and American peoples would be forced to rethink the war against Hitler. The book offers penetrating insights and a new portrait of Hitler and Stalin, moved by their long-lasting inclinations. Yet among other things, Lukacs presents evidence that Hitler (rather than his generals) had moments of dark foreboding before the invasion. Stalin could not, because he wished not, believe that Hitler would choose the risk of a two-front war by attacking him; he was stunned and shocked and came close to a breakdown. But he recovered, grew into a statesman, and eventually became a prime victor of the Second World War. Such are the ironies of history; John Lukacs paints them with a shining narrative skill.

John Adalbert Lukacs (31 January 1924 – 6 May 2019) was a renowned Hungarian-born American historian who wrote more than 30 books, including Five Days in London, May 1940 and A New Republic. He was a professor of history at Chestnut Hill College in Philadelphia from 1947 to 1994 and chaired that department from 1947 to 1974. He served as a visiting professor at Johns Hopkins University, Columbia University, Princeton University, La Salle University, Regent College in British Columbia and the University of Budapest and Hanover College. Lukacs was Roman Catholic. Lukacs described himself as a reactionary.


Will ship by Royal Mail 1st Class Signed for, well packaged.

(£5.39/mil)