Seager begins by contextualizing pre-WWII British sentiment towards Germany, from viewing the treaty of Versailles as ineffective, to idealizing Germany as a potential bulwark against Bolshevism. He argues this led to early victories for Hitler and restrained Britain’s power, until the invasion of France changed the war to a fight for British survival. Seager’s narrative is captivating in large part because he doesn’t shy away from strong critiques of British and French leadership—including his assertion that Chamberlain (and Churchill, to some extent) advocated for a wait-and-see policy based on the false assumption that French troops would never fall to a German invasion.
Readers will clearly grasp the reasoning behind Chamberlain’s actions, even as Seager denounces many of his decisions—though the narrative hints that Britain’s options were limited, at best, to avoid war or constrain Germany, particularly after what Seager calls the “sinister farce” that took place at Munich. The overriding message to learn from the mistakes of the past—and carefully consider alternatives to war—is clear throughout. Seager includes an index and bibliography in the backmatter for clarification and further research, but readers will want to be familiar with the subtleties of World War II before jumping in.
Takeaway: A thought-provoking examination of Chamberlain’s role in World War II.
Comparable Titles: Adrian Phillips’s Fighting Churchill, Appeasing Hitler, Tim Bouverie’s Appeasement.
Production grades
Cover: B
Design and typography: N/A
Illustrations: N/A
Editing: A
Marketing copy: A
