IN THE RUINS OF EMPIRE The Japanese Surrender and the Battle for Postwar Asia

The fighting wasn't over when the Japanese surrendered at the end of WWII. Spector traces the links between the fall of the Japanese Empire and the rise of communism in China, Korea, and Vietnam, and change throughout Asia. Michael Prichard reads like an old-time radio announcer, hitting home Spector's points in a clear voice. Even so, the narrative gets bogged down in detail at times, making for a challenging listening experience. Spector wraps up his account by applying the lessons of post-WWII Asia to the current Iraq situation. Overall, the production is interesting and presented well; still, listeners should be prepared for some serious historical study. J.A.S. © AudioFile 2008, Portland, Maine [Published: FEB/ MAR 08]