Preview
  • Challenge for the Pacific

  • Guadalcanal: The Turning Point of the War
  • By: Robert Leckie
  • Narrated by: Kevin Foley
  • Length: 13 hrs and 32 mins
  • 4.6 out of 5 stars (193 ratings)

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Challenge for the Pacific

By: Robert Leckie
Narrated by: Kevin Foley
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Publisher's summary

From the Japanese soldiers' carefully calculated - and ultimately foiled - attempt to build a series of impregnable island forts on the ground to the tireless efforts of the Americans who struggled against a tenacious adversary and the temperature and terrain of the island itself, Robert Leckie captures the loneliness, the agony, and the heat of 24-hour-a-day fighting on Guadalcanal.

Combatants from both sides are brought to life: General Archer Vandegrift, who first assembled an amphibious strike force; Isoruku Yamamoto, the naval general whose innovative strategy was tested; the island-born Allied scout Jacob Vouza, who survived hideous torture to uncover the enemy's plans; and Saburo Sakai, the ace flier who shot down American planes with astonishing ease.

Propelling the Allies to eventual victory, Guadalcanal was truly the turning point of the war. Challenge for the Pacific is an unparalleled, authoritative account of this great fight that forever changed our world.

©1964, renewed 1993 Robert Leckie (P)2011 Tantor
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Critic reviews

"Leckie puts you in the foxhole." ( The New York Times Book Review)

What listeners say about Challenge for the Pacific

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one of Robert Leckies best

once I started listening I couldn't stop.
will definitely be listening to it again and again

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    5 out of 5 stars
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book great, narrator terrible

Who found this idiot? He does imitations of Japanese narrative like an old racist 1940s movie, the book is great, well researched and of course from Leckie. where do they find this combination of terrible AI and bad bad actual readers. must be on the cheap. You'll have to overcome this idiot.

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Great story

This book gives the reader a view of what
The marines and the army bid to hold guadual canal and other islands , they were the greater generation .

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refreshing writing

one of the best written about this campaign. excellent passion and understanding of each situation. highly recommend.

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Incredible!

I have read and listened to many accounts of the Battle for Guadalcanal, this is the clearist and most understandable, yet thoughtfully dramatic. I highly recommend the fine writing and excellent narration.

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Every American should hear this.

I have listened to this six times. What a book, full of real history plus real characters. Full of excitement and suspense.

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9 people found this helpful

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Well written historical book.

If I were a Japanese person I would would be offended at his imitation the Japanese voice. I like Robert Leckie’s character from the “Pacific” series and did enjoy his vast knowledge of American and Japanese interest histories of Guadalcanal, the Senseless dying of Japanese soldiers for the emperor was absolutely disgusting.

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Puts you in the action

This telling of the Guadalcanal story captures the desperation and valor of this critical campaign. The story flows like a novel, and unlike many history books, it really draws you into the story.

What made this story significant to me is the family connection. My father served with the 1st Marine Division on Guadalcanal and I recall him speaking of being abandoned on that island. He was seriously injured during Japanese shelling and evacuated to New Zealand. This book puts all this into context for me.

I previously listened to “Neptune’s Inferno“ which covers the naval battles of the Guadalcanal campaign. That book is an excellent follow up reading as there is little overlap, but they are closely linked nonetheless.

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11 people found this helpful

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Superb account of ww2 Guadacanal campaign

Narration is slightly slow but otherwise excellent.

Superb, detailed chronological account of campaign, Japanese v American materiel, strategies, tactics, influence on the pacific campaign.

Is a superb accompaniment to Guadalcanal Diary.

Highly recommended.

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Always A Pleasure

I first discovered Robert Leckie in 1965 when I found “A Helmet For My Pillow” on a paperback rack. I’ve reread it twice, and watched “The Pacific” twice as well, which had led me to his historical writing.

He presents the history of the battle for Guadalcanal from a very personal point of view, which makes the book an extremely interesting read.

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2 people found this helpful