Sylvie Murray delivers a master class in the writing of history for serious readers and students of American history. Her ingenious book of nine short essays on our nation's involvement in World War II (divided into three sections: Before Pearl Harbor; To "Create a Will to Win"; Experiences of the War) illustrates the critical role of interpretative choices in presenting history.
Murray's point that "interpretation usually develops in tandem with an immersion in the historical record" is made loud and clear in the source material she studies, from the emphasis and/or de-emphasis in textbooks on topics such as resistance to entering the war before Pearl Harbor (I was surprised to learn that as late as May and June of 1940, two-thirds of Americans reportedly wanted to stay out of the war) to a close critical reading of government-generated morale-building posters (aka propaganda) once we entered the war. Her essays, along with constructive criticism in the commentary of fellow historian Robert Johnston on her approaches, bring to life historian James Loewen's dictum that "history is a furious debate informed by reason and evidence" and show that there was no single war experience but many.
Murray's method shines in discussing the truism that "the values of 'common Americanness' were extended to include previously excluded groups" through the war experience. Her research indicates that the basis for that long-held belief may be limited. Although she finds that white Catholic and Jewish-American males were more widely accepted after the war, her analysis of "voices from the margin" (the wartime experiences of Native American, Japanese American and African American men, not to mention women) tells such a different story that she alerts us to keep our critical thinking skills always switched on when reading history.
Both Murray and Johnston promote a pluralistic approach to writing history in order to avoid oversimplifying complex questions. They also reflect on finding that a question asked one way often stimulates a subsequent reframing of the question to investigate if new insights might emerge. For example, after considering all they have found here, they both want to delve deeper into the question, "Did the war propel a substantial change in social relations, or did it strengthen elements of community already at work in American society?" --John McFarland
Shelf Talker: Ingenious, engaging and informative essays provide a master class in the writing of history.