The Official History of the Falklands Campaign, Volume 2

In the second volume of his official history of the Falklands Campaign, Lawrence Freedman provides a detailed and authoritative account of one of the most extraordinary periods in recent British political history and a vivid portrayal of a government at war.

After the shock of the Argentine invasion of the Falklands in April 1982, Margaret Thatcher faced the crisis that came to define her premiership as she determined to recover the islands. The book covers all aspects of the campaign - economic and diplomatic as well as military - demonstrating the extent of the gamble that the government took.

There are important accounts of the tensions in relations with the United States, concerns among the military commanders about the risks they were expected to take, the problems of dealing with the media and the attempts to reach a negotiated settlement. This definitive account describes in dramatic detail events such as the sinking of the Belgrano, the Battle of Goose Green and the final push to Stanley. Special attention is also paid to the aftermath of the war, including the various enquiries, and the eventual restoration of diplomatic relations with Argentina.

This paperback edition has been updated, corrected and contains some new material.

“'In Lawrence Freedman, the campaign has found an impeccable official chronicler. There will be plenty of quibbling about details and nuances, and dismay among some readers about his forebearance on personalities, but he establishes a record which is likely to stand.'Max Hastings, Sunday Telegraph'Freedman is not just a good historian but a terse, readable writer. This is a fine book about modern war, warts and all, in an age when such evenly balanced conflicts are rare.'Simon Jenkins, Sunday Times'Drawing on an impressive range of government archives, as well as on interviews with key participants, this is official history at its best.'Jeremy Black, University of Exeter, UK'These two volumes are a formidable achievement and, not least because of access to the official files, provide a major resource for scholars and others concerned with public policy.'Jeremy Black, University of Exeter, UK'Freedman deserves high praise. It would be good to see a comparable account of the recent war but I doubt it.'Jeremy Black, University of Exeter, UK”

'a masterpiece of even-handed scholarship, and will undoubtedly remain the definitive word on the conflict.' Dominic Sandbrook, "Daily Telegraph" 'Freedman is not just a good historian but a terse, readable writer. This is a fine book about modern war, warts and all, in an age when such evenly balanced conflicts are rare.' Simon Jenkins, "Sunday Times" 'Freedman has the rare gift of offering both strategic guidance and a fine grasp of tactical details.' Jeremy Black 'In Lawrence Freedman, the campaign has found an impeccable chronicler' Max Hastings, "Sunday Telegraph" 'Official this history certainly is, and something more. But is it definitive, critics may cry? With its personal panache and incisiveness, it is better than that -- at least for this critic.' Robert Fox, "Evening Standard" 'fascinating, balanced, fantastically well-researched and well-written.' Andrew Roberts, "New Statesman" 'I highly recommend both volumes ... a must-have for serious students of this period'," The Northern Mariner"

Sir Lawrence Freedman is Professor of War Studies at King’s College where he is currently Vice Principal. He has written extensively on military strategy, cold war history and contemporary conflict and is a regular newspaper columnist.

Even before Argentine forces landed in the Falkland Islands on 2 April 1982, a task force was being prepared to ensure that they were repossessed by Britain. This second volume of the official history of the Falklands Campaign follows the task force to the South Atlantic, through the battles of early May that saw the loss of the Belgrano and the Sheffield, and on to the landings at San Carlos and the eventual surrender of the Argentine garrison. Professor Freedman describes in full the intense efforts to find a diplomatic solution, the role played by economic sanctions and concerns about how the war was covered in the media. This is the fullest account yet available of how Britain went to war in 1982.

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