subscribe to this page[Overy, R. J. . Origins of the Second World War / R.J. Overy. 2nd ed. 0582290856 series London ; New York : Longman, 1998]
Overy, R.J. The Origins of the Second World War: 2nd Ed. New York:Longman, 1987.
Overy outlines the main factors essential to understanding the outbreak and
subsequent character of the Second World War. He presents the political, social, economic,
military, and imperial contexts of each of the major powers that would enter World War Two
and analyzes them for the domestic and international spheres. He divides the book into chapters
on: the crisis in international politics especially within diplomacy and international
relations, the economic and imperial rivalries between the nation-states, armament policies,
the conflict over Poland, the outbreak of the war, and a final assessment on the role
that Adolf Hitler played in causing the start of World War Two. Overy does not present a
particular argument or controversial analysis of the factors that set the stage for the Second
World War but rather seeks to provide a comprehensive overview of the world in the 1930s
that can serve as a guide to more in-depth study of the war itself.
Overy's review of America in the pre-World War Two period is helpful in understanding "The
Philadelphia Story" in its historical context. The film was made in 1940 when World War Two
had already been going on in Europe and Japan for a year but before the United States
entered the conflict. The points that Overy highlights that best contribute to an understanding
of the film are America's public opinion and foreign policy in these years. He explains that
the United States had a staunchly isolationist attitude towards foreign relations in this
period. America was a strong and significant player on the world stage however because of its
industrial power which translated into economic might. The topic of financial security and
how it is linked to fear of change is one that is also pervasive throughout "The
Philadelphia Story". The Lords' and Havens' are established families of the American cultural
elite that have flourished for generations in their familiar hometown, Philadelphia. They
enjoy the comforts of an economically secure lifestyle; but they and their entire class
are wary of changes to the social conventions in their community. Overy's explanation
of the American public in the 1930s and 1940s helps extend the attitude exhibited
by the Lord's to the U.S. population. Just like Dexter hates to see Tracy change in a marriage
to George, the United States did not want to see its lifestyle changed by involvement
in a war; they did not want to experience it in real life and they certainly did not
want to see representations of these kinds of major changes on screen when they went to the
movies.
Overy outlines the main factors essential to understanding the outbreak and
subsequent character of the Second World War. He presents the political, social, economic,
military, and imperial contexts of each of the major powers that would enter World War Two
and analyzes them for the domestic and international spheres. He divides the book into chapters
on: the crisis in international politics especially within diplomacy and international
relations, the economic and imperial rivalries between the nation-states, armament policies,
the conflict over Poland, the outbreak of the war, and a final assessment on the role
that Adolf Hitler played in causing the start of World War Two. Overy does not present a
particular argument or controversial analysis of the factors that set the stage for the Second
World War but rather seeks to provide a comprehensive overview of the world in the 1930s
that can serve as a guide to more in-depth study of the war itself.
Overy's review of America in the pre-World War Two period is helpful in understanding "The
Philadelphia Story" in its historical context. The film was made in 1940 when World War Two
had already been going on in Europe and Japan for a year but before the United States
entered the conflict. The points that Overy highlights that best contribute to an understanding
of the film are America's public opinion and foreign policy in these years. He explains that
the United States had a staunchly isolationist attitude towards foreign relations in this
period. America was a strong and significant player on the world stage however because of its
industrial power which translated into economic might. The topic of financial security and
how it is linked to fear of change is one that is also pervasive throughout "The
Philadelphia Story". The Lords' and Havens' are established families of the American cultural
elite that have flourished for generations in their familiar hometown, Philadelphia. They
enjoy the comforts of an economically secure lifestyle; but they and their entire class
are wary of changes to the social conventions in their community. Overy's explanation
of the American public in the 1930s and 1940s helps extend the attitude exhibited
by the Lord's to the U.S. population. Just like Dexter hates to see Tracy change in a marriage
to George, the United States did not want to see its lifestyle changed by involvement
in a war; they did not want to experience it in real life and they certainly did not
want to see representations of these kinds of major changes on screen when they went to the
movies.