Historical Dictionary of the Korean War

(Hardback)

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Description

Designed as a reference tool for both Asian specialists and students and scholars in the broader field of diplomatic history and foreign relations, this comprehensive historical dictionary contains a series of in-depth essays which describe the diplomatic, political, and military developments surrounding the Korean War. The volume concentrates on the period of conventional war from the North Korean invasion of South Korea in June 1950 through the signing of the armistice agreement on July 27, 1953, although key developments prior to the formal outbreak of hostilities also receive attention. Written by contributors from eight countries, the entries cover all of the significant people, controversies, military operations, and policy poronouncements of the era. Entries are arranged in alphabetical order, with cross references in the text of each to assist users interested in learning about related items. In certain subject areas entries appear in groups, such as battles, military operations, United Nations resolutions, and the activities of major participants, most notably Douglas MacArthur, Harry S.Truman, and Syngman Rhee. References at the end of each entry serve as a guide for readers desiring additional information. Throughout, the dictionary uses the spelling of Korean and Chinese names common at the time of the war to minimize confusion among non-specialists.

Reviews

In judging Harry Summers's Korean War Almanac, we noted, Until something comparable to James Olson's Dictionary of the Vietnam War appears for the Korean War, Summers's imperfect dictionary will have its uses, just not as many as it could have had were its scope broader and its point of view less nationalistic.' This is that book, but Summers's dictionary still has its uses. Summers explores military tactics (especially of the U.S. forces and their allies) in particular battles, includes battle maps, and discusses the participation of various countries in greater detail. However, for it broader scope and its scholarly detachment Matray's Historical Dictionary is now the source of choice. The signed articles be academics, some from Korea itself, with specialists in Korean studies or the post-World War II era, include numerous cross-references to other articles and helpful bibliographic references. The dictionary provides much more complete information about individuals, especially individuals from Asia, involved in the war and about the various diplomatic efforts to bring it to an end. References in the index differentiate primary treatment from secondary treatment of topics. Appendixes summarize statistical data and changes in military command, chronicle the war's key events, and list books for additional information. Matray is to be commended for a balanced selection of topics and for the book's scholarly approach to a dispute that has yet to be settled." Wilson Library Bulletin "As editor Matray notes few events in modern world history have deserved more attention and received less than the Korean War.' Sandwiched between the stirring victories of World War II and the disasters inVietnam, the Korean War is little understood by the current generation despite its prominence in the TV sitcom M*A*S*H. This historical dictionary provides a useful tool to assist in understanding the war (1950-53). With contributions from leading U.S. diplomatic and military scholars and some South Korean academics, it describes the significant people, controversies, military operations, and policy pronouncements of the period. Appendixes include valuable statistical information, list major military personnel, and provide a chronology of the war. With a suprerb bibliography, this is the best reference work published about the war and its consequences. For most libraries.-Library Journal
James I. Matray should be commended for his successful effort in bringing about this timely and useful volume on the Korean War.-Korean Studies
The appearance of Harry G. Summers, Jr.'s Korean War Almanac, even with its US-oriented coverage and pro-MacArthur orientation, filled a void in the encyclopedic coverage of the Korean War. Matray has gone a step further with a very impressive work. The signed articles, each with brief bibliographies, cover a variety of topics: major military, political, and bureaucratic personnel (including many more Chinese and North Koreans than in the Almanac); UN resolutions, commissions, and activities; important documents, meetings, and initiatives; and, of course, battles and other military actions. The overall quality of the entries is noteworthy, reflecting well on the editor's efforts at consistency in content and style and balance in treatment of controversy. Cross-referencing and indexing, in combination, generally works well....For historical and scholarly perspective the Historical Dictionary is highly recommended and clearly superior to the Almanac, but the latter's coverage of military terminology and technology, and its illustrations and better maps make it useful as well--the two definitely complement each other. All libraries.-Choice
. . . overall, it is a useful reference book.-Infantry
. . . overall, it is a useful reference book.Infantry
." . . overall, it is a useful reference book."-Infantry
"James I. Matray should be commended for his successful effort in bringing about this timely and useful volume on the Korean War."-Korean Studies
"The appearance of Harry G. Summers, Jr.'s Korean War Almanac, even with its US-oriented coverage and pro-MacArthur orientation, filled a void in the encyclopedic coverage of the Korean War. Matray has gone a step further with a very impressive work. The signed articles, each with brief bibliographies, cover a variety of topics: major military, political, and bureaucratic personnel (including many more Chinese and North Koreans than in the Almanac); UN resolutions, commissions, and activities; important documents, meetings, and initiatives; and, of course, battles and other military actions. The overall quality of the entries is noteworthy, reflecting well on the editor's efforts at consistency in content and style and balance in treatment of controversy. Cross-referencing and indexing, in combination, generally works well....For historical and scholarly perspective the Historical Dictionary is highly recommended and clearly superior to the Almanac, but the latter's coverage of military terminology and technology, and its illustrations and better maps make it useful as well--the two definitely complement each other. All libraries."-Choice
"In judging Harry Summers's Korean War Almanac, we noted, Until something comparable to James Olson's Dictionary of the Vietnam War appears for the Korean War, Summers's imperfect dictionary will have its uses, just not as many as it could have had were its scope broader and its point of view less nationalistic.' This is that book, but Summers's dictionary still has its uses. Summers explores military tactics (especially of the U.S. forces and their allies) in particular battles, includes battle maps, and discusses the participation of various countries in greater detail. However, for it broader scope and its scholarly detachment Matray's Historical Dictionary is now the source of choice. The signed articles be academics, some from Korea itself, with specialists in Korean studies or the post-World War II era, include numerous cross-references to other articles and helpful bibliographic references. The dictionary provides much more complete information about individuals, especially individuals from Asia, involved in the war and about the various diplomatic efforts to bring it to an end. References in the index differentiate primary treatment from secondary treatment of topics. Appendixes summarize statistical data and changes in military command, chronicle the war's key events, and list books for additional information. Matray is to be commended for a balanced selection of topics and for the book's scholarly approach to a dispute that has yet to be settled." Wilson Library Bulletin "As editor Matray notes few events in modern world history have deserved more attention and received less than the Korean War.' Sandwiched between the stirring victories of World War II and the disasters inVietnam, the Korean War is little understood by the current generation despite its prominence in the TV sitcom M*A*S*H. This historical dictionary provides a useful tool to assist in understanding the war (1950-53). With contributions from leading U.S. diplomatic and military scholars and some South Korean academics, it describes the significant people, controversies, military operations, and policy pronouncements of the period. Appendixes include valuable statistical information, list major military personnel, and provide a chronology of the war. With a suprerb bibliography, this is the best reference work published about the war and its consequences. For most libraries."-Library Journal

Author Bio

JAMES I. MATRAY is an Associate Professor of History at New Mexico State University. He is the author of The Reluctant Crusade: American Foreign Policy in Korea, 1941-1950.