I would like to give this book a stronger recommendation, particularly since the author takes the Dutch position in this campaign more seriously then it normally is. That said, Cox also swings a big ax and, at times, his anger at the Japanese and Douglas MacArthur (to note the two biggest targets) overtakes the bounds of history and this book becomes a polemic; this is keeping in mind that I'd be the last to deny that are any number of events to be justly angry about. This is too bad, as this could have been the coherent popular account that the naval aspects of this campaign have lacked; Osprey did no favors to Cox in failing to moderate some of his rhetoric. I'm reminded by the tone of an old acquaintance who claimed to have lost several relations on the battleship "Arizona" at Pearl Harbor; "God forgives, I do not." ( )

An excellent account of little known details about the Java Sea Campaign in WWII, rich in seafaring nomenclature, naval strategy, opinions and praise for the unknown and known heroes of that time. ( )