56 pages • 1 hour read
Studs Terkel“The Good War”: An Oral History of World War II
Nonfiction | Biography | Adult | Published in 1984A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more.
Summary
Introduction
Book 1, Section 1
Book 1, Section 2
Book 1, Section 3
Book 1, Section 4
Book 1, Section 5
Book 1, Section 6
Book 1, Section 7
Book 2, Section 1
Book 2, Section 2
Book 2, Section 3
Book 2, Section 4
Book 2, Section 5
Book 3, Section 1
Book 3, Section 2
Book 3, Section 3
Book 3, Section 4
Book 4, Section 1
Book 4, Section 2
Book 4, Section 3
Book 4, Section 4
Book 4, Section 5
Book 4, Section 6
Epilogue
Key Figures
Themes
Symbols & Motifs
Important Quotes
Essay Topics
Book 1, Section 4Chapter Summaries & Analyses
“Bill Bailey” Summary
Bill’s story is also the story of the Bremen Six, a group of undercover merchant seamen who fought Nazis on a cruise ship. When the war formally broke out, Bill joined the Navy as an engineer. He admits that, at the time, he welcomed the use of the atomic bomb, but “secretly you had these feelings that somethin’ was wrong” (102).
“David Milton” Summary
Another merchant seaman who later became a journalist, David discusses his experiences in the navy. In particular, he talks about the diverse nationalities and races he met during his time as a sailor, saying, “It was a microcosm of the world” (107).
Book 1, Section 4 Analysis
This brief chapter focuses on the experiences of sailors. Running themes include a sense of camaraderie and encounters with diverse populations, which were made possible by the shared struggle of the war.
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By Studs Terkel
