"This is the real story, soberly, honestly, authoritatively told."--New York Times "This is a tale of dogged resistance, courage and sacrifice that will remain imperishable in our history." --Weekly Book Review In August 1942, U.S. Marines landed on the island of Guadalcanal in the South Pacific and defeated Japanese forces for the first time, turning the tide of World War II against Japan. Written by a historian who fought alongside his fellow marines for the entire four-month campaign, The Island is an indispensable story of this hard-fought victory.