Storm Clouds Over the Pacific, 1931–1941

“Harmsen has managed to craft into a single accessible narrative the complex military history of the early years of the Chinese–Japanese conflict. The great strength of the book is the equal attention given to both Japanese and Chinese sides in terms of military strategies and outcomes on the battlefield.” ~Stephen R. MacKinnon, Emeritus Professor, Arizona State University

“Storm Clouds Over the Pacific is an excellent primer about World War II in Asia prior to the involvement of the United States, . . . an excellent resource for understanding the relationship between China and Japan, past and present.“ ~Benjamin Welton, New York Journal of Books

"Harmsen’s highly compressed, readable, narrative of the cascade to conflict is highly recommended reading for contemporary world citizens." ~Robert A. Kapp

“The author studies the origins of World War II in the Pacific through the vast war fought between China and Japan. It is a balanced book providing the perspectives of both sides and explains the motives and goals of each. The narrative is clear and engaging, and the level of detail is impressive.” ~Military History

Also gratifying, “Storm Clouds Over the Pacific” tackles via a smooth, easy-to-digest narrative the generations of animosities that drove the immensely destructive war in the Pacific, costing the lives of millions of people, soldiers and civilians alike." ~Leatherneck

“Peter Harmsen uses a reporter’s lean prose and sharp eye for detail to expertly tell the story of Japan’s war with China before Pearl Harbor. Among the highlights of this valuable book is Harmsen’s ability to effortlessly place Asian political and military developments in a global setting. The result is a masterful narrative account of the traumatic decade before Japan’s war in Asia merged into World War II.” ~Marc Gallicchio, co-author Implacable Foes: War in the Pacific, 1944-1945

"It is to be hoped that this book might provide a wake up call to modern readers about the dangers of military dictators. They cannot be trusted." ~Bairdmaritime.com

"He shifts easily from cabinet rooms to battlefields, and gives us profiles of many persons, high and low, who played interesting roles in these events. A very good work about a very neglected subject." ~The NYMAS Review

"Beginning with the second chapter, Harmsen provides the reader with a readable and reliable narrative of this war before the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor....he effortlessly shifts his focus from high politics and strategy in China and Japan to individual stories of foreign witnesses as well as ordinary Chinese and Japanese." ~Journal of Indo-Pacific Affairs

“Exceptionally well written for both academia and the non-specialist general reader with an interest in World War II history…” ~Midwest Book Review

“This is a fine history book on its own and hopefully will attract more writers to the subject.” ~A Wargamers Needful Things