Brothers, Rivals, Victors: Eisenhower, Patton, Bradley and the Partnership that Drove the Allied Conquest i n Europe - Hardcover

Jordan, Jonathan W.

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0451232127 ISBN 13: 9780451232120

Publisher: NAL, 2011

Synopsis

The true story of the friendship-and rivalry-among the greatest American generals of World War II.

Supreme Allied Commander Dwight D. Eisenhower, General George S. Patton, and General Omar N. Bradley engineered the Allied conquest that shattered Hitler's hold over Europe. But they also shared an intricate web of relationships going back decades. In the cauldron of World War II, they found their prewar friendships complicated by shifting allegiances, jealousy, insecurity, patriotism, and ambition.

Meticulously researched and vividly written, Jonathan W. Jordan's Brothers Rivals, Victors recounts the battle for Europe through the eyes of these three legendary generals who fought to liberate two continents. For the first time in such detail, the bonds between these battle captains are explored, and readers are treated to a rare insider's view of life at the summit of raw, violent power. Throughout three years of hard, bloody warfare, Eisenhower, the Alliance's great diplomat, sought victory in the fighting qualities and tactical genius of his most trusted subordinates, Bradley and Patton. Bradley and Patton, in turn, owed their careers to Eisenhower, who protected them from the slings and arrows of politicians, rival generals, their allies, and the U.S. Navy. The twin pillars of their working relationships were duty and trust. Yet their friendship, so genuine and unalloyed before the war, would be put to the ultimate test as life-and-death decisions were thrust upon them, and honor and duty conflicted with personal loyalty.

Brothers Rivals Victors is drawn from the candid accounts of its main characters, and strips away much of the public image of "Ike" (Eisenhower), the "G.I.'s General" (Bradley), and "Old Blood and Guts" (Patton) to reveal the men lurking beneath the legend. Adding richness to this insider's story are the words and observations of a supporting cast of generals, staff officers, secretaries, aides, politicians, and wives, whose close proximity to Eisenhower, Bradley and Patton in times of stress and tranquility are brought together to produce a uniquely intimate account of a relationship that influenced a war. The story of how these three great strategists pulled together to wage the deadliest conflict in history, despite their differences and rivalries, is marvelously told in this eye-opening narrative, sure to become a classic of military history.

About this title

About the Author

Jonathan W. Jordan is the author of the award-winning Lone Star Navy: Texas, the Fight for the Gulf of Mexico, and the Shaping of the American West. He lives in Georgia.

Review

"A fascinating triple biography. Jordan elegantly describes the ever-changing relationship between America's three most important European ground commanders. His detailed account shows how the responsibilities, and politics, of high command can test even the best of friends."
-Jonathan Parshall, co-author Shattered Sword: The Untold Battle of Midway

"Finally, a major work that examines and highlights the most important American military triumvirate of World War II... General readers will appreciate the fast pace and descriptive prose, while historians and specialists will be impressed by the depth and breadth of research. Jordan's work will put the war into a new perspective for many readers... a must-read for anyone interested in World War II, or who wants to know something about how command decisions are actually made."
-Jim DeFelice, author of Rangers at Dieppe and Omar Bradley: General at War

"This is one of the great stories of the American military, of how Patton, Eisenhower and Bradley, three very different men, came together to change the world. It is told here by Jonathan Jordan with insight and compassion, relish and vigor. I read it in two sittings."
-Thomas E. Ricks, Pulitzer Prize-winning author of Fiasco, Making the Corps and The Gamble

"An intimate, well-researched and gracefully-written portrait of three important generals-Jordan succeeds in bringing Patton, Brad and Ike to life once again. Brothers, Rivals, Victors is full of fresh insight and compelling drama. You will have trouble putting this book down."
-John C. McManus, author of Grunts and Alamo in the Ardennes

"Jonathan Jordan uses the intertwined lives of three great soldiers to tell the story of America's supreme military achievement: the campaign that destroyed Hitler's tyranny and freed a continent. The writing is vivid, the admiring portraits of these friends-and rivals-are carefully crafted, and Jordan has a fine eye for the telling detail. A fast-paced and thoroughly enjoyable read."
-William I. Hitchcock, author of The Bitter Road to Freedom: A New History of the Liberation of Europe

"The standard line among historians is that there's nothing new to be said about World War II... Jonathan Jordan shows us just how wrong that is... Fastidiously researched and deftly written, Jordan's work is compellingly authoritative and adds to our knowledge something that we have not had-a tale of the intertwined and sometimes discomforting relationships of three American heroes. There is no such thing as the last word on any part of our history, but Brothers, Rivals, Victors comes close."
-Mark Perry, author of Partners in Command: George Marshall and Dwight Eisenhower in War and Peace

About this edition

• Publisher: NAL
• Publication date: 2011
• ISBN 10: 0451232127
• ISBN 13: 9780451232120
• Binding: Hardcover
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 672