The Patton Papers, 1885-1940 - Hardcover

Patton, George S.

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0735100764 ISBN 13: 9780735100763

Publisher: Replica Books, 2000

Synopsis

Collected letters and diary entries shed light on Patton's character, life, and years as a general

About this title

Review

"The history of war is the history of warriors; few in number, mighty in influence," wrote George S. Patton, Jr., in 1926, a full 17 years before he would begin to establish himself as one of the United States' finest military leaders.

General Patton was, in the words of Martin Blumenson, "an inveterate diary keeper," and when duty took him away from his beloved wife, he wrote to her every day, sometimes twice. Blumenson culled through this enormous body of material to produce an impressive collection of Patton's writings, providing context for Patton's thoughts and words with helpful editorial interpolations. The odd dual nature that has made Patton fascinating for so long, and inspired such extreme reactions, positive and negative, over the years, is on full display. As Blumenson writes in his perceptive prologue:

"He was unpredictable, capricious, at the same time dependable, loyal. He was brutal yet sensitive. He was gregarious and a loner. Enthusiastic and buoyant, he suffered from inner anguish.... An astonishing mixture of arrogance and humility.

There is hardly a better way to encounter the man than through his own words, on these pages. --John J. Miller

About this edition

• Publisher: Replica Books
• Publication date: 2000
• ISBN 10: 0735100764
• ISBN 13: 9780735100763
• Binding: Hardcover