A TIME FOR GIANTS; POLITICS OF THE AMERICAN HIGH COMMAND IN WORLD WAR II.

James, D. Clayton [Dorris Clayton "Jim" James], 1931-2004, with Anne Sharp Wells.

ISBN 10: 0531150461 / ISBN 13: 9780531150467

Published by New York and Toronto: Franklin Watts, 1987., 1987

About this Item

First edition, first printing (with latter indicated by publisher's descending number line upon copyright page) DATED, INSCRIBED, AND SIGNED BY THE AUTHOR. xviii, 317 pages. Hardcover: H 23.25cm x L 15.75cm. Blue dust jacket rubbed; 5cm long tear and associated creasing at rear panel's top right with tape repair to verso; other nicks, scuffs, and bumping at edges; front flap is not price-clipped. Red cloth spine; blue boards bumped at their top fore-edge corners. Slight soiling/toning to text block's top edge. Author's four-line ink inscription "January 5, 1988 | To Burris O. Smith, | With best wishes, | D. Clayton James" on half-title page; interior leaves are otherwise clean. Binding retains some crispness. Examines how America's WWII military commanders attained their ranks and promotions to become the Roosevelt and Truman administrations' chosen few to lead the fight against the Axis powers. A renowned specialist in the World War II era, James also authored the highly lauded three volume biography THE YEARS OF MACARTHUR. Raised in Natchez, D. Clayton James completed his Ph.D. at University of Texas at Austin in 1964 with his dissertation being the basis for his book ANTEBELLUM NATCHEZ published by LSU Press in 1968. James taught history at Mississippi State University from 1965 to 1988 becoming Distinguished Professor in 1978 with guest lecturer posts at U.S. Army War College, U.S. Army Command and General Staff College, and U.S. Air Force Academy. James taught at Virginia Military Institute from 1988 until his retirement in 1996. Description copyright David Hallinan, Bookseller. {AmHist-Shelf#3} ISBN 0531150461.

Seller Inventory # PXZP-19748

Bibliographic Details

• Title: A TIME FOR GIANTS; POLITICS OF THE AMERICAN HIGH COMMAND IN WORLD WAR II.
• Publisher: New York and Toronto: Franklin Watts, 1987.
• Publication Date: 1987
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0531150461
• ISBN 13: 9780531150467
• Binding: Hardcover
• Edition: 1st Edition
• Dust Jacket Condition: Dust Jacket Included
• Signed: Signed by Author(s)
• Seller catalogs:
  • American History

About this title

Synopsis

Looks at the careers of Eisenhower, Bradley, Marshall, Clark, Halsey, Stilwell, MacArthur, and Patton, and explains how they were selected for leadership positions without combat experience

Reviews

YA While Clayton presents nothing controversial or enlightening, he does deal with how and why a man was chosen for high command. Very little is explained about the actual conduct of the command, once achieved. The focus is on politicshow each man prepared himself for the next position. Clayton makes every sentence count as he describes the leaders of the armed forces in the intricate and entangling panorama of World War II and its larger-than-life leaders. He shows both the vulnerability of the men and the part that chance and politics played. This book will be of moderate interest to the general student population, and should motivate future historians. The text is well documented. Barbara Batty, Port Arthur Independent Sch . Dist .
Copyright 1988 Reed Business Information, Inc.

James, best known for his definitive three-volume biography of Douglas MacArthur, integrates archival research and an encyclopedic knowlede of published sources in this unique survey. It focuses on the men who held posts above the field army/fleet level. Scholars and general readers alike will admire James's ability to summarize without becoming superificial and to analyze without becoming judgmental. While recognizing tensions and antagonisms among his protagonists, James accurately stresses an underlying consensus of goals and attitudes. Even such controversial figures as MacArthur and Mark Clark emerge as ulimately more concerned with winning the war than with feeding their egos. Dennis E. Showalter, History Dept., Colorado Coll., Colorado Springs
Copyright 1987 Reed Business Information, Inc.