The Patton Papers, Vol. 1: 1885-1940 - Softcover

Blumenson, Martin

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0306808625 ISBN 13: 9780306808623

Publisher: Da Capo Press, 1998

Synopsis

The Patton Papers, 1885–1940 (the second volume, covering the years 1940 to 1945, is also available from Da Capo Press/Perseus Publishing Group) uses George S. Patton's private diaries, letters, speeches, reports, and orders to present his own uncensored view of his remarkable life. He served in the U.S. cavalry and as a member of General Pershing's Punitive Expedition against Pancho Villa in Mexico (where Patton first saw combat). His outstanding service during World War I included organizing and leading the Tank Corps in the battles of St. Mihiel and Meuse-Argonne. From youth through the early years of World War II, here is an unparalleled portrait of Patton as man, soldier, and legend in the making.

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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: Da Capo Press
• Publication date: 1998
• ISBN 10: 0306808625
• ISBN 13: 9780306808623
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 1048