Book Description

Early in May 1861, twenty-one-year-old Sam R. Watkins of Columbia, Tennessee, joined the First Tennessee Regiment, Company H, to fight for the Confederacy. Of the 120 original recruits in his company, Watkins was one of only seven to survive every one of its battles, from Shiloh to Nashville. Twenty years later, with a "house full of young 'rebels' clustering around my knees and bumping about my elbows," he wrote this remarkable account of "Co. Aytch" -- its common foot soldiers, its commanders, its Yankee enemies, its victories and defeats, and its ultimate surrender on April 26, 1865.

Co. Aytch is the work of a natural storyteller who balances the horror of war with an irrepressible sense of humor and a sharp eye for the lighter side of battle. Among Civil War memoirs, it is considered a classic -- a living testament to one man's enduring humanity, courage, and wisdom in the midst of death and destruction. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Excellent
Watkins' book is an unlikely masterpiece. As a literary memoir of war, it is at least the equal of such esteemed works as Sassoon's "Memoirs of an Infantry Officer" and Manchester's "Goodbye, Darkness." I cannot recommend it too highly.

A treasure for every Civil War fan!
I have read this book now the 5th time, and Im still fascinated by its honesty,wit and humor. First off, this book is, atleast to my best knowledge, one of the only books written by a private, rather than a 5 star generals. This is important because generals had a totally different view of the battle than privates. Privates had not the right to leave the army, generals did, and so on.

I loved the wit and humor of Watkins (author). In midst of all the horror the civil war had, he finds the time to reflect on things such as religion,morales etc. I guess this ability gave him the strenght to survive the war. Brilliantly written. I recommend this book to every person who is interested in history, simply because it is interesting to hear the words from a "commoner" rather than from a president, general. ... Read more

Book Description

A sweet musty tropical smell hung over the city of Manila in the spring of 1941. It was a city of warm monsoon winds, cold San Miguel beer, cabarets, and slender girls with hinting eyes. It was a plum duty station for professional soldiers and sailors, and many made a career there.

In early 1941, Joseph Quitman Johnson enlisted in the U.S.Army. This memoir relates how he was thrown in with these older professional soldiers during the pre-war days of duty in Manila. It tells of his courage and bravery in the defense of Bataan, how he escaped the Death March to fight on the beaches of Corregidor, and finally his imprisonment in Japanese prisoner of war camps. It tells of forced labor, cruelty, disease, of surviving the sinkings of hell ships en route to Japan, and of working in condemned coal mines. It tells of the coming of age of a boy who joined the Army when he was only 14 years old.

This story recounts actual incidents and events that occurred in his life. Many events were tragic, someheartless and inhumane. This is the story of two cultures at odds with the other, each at times unbending.

Joseph Quitman Johnson lived this story and each of these events. He began this saga in 1941 at the tender age of 14 when he joined the Army. For whatever reason, fate chose him as one of those who was to survive these many ordeals. He was finally to taste freedom at the age of 19 when the war ended.

This is a true story, his memoir. This is the story of an underage American soldier who grew up on the battlefields of Bataan and Corregidor and the Japanese prisoner of war slave labor camps in the Philippines and Japan.His hometown newspaper named him the "Baby of Bataan." ... Read more

Reviews (3)

Baby of Bataan
I have read the book "Baby of Bataan" and would recommend it highly. Being a Viet Nam veteran I have a natural interest in this type of genre. The "Baby of Bataan" is an exceptional work. Mr Johnson first lets you get to know him, and his life, as a youngster before taking you on the "journey of a life time". He spares you graphic details of the horror of war and yet you get a full understanding of what he endured.

The veterans of WWII saved to world. This work is a demonstration of the unselfish bravery these individuals had to be a part of world history. Buy this book to honor Mr. Johnson's sacrifice, read this book to understand the dynamics of war, pass this book on to younger family members to read, so we as a nation, we don't forget our true heros, and take a WWII veteran to lunch to say thank you!

Captivating
"Baby of Bataan" is a captivating book about a young man who joined the army at age 14, became a POW at age 16, and spent almost 4 years in a number of Japanese prison camps. This book is a must read for anyone who has ever felt like giving up, or anyone who feels that growing up is just too hard sometimes. It has something for everyone, and that makes it easy to empathize with Joseph Quitman Johnson. You will be emotionally charged by this book as Joe and his fellow prisoners are subjected to the indignities, inhumane treatment, and cruelties heaped upon them by their captors. You will want to encourage him to keep the faith and not give up as he is pushed to the limits of human endurance time and again. He survived, and after years of soul searching finally decided to write this book. It is his story but it is also the story of others who gave so much to preserve the freedom we enjoy today. Read his book. You owe it to yourself.

A Must Read for All !!
Whether you enjoy military history, or human drama, you will get a full dose of both in this extrordinary book. How Mr. Johnson survived this ordeal is an absolute miracle. In this book he recreates the era and his experiences in such a way that you will not want to put this book down until finished. You will laugh, feel angry, and shed a tear or two when Joe finally makes it home. As I finished the book, all I wanted to do was walk up to the author and shake his hand and thank him for sharing this incredible story. Dont miss this one! ... Read more

Reviews (3)

Insight into Wartime Leadership
Although we had to wait until after General LeMay's death, we finally find within "With the Possum and the Eagle" the real story of the leadership of General Curtis LeMay.If you're interested in the history of World War II and the significant role aviation had in both the European and Pacific campaigns, Ralph Nutter's account is difficult to put down.Nutter's close proximity to senior aviation leadership during the war gives the reader a rare glimpse into what those wartime leaders faced and the decisions they had to make vis-a-vis both logistical and environmental constraints to operations.A superb account.

Lucid and Honest
Ralph Nutter writes with extraordinary candor and clarity about a period in our history when he and others of his generation faced terrible odds in the struggle to save the world from Fascism.His account is as compelling as it is straightforward and unvarnished.A must-read for anyone fascinated by the true meaning of courage under fire.

They were Expendable.
Reads like a good, fast paced novel. Exciting, building chronicle of the air war over Europe and the Pacific.

Explains with starteling clarity the cockpit horrors that left no alternatives to the area bombing of Dresden and Tokyo. Makes it very clear that the A-Bombs were redundant and unnecessary.

A terribly real sense of our "losing years" and the desperate process of a war of attrition. The author, beingone of only two survivors of his navigator's class of 22, lets us glimpse the terror and the heroism of an air war where victory would finally go to the combatant who had more young men to "expend"... ... Read more

Book Description

Puryear follows MacArthur, Marshall, Eisenhower and Patton through the years of their military service in both peace and war. ... Read more

Reviews (6)

Served with Author's Son in Desert Strom
I served with Cotton Puryear, the Author's Son, in Desert Storm in 1990-1991. Cotton was the XO of G Troop 2/3 ACR (and a very good one - obviously learned some lessons from Dad). I was a green 2LT just out of the basic course. Cotton loaned me his copy of the book, it was one of the first books on Military leadership I read outside of a classroom and it was exceptional. It was particulalry appropriate for me as a young officer soon to face combat to learn from the greats. The book is very readable and I think should be at the top of any aspiring officer or business executives list who want to learn lessons in leadership from some of our greatest military leaders. Cotton - if you read this send me an e-mail! Brave Rifles!

You don't have to be a historian to enjoy this book.
It is written in such a way that you don't have to be a military historian to enjoy reading about Generals Eisenhower, MacArthur, Marshall, and Patton. It talks about these men as people and explains who they are not just what they did. I have recommended this book to many people.

Sound and Sage advise for self determination
I read this book slowly, marking it up and making notations throughout, as principles expounded came to light. These men had to make high pressure decisions, the result of which were stupendous! They were in positions that required sterling character. The ramifications of their conclusions were paramount. The fate of the free world hung on the balance the situation was desperate.

In this study of 19 stars of military character I truly found gold nuggets of wisdom. Principles that are invaluable tools which will assist you to set the sail in your life, and then to get to where you want to go.

Good overview of four significant army leaders
"Nineteen Stars" is not intended to be the definitive biographies of Generals Eisenhower, Bradley, Marshall, and Patton, but rather a study of their leadership styles illustrated with specific examples. Puryear provides enough background information on each general to put the various decisions and actions into an understandable context. As a study of leadership and management styles of four successful but very different military leaders, this book accomplishes its goals. Puryear gives the reader adequate appreciation of these general officers and the contributions they made, not to just the war effort, but to the military in general.

Again, this is not intended to be full-blown biographies on these military leaders, but rather a leadership study for young officers and officer candidates. However, this book will serve as an able introduction to the lives of these fascinating men, and will probably inspire a broader audience than just military members to look into more indepth works on these key leaders.

Good history and more.
Written for the education of cadets and young officers,this valuable work studies the lives and careers of GeneralsEisenhower, MacArthur, Marshall, and Patton,through their own eyes and the recollections of hundreds of others who worked with them and knewthem personally.
Elements common to their success are examined in detail, not only the thorough preparation and capacity for work one expects, but the more subtle qualities of character, and, of course, luck.
Admirably organized and highly readable, Puryear's work should prove useful not only to the target readership and students of military history, but also to anyone interested in questions of leadership and success in any field.
(The numerical rating above is a default setting within Amazon's format. This reviewer does not employ numerical ratings.) ... Read more

Book Description

Lewis B. Puller, Jr.'s memoir is a moving story of a man born into a proud military legacy who struggles to rebuild his world after the Vietnam War has shattered his body and his ideals. Raised in the shadow of his father, Marine General Lewis B. "Chesty" Puller, a hero of five wars, young Lewis went to Southeast Asia at the height of the Vietnam War and served with distinction as an officer in his father's beloved Corps. But when he tripped a booby-trapped howitzer round, triggering an explosion that would cost him his legs, his career as a soldier ended--and the battle to reclaim his life began. ... Read more

Reviews (23)

A chilling portrait of the Vietnam war
I just read this book for the second time. The spread between the first and second reading is nearly a decade. The first time I read this book I became emotional. Now that I have read it again, with added maturity...I fully appreciate its greatness.

Lewis B. Puller, Jr. is the patriotic son of a beloved Marine Corps legend. "Fortunate Son," is the story of how the author follows his father's footsteps...joining the Marines and going to war. What follows is a chilling portrait of the Vietnam war. It is also a fabulous window of understanding of how many Vienam veterans turned against the war.

The author's narrative of his childhood and his relationship with his famous military father is outstanding. Moreover, the tale of his combat wound and his subsequent survival along with other American casualties of the war while in military hospitals in the States is comprehensive and objective.

Puller does an enormous service for the nation. He honestly delivers one of the most powerful...as well as painful first hand testimonies of the longest war in the history of the United States of America. This book will endure the test of time.

A moving book. Insight into Vietnam and its human impact.
Marines, and anyone who dreams of the "glory" of war, or who is contemptous of those who served should read this Pulitzer prize winning book.

Every Marine learned the legend of General Lewis B. "Chesty" Puller in boot camp. Chesty is our icon (See his biography "Marine"). Lewis Jr. was raised in that tradition and became a Marine officer himself.

His story is told eloquently and movingly. His suicide more than 20 years later is a death that belongs etched on the Vietnam Memorial Wall along with the other honored dead.

A bulwark of strength
I read this book while preparing for the Bar exams in 1998 in the Philippines. I want to pass it really bad, and Lewis Puller Jr.'s strength and wisdom is a bulwark of inspiration for me. I am now a lawyer, and his words stayed with me all these years.

But it's so tragic. I'm dumbfounded knowing he killed himself! All this time, his remarkable story sustained me through my own struggles. He is a loser after all! How awful. I wish I hadn't read the reviews here that told me about the suicide!

The writing is great anyway. But what a waste. I'm really disappointed!

Amazing, captivating...
I will keep this short and sweet. I got out of the Corps last year, the entire time you are a Marine, from the 1st day, you idolize "Chesty" Puller Sr., this book gave me insight into his life, not just his battle conquests, as well as insight into the life of his family. I had never even heard of his son before let alone the amazing struggle that he went through. A wonderfully written book that kept me captivated from start to finish. I couldn't put it down until I was done. When I should have been studying (Im a student now haha), I wasn't! I was reading this book. It gave me a new found appreciation for Autobiographies and I highly recommend it.

Sad But True Legacy
this is a hard read but worth it. Details the life of one who had expectations put on him he may not have wanted or been able to live up to. His Dad set the expectations knowingly or unknowingly and the Son followed the path without the tools. The only thing I struggled with in the book is the hero part. The poor guy unwittingly stepped on a major land mine that blew him up after four months in Nam. He did nothing great there but he did show us some incredible courage after. He gave us the reality of what war can be like after the shooting stops. Well worth reading from the human interest side and for the courage of a man and woman alone. Tough but worth it. ... Read more

Book Description

Gunther Koschorrek wrote his illicit diary on any scraps of paper he could lay his hands on. As keeping a diary was strictly forbidden, he sewed the pages into the lining of his thick winter coat and deposited them with his mother on infrequent trips home on leave. The diary went missing and it was when he was reunited with his daughter in America some forty years later that it came to light and became "Blood Red Snow."The horror and confusion of fighting in the streets of Stalingrad are broughtto life by his descriptions of the others in his unit: their differing manners and techniques for dealing with the squalor and death. This harrowing book takes the reader to the front line and paints a very human picture of what life was like under relentless Russian attacks in freezing conditions. As Koschorrek says in his introduction, the book stands as a memorial to the huge numbers on both sides who did not survive and is, over five decades later, the fulfillment of a responsibility he feels to honor the memory of those who perished. ... Read more

Reviews (12)

Interesting Memoir of the Eastern Front
Koschorrek's work serves as an interesting memoir of an aspect of World War II not often discussed in the West. Yes, we often hear tales of the horrors of a winter invasion in Russia, and of Hitler's faults in directing the campaign, but we seldom hear a first person account of the conflict on the Russian steppes. I knew the battle for Stalingrad was full of blood and violence, but Koschorrek's work brought the actual sights of frontline combat to the fore. His descriptions of waves of Russian soldiers assaulting his machine gun position, and the incessant barrage of artillery shells draws a chilling reminder of the utter horror and destruction faced on all sides during WW II.

I also found the records of Koschorrek's growing disillusionment with Hitler and his Nazi party very enlightening. As a frontline soldier, Koschorrek doesn't claim to have been an expert on the political situation in Germany. Many times he announces that he was fighting for the German people, rather than the Third Reich. And towards the end of his extremely long time on the Eastern Front, Koschorrek claims only to be fighting for his fellow soldiers. It must have been a terrible struggle to continue on in a failing attempt to capture Stalingrad, and then endure a savage retreat all the way to the gates of Berlin. To see one's homeland utterly destroyed would be terrible in itself, but then to realize this destruction was caused by the ideas of a madman would almost be too terrible to bear. Koschorrek's book serves as yet another good reminder of the lunacy and horror that is war.

The one disappointment I found in Koschorrek's book was the writing. Although I understand that he was probably attempting to vanquish some long standing demons, the use of a co-author would have made the book more readable. His complete use of first person narration, at times, becomes trying. I see that he was attempting to retain the vision of frontline life as it happened, but this reader would have rather seen him use some other literary methods in order to bring more cohesion to the story. Still, Blood Red Snow is a good book.

An excellent memoir
I have read many memoirs from soldiers during the war. I enjoyed "Blood Red Snow" a great deal. There seemed to be no apologies, no politics. JUST a soldier on the front line and his experiences. There are spelling errors scattered throughout the book, but I disagree with some of the other reviewers that the author should have gotten a ghost writer to help him out. The style flowed, and I found that the book went by rather quickly.

A good read for someone interested in the war.

Bloody Good Show
This is a powerful memoir of a German machine gunner involved in close combat on the Eastern Front. Nonstop action, interesting characters and Korschorrek's humanity makes this a satisfying and edifying read. More suspenseful than Black Edelweiss, more subjective than In Deadly Combat, more substantial than The Good Soldier, Korschorrek has written a war memoir every bit as good as Forgotten Soldier.

Bloody Good Show!
This is a powerful memoir of a German machine gunner involved in close combat on the Eastern Front. Nonstop action, interesting characters and Korschorrek's growth as a soldier makes this a satisfying and edifying read. More suspenseful than Black Edelweiss, more personal than In Deadly Combat, more substantial than The Good Soldier, Korschorrek has written a war memoir every bit as good as Forgotten Soldier.

Bloody good show!
This is a powerful memoir of a German soldier at the Eastern Front in small unit close combat. The action is nonstop and the soldiers and people Koschorrek meets along the way make it a valuable read. More gripping than Black Edelweiss, more personal than In Deadly Combat, and with more substance than The Good Soldier, this book deserves its place alongside Forgotten Soldier. ... Read more

Book Description

America's "forgotten war" lasted just thirty-seven months, yet 54,246 Americans died in that time -- nearly as many as died in ten years in Vietnam.On the fiftieth anniversary of this devastating conflict, James Brady tells the story of his life as a young marine lieutenant in Korea.

In 1947, seeking to avoid the draft, nineteen-year-old Jim Brady volunteered for a Marine Corps program that made him a lieutenant in the reserves on the day he graduated college.He didn't plan to find himself in command of a rifle platoon three years later facing a real enemy, but that is exactly what happened after the Chinese turned a so-called police action into a war.

The Coldest War vividly describes Brady's rapid education in the realities of war and the pressures of command.Opportunities for bold offensives sink in the miasma of trench warfare; death comes in fits and starts as too-accurate artillery on both sides seeks out men in their bunkers; constant alertness is crucial for survival, while brutal cold and a seductive silence conspire to lull soldiers into an often fatal stupor.

The Korean War affected the lives of all Americans, yet is little known beyond the antics of "M*A*S*H."Here is the inside story that deserves to be told, and James Brady is a powerful witness to a vital chapter of our history.
... Read more

Reviews (15)

One Marine's View of the Early Cold War
James Brady, The Coldest War: A Memoir of Korea (1990, New York: Thomas Dunne Books, St. Martin's Griffin edn., 2000)

This is a splendid little book about what one American statesman characterized, quite accurately, as "a sour little war." The reasons are clear. With the possible exception of the Falkland Islands War, no other conflict in the second half of the 20thcentury was fought over ground as consistently inhospitable as the three-year struggle in barren, frigid Korea. Author James Brady, who served as a Marine lieutenant there, describes the essence of the problem early in the book: "Hard enough fighting a war; in Korea, the cold could kill you." And he invokes the horrors of combat in the First World War and the Civil War when he makes this point: "In some ways, it wasn't a modern war at all, more like Flanders or the Somme or even the Wilderness campaign." Brady is a wonderful writer and creates marvelous word pictures of the war. Many operations took place after dark, and he writes: "The grenade, the knife, the shotgun, even the shovel and the axe were the weapons of night patrols." Brady also offers telling observations about matters important and trivial, including fearing the night as shells roared out "very low and directly overhead," feeling chagrined when he could not answer a colonel's question about the location of two machine guns which he commanded, using a wooden ammunition box as a toilet, urinating on his rifle to thaw it for firing, not changing underwear for 46 days while "on the line, living in holes," and subsisting for weeks at a time on c-rations. Nevertheless, according to Brady: "There was a purity about life on the line, a crude priesthood of combat." And he also remarks: "When you weren't fighting, the war was pretty good." Readers may be offended by some of Brady's recollection, including the incessant references to Koreans as "gooks" (except when he visits a village and addresses the inhabitants as "our Korean brothers"): The Korean bearers who deliver supplies to the line are known by everyone as the "gook train," and the universal eating utensil manufactured from a shell casing is known as a "gook spoon." Chinese soldiers always are "chinks." However, I found Brady's honesty engaging, even when it was politically incorrect. Brady's memoir is remarkably free of rancor, and, in fact, he appears to have respected his adversaries. Brady reports that some of the one million Chinese engaged in the war had been fighting continuously since the mid-1930s, first against the Japanese, then amongst themselves in the civil war which preceded the victory of Mao Zedong's Communists, and finally against the Republic of Korea, the United States, and their Allies. Nevertheless, Brady saves his highest accolades for his own First Marine Division, which he characterizes, without false modesty, as being "as powerful an infantry division as there had ever been in combat anywhere." Brady saves some of his most wry observations for superior officers, but he had unbridled admiration for his company commander Captain John Chafee, a graduate of Yale and Harvard Law School, who later was elected governor of Rhode Island and then had a distinguished career in the U.S. Senate. This book is not about grand strategy, national policy, or the geopolitics of the early Cold War. It provides a very narrow view of the Korean War. But, taken on its own terms, as the account of one Marine officer's experience, it is excellent.

The Coldest War
The book is about one of the most miserable places in the world to wage a war. Korea in 1950 was unheard of by many Americans, but the U. S. Marines were sent there to help defend South Korea from the expected Chinese invasion. Those Marines will never consider the encounter a "Forgotten War." The terrain and weather made it far more treacherous than any of the island fighting in the south Pacific during World War II, and some Marines who fought in both places claimed Korea was a nightmarish land dreamed up by the Devil to pit humans against each other. James Brady, a 23 year old second lieutenant when he landed in Korea as a platoon leader, aged quickly during his tour in combat Being new to the Corps, he found some enlisted career-men were more knowlegeable than contemporary officers. He gives them all their due, but considers Captain John H. Chafee the real hero of the book. The personal hardships of Marines of all ranks on line, is interspersed with humor and horror, but the most memorable part of the book belongs to the adaption of a green newcomer into a seasoned combat veteran. Brady has a talent for sniffing out the phonies and laying his bets with the soldiers of silent professionalism. "The Coldest War" tells it like only this distringuished writer could. Each page gets the reader into the feel of the unforgiving environment. The cold, the steep hills, the constant time in the front lines takes the reader into the uncomfortable setting of blood letting, death, and the terrible stench of the country. It's a book you won't soon forget.

90 day wonders with life and death decisions
James Brady's vignette, haunting, poignant, reflective, should take its place along side of William Manchester and John Keegan. The story he tells is not how it should have been, it's not even how he would have liked it to have been. It's like it was. Brady is like any other 19 year old, brash, filled with adventure, drunk on promise and the illusion of immortality. Then he signs up with the Marine Reserves if not avoid, then to postpone his own appointment with destiny. Unfortunately, destiny has a mind of its own, and a few years later he finds himself the Platoon Commander of a Marine Rifle platoon on Hill 749, in the winter of 1951, in Korea.

Brady doesn't judge. I like that most about his reflections on a horrible war in a freezing place. If you want to hang Truman, MacArthur, Eisenhower, and John Foster Dulles, this is probably the wrong book for you. It is brilliant but it tells only the story of one man-boy's experience placed in charge of 40 men in combat.

To some extent we look down on those boys. We judge them, forgetting that like us, they too were caught in the flotsam of other people's decisions. Although with most of us, the whole world doesn't subsequently judge us. War's change, the technology of killing becomes more sophisticated, sides change, enemies become friends, and bad guys become good guys. Frequenly we forget that it's the young men who take the fire. The greatest homily to Brady and the only self serving remark he makes would be truly understood by a few. When he leaves the fields where 54,000 died, he says, "I hadn't lost any men . . "

Brady reminds us that young men are faced with terrible decisions when politicians, frequently never in harm's way, put them into unexplained and perhaps unnecessary combat. We should not judge those boys. And we should not judge them after they become men. 5 stars. A sobering read.To Jim Brady, if no one told you, welcome home.

Dissapointed with this book
I really felt this book gave too much detail. I found the authors writing style to be too dull.

Excellent book
This book provides a very written account of a young man's experience with the Korean War. It starts with his introduction at a green infantry officer to departing as an intelligence officer. The excellent narrative describes what it was like to serve in different parts of Korea in different seasons. ... Read more

Book Description

This is one of the most vivid accounts of destruction and hopelessness we have ever seen. It is a 17-year-old German conscript's experiences in the defense of Berlin during the spring of 1945 - the last desperate days of Berlin - annotated and illustrated to show his part in the overall picture.

Altner's account covers in detail recruit training on the front line after only ten days in barracks, the execution of deserters and action against the Red Army and turncoat German 'Seydlitz' Troops.

He tells of the retreat back to Berlin with full kit, escaping capture time after time and the annihilation of nearly all his company in just one action.

He gives detailed descriptions of house to house fighting in the Spandau sector of Berlin, the battle for the Olympic Stadium, the sacrifice of Hitler Youths, fighting in the city's subway tunnels and the disastrous attempt at a breakout to the west, culminating in his final capture.

This is an account of war at its most basic and brutal level, of the collapse of everything familiar and the hopelessness of imminent defeat. ... Read more

Reviews (5)

A 17 year old induction in the German Army.
Altner was a seventeen year old German when he was inducted into the German Army and fought for five weeks in the defense of Berlin. This book is the story of those five weeks. As a previous reviewer has noted, Altner is not very careful in his descriptions of arms, tanks, aircraft, etc. Footnotes are provided that fill in much of this information. What is a seventeen year old interested in....food and sex, and so some of the story focuses on these two items at the expense of others. Altner also focuses on the traumatization of war, seeing a friend without his nose and eyes, walking past a wounded soldier without stopping, watching wounded soldiers be run over by tanks.
One gets a pretty vivid portrait from this seventeen year old kid of what war is like.
Although an interesting read, there are better stories out there such as Sajer's The Forgotten Soldier. Altner's experience was only five weeks, so perhaps it was not a complete picture of the war on the Eastern Front.

Unbelievable first-person account!
These are the experiences of a 17 year-old conscripted in the last couple months of the war where training was "on the job". Unbelievable accounts of fighting in Berlin where chaos reigns. Very detailed, very graphic. Every male from 14 to 60 gets pressed into service, or shot by the SS. Many don't have useable weapons, very little food and no rest from the hell of war. Civilians carry their few remaining possessions as they flee before the Russians. The flight of the remaining military and civilians as they try to break out of the Russian encirclement of the city and reach the western front is described graphically. The author is one of only a few survivors of a company of 150 17 year-olds. Probably the most enthralling first-person account of the many I've read, if only because it was written by a youth and covers only the last few months of the war when there was no longer any glory left to fight for--only survival.

Berlin Dance of Death
Very detailed and factual. Slow moving. If you like daily military unit reports you will find this interesting. Floyd McRae

disappointing and chaotic
Imagine if you were a 17 year old male and knew nothing about armies, weapons, or how to be a soldier, and yet were told to put on a uniform, not given any weapons initially, (the author had to scrounge for a gun from the battlefield) and then told to go out with a group of other teenage boys to fight the advancing Russian army.

The result is pretty much total chaos - our author gets randomly shifted around from one assignment to another, basically as cannon fodder to stand and hold his ground against the Russians. He only occasionally manages to fire his gun, rarely to any effect. His location at any one moment in the book is just as baffling to him as it is to the reader. He has no idea of what or who is advancing on him or why he is even in any particular location. Tanks and heavy weapons he encounters are just tanks and heavy weapons. Several times, I wanted to scream out, what kind of tanks are those that you saw out there? Tigers? Panthers? T-34's? You know, basic stuff that even the novice WWII history buff would know. Not a clue.

There are lots of descriptions of soldiers and civilians getting killed, of mangled bodies, of the cruelty of SS and SA "chain dogs" (assigned to hunt down and execute deserters and otherwise terrorize other Germans, military and civilian alike) in the final days of the Third Reich. A surprising amount of the really detailed verbiage in this book is spent describing what the author eats, practically every single day. It's just amazing to me that the guy could remember exactly what was in that tin of meat he just opened up, but can't tell the reader what kind of tank that was that just almost killed him.

About the only interesting vignettes from this book, the only topic that I have not seen set down in other "soldier's tale" books of this type, are the descriptions of the author's brief tryst with a German teen age girl right before his group of teenagers gets slaughtered in battle, and of the existence of "SS girl volunteers" whose main function seems to have been to bed down the German soldiers that they encountered. These scenes really do remind you that even in the midst of war, these were just high school teenagers, complete with raging hormones.

But don't buy the book for that reason either. These parts are very much PG-13 rated.

Not much value as military history overall.

I quite enjoyed it
I look for books on this subject, and have to say I enjoyed this one. Ther style is a bit different from what I expected, and the story is certainly not what I expected - which ads a new dimention to the Berlin fight. It wasn't always constant bitter fighting with tanks everywhere. There was a lot of confusion, and a lot of time when not mnuch was going on.

The one weak point is in the maps, which could be improved, but they do help tie the story into the historical tale- and the fellow that helped edit in in English is known as a long time student of the Berlin fight, so if he says its real, I belive him.

So all in all I recomend it for those looking for a groiund eye view of the fight for Berlin. ... Read more

Book Description

Mansur Abdulin fought in the front ranks of the Soviet infantry against the German invaders at Stalingrad, Kursk and on the banks of the Dnieper. This is his extraordinary story.

His vivid inside view of a ruthless war on the Eastern Front gives a rare insight into the reality of the fighting and into the tactics and mentality of the Red Army's soldiers. In his own words, and with a remarkable clarity of recall, he describes what combat was like on the ground, face to face with a skilled, deadly and increasingly desperate enemy. The terrifying moments of action, the discomfort of existence at the front, the humorous moments, the absurdities and cruelties of army organization, and the sheer physical and psychological harshness of the campaign - all these aspects of a Soviet soldier's experience during the Great Patriotic War are brought dramatically to life in Mansur Abdulin's memoirs.

Of special interest is the insight he offers into ordinary operations and daily life in the lower ranks of the Soviet army. As he tells his story he reveals much about the thinking of the men, their attitude to the war and their loyalties. He also sheds light on the tense relationships between the disparate national groups that were thrown together to create a huge fighting force. But most memorable are his honest, horrifying descriptions of combat, of being bombed and shelled, of trench warfare, of enduring tank attacks and friendly fire, and of coping with the wounded and the dead.

The Author Mansur Gizzatulovich Abdulin was born a Tatar in Anzhero-Sudzhensk, near Tomsk in central Siberia, in 1923. He worked as a miner before volunteering to fight for the Red Army in June 1942. After completing his course at the Tashkent infantry school, he fought on the Stalingrad front, during the encirclement of the German 6th Army, participated in the bitter, decisive battle at Kursk and harried the Germans as they retreated across the Steppes to the banks of the Dnieper river where he was seriously wounded. After the war he returned to his work as a miner and he now lives in retirement at Novotroitsk near Orenburg in the Urals ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Excellent memoir from the Red Army point of view
I've an avid reader of WWII literature for many years now.I don't ususally post reviews, but, I have to say that this book is one of the best books I've read about the war.As much as I like reading about battles, tactics, weapons, etc, this book is filled with that and so much more.The compassion of the author for his fellow soldiers is something that is missing from many memoirs, but it isn't only compassion, more so his actions and witness accounts of what happens in the midst of battles.Although it is fair to say that many memoirs talk about the above mentioned topics from one degree to another, this book does something more which I doubt anyone can describe well enough with words.It will stay with me for a long time as being one of the best memoirs of the war. ... Read more

Reviews (27)

A true, honest-to-God American hero...this book's a keeper.
One of the things that stood out, and something most probably don't know about Gen. Schwarzkopf, is what a truly interesting life he had. Living all over the world, he absorbed a lot of the culture which certainly helped him later in life, and especially during the Gulf War.

Having been in the military, I was struck at his absolute love and admiration he had for the "grunts" in the field. He loved every one of them....something you don't often see much of.

I lent my copy of this book to my father to read, and have never gotten it back. I only wish I could have gotten a hardcover copy when it first came out. Go ahead...spend the money and read a book which is truly worth reading.

Comprehensive biography of the general.
H. Norman Schwarkopf provides us with a detailed look at his professional life in this fine book. Schwarzkopf describes his life from his formative years through his entire military career. This look allows the reader to see how his outlook on military operations and strategy developed and how he put forth in action his military philosophy during Desert Storm.

Schwarzkopf candidly reviews the performance of his army and it's officers during the conflict with Iraq. This assessment has got him into hot water with the U.S. military establishment, but for the reader it delivers an outstanding behind the scene look at the operation.

My only complaint about the book is it's editing. Many of the stories, while providing a personal glimpse of Schwarzkopf, could have been omitted and the book still would have had the same effect. But overall, this is an outstanding read and given the current events of 2003, almost a must read for people who want to understand the current conflict with Iraq.

Great read, filled with adventure...
This is a great book written like a novel. Norm takes us with him, we feel like we are there reliving his life events. We also get to see the softer side of Stormin Normin, as he nearly punches out a MP in Vietnam who was less than respectful of an asian college. Softer, you ask? Read the rest of the book to see what he gets like when mad. I also liked the part of the book where Norm was talking about the problem with the NVA attacking, then running across the Cambodia border so the USA Army could not attack. One day Norms platoon is attacked and the NVA runs away, so Norm calls another soilder and asks for the map. The other soilder points to Cambodia and says "they crossed the border". Norm takes the map, licks his thumb, and proceeds to erase/smudge the part of the map that shows the border. Norm then says "Nah, they are still in Vietnam, lets go get em".

Just be warned, after reading this book you might feel like going to the local Army recruiting station. It is a great book!

A very readable military autobiography
The book begins with a young Norman Schwarzkopf. As with many autobiographies, there is not a vast amount of childhood memories, but here, enough memories are included to show the influence on a soldier.

From his childhood, Schwarzkopf lived a military life. With all the skills and languages he learned, as well as the cultures he experienced, the reader sees how all these were put to good use in the many duties and functions he has carried out for the United States.

His tale not only covers the events of his life, but the reader also sees how the Army has changed since Vietnam. His perspective provides us with a bit of insight that all non-soldiers should see. Although he uses some military terminology, this book is very easy to understand.

What really struck me was that he left out the names of many people he really disagreed with to prevent attacking them personally. He does mention names when he is giving praise. This, I feel, added a lot of class to my image of the general.

As expected, quite a bit of this book covers the Desert Shield and Desert Storm operations. Also, the book ends rather abruptly after the operations were over.

I would recommend reading this book, and I thank him for sharing this.

A soldiers story...
"It doesn't take a Hero" is the remarkable story of a remarkable man, the title of which comes from a quote Schwarzkopf gave during an interview with Barbara Walters in 1991; "It doesn't take a hero to order men into battle. It takes a hero to be one of those men who goes into battle."

Schwarzkopf's story is very different from his compatriot, the now Secretary of State, Colin Powell. The two men are of completely different temperaments, and their tales are told in ways that reflect their personalities. Powell's book is rather dry, with the occasional flash of self-depreciatory humor... and you get the feeling that this was included on the advice of his co-author!

"It doesn't take a Hero" is full of blunt, sometimes brutal, soldiers wit; one of the funniest examples concerns a Sergeant who swore relentlessly, and had to tell his assembled troops that they were now being commanded by a Colonel - not Schwarzkopf by the way - who didn't take to profanity in any way, shape, or form. The sergeant lined them up, and cursing with practically every other word, told them to cut out the ... swearing or else! Although this may look terribly contrived, when you read the book, you simply know that it happened, just the way Schwarzkopf says it did.

When you read Powell's story you respect him for what he achieved, mainly his rise from immensely humble origins to high political office, but when you read Schwarzkopf's, you can't help but like the man, warts and all.

As well as the brutal humor, Schwarzkopf is also brutally honest about his home life. He came from a well-to-do middle class family, his father was a West Point graduate, who later led the hunt for the Lindbergh kidnappers, and served President Roosevelt on a special assignment in Iran between the Great Wars. They lived in the best house in their town, and even employed a maid, but there was a dark family secret... his mother's alcoholism. The hurt and the pain this caused himself, his father and sisters, is dealt with openly and honestly, and you cannot help but feel that the inclusion of this was a very difficult decision for him to make.

The part of the book that deals with his duties in Vietnam is very well written, and like Powell, he also rails against the stupidity and arrogance of the politicians and 'Brass' who ordered young men to lay down their lives in that far away land for no good reason. And like Powell, he became equally convinced that he had to do something to change the army from within; it was either that or resign. In that respect he and Powell were remarkably similar in their thoughts and actions.

But far and away the most interesting part of the book is his telling of the Gulf War, Desert Storm. It is probably true to say that without "Stormin'" Norman, there wouldn't have been a, successful, Gulf War. His experiences in the Middle East as a young man, he lived with his father when he was posted to Iran, gave him a unique insight into the Arab world that served him personally, and the coalition as a whole, very well indeed.

He was able to play on the links his father had with Arab Royalty, and then forged his own links with the current Saudi Royal Family, working with Crown Princes on a first name basis to get things done, everything from releasing endless millions of dollars in payments to the US - what is the daily rental on an aircraft carrier?! - to arranging for "tent cities" to be erected to shield the incoming troops from the scorching desert sun.

But for me, the most interesting aspect of the Gulf War section was the politics of the coalition, especially in the Arab world, something that was almost completely missing in Colin Powell's telling. In this crucial, although mostly unknown area of the War, Schwarzkopf's experiences in the Middle East were invaluable. Middle Eastern politics are a lethal mine field at the best of times - us Brits have had our fingers burnt on more than one occasion over the years! - and pouring hundreds of thousands of free thinking, free drinking, Western troops of endless religious and moral persuasions into the autocracy that is the kingdom of Saudi Arabia, should have been a recipe for utter disaster!

Schwarzkopf's deft handling of the endless 'difficulties' involving religious services, the consumption of alcohol, the reading of magazines of dubious 'artistic' merit, even the receiving of Christmas cards and the erection of Christmas decorations, were handled with a skill and subtlety that one would not have thought a mere 'soldier' possible. And then of course there was the Israeli question. The one thing above all else that would have blown the coalition apart would have been Israel attacking Iraq in retaliation for the Scuds that fell on Israeli territory. Although much of the efforts to keep Israel out of the action were handled direct from Washington, Schwarzkopf's handling of the Saudi's in particular, on the ground as it were, was masterful.

"It doesn't take a Hero" is a fascinating tale, a real inspiration, it shows what one man can achieve through clear thinking, a positive attitude, boundless enthusiasm, and a profound love, not only of his own country, but of mankind. I would recommend it highly. ... Read more

Amazon.com

The popularity of Michael Shaara's wonderful Civil War novel The Killer Angels left many readers hungry for more information about its real-life protagonist, Joshua Chamberlain, who bravely led the 20th Maine in holding the Union's extreme left flank at Little Round Top on the second day of Gettysburg. This dual biography introduces a new figure, nearly as compelling: William Oates, the man who commanded the Alabama troops opposing Chamberlain's bluecoats. Their parallel lives, captured on these pages, reveal the country's 19th-century sectionalism and allow Perry to write a chronicle of the Civil War and its aftermath through the prism of two engaging personalities.

Chamberlain's story is fairly well known. He was a Bowdoin College professor who left his post to serve in the army, fought well, and went on to a successful postwar political career as the governor of Maine. Oates, like Chamberlain, was the son of a farmer who got caught up in his nation's defining conflict, and then helped it inch along to recovery years later as a pragmatic governor and member of Congress. Perry refuses to canonize either--Chamberlain was an overbearing husband and Oates stuffed ballot boxes--yet his treatment of these two admirable but flawed men provides a refreshing new way to read about the Civil War. --John J. Miller ... Read more

Reviews (14)

fascinating and well researched
An excellent work by an author who obviously has a tremendous love and fascination for American history. The book starts slowly with the family histories of the two main characters - Chamberlain and Oates. He does an excellent job of introducing the reader to two completely different character with completely different backgrounds without taking sides or displaying predjudices. Chamberlain, the hard working, devout, formally educated New Englander projected against the self educated rambler from Alabama. He then shows how the paths these men take lead them both to that infamous day on Little Round Top. The author also does a good job of setting the stage so the reader understands how easily the course could have taken another direction - Longstreet's counter-march and delayed attack allowing the Union to reinforce the critical position and maintain control of the good ground setting the stage for the ill-fated Pickett's Charge. I think that the only area lacking in the book is the Post Civil War period in the South. While Perry spends time explaining the obvious differences between the Democrats and the reconstructionist Republicans, I do not think enough effort was given to Oates' wavering political positions and how he was influenced. All in all, one of the best works on a very demanding and focused subject.

No Hero Worship, Just Heroes....
One cannot gain an understanding of the American Civil War, (as well as the periods preceding it and following it), unless one eventually learns to see it through the eyes of the people who lived it. This book is presents the reader with just such an opportunity.

The author follows the lives of two men from two completely different societies, through their youth, their adolescence and young adulthood, through the War and to the time where their paths cross in the battle on Little Round Top in July 1863, through the remainder of the war and its aftermath, right into old age. Each is affected by the society which surrounds him, each man embodies the best and the worst of those societies and each is motivated to fight in their defense. There's no hero worship here; each man is presented as being quite human. Yet, each man remains quite likeable in his own way.

There's some surprises as well. Chamberlain was played by Jeff Daniels in the movie "Gettysburg". In that movie Chamberlain gives an impassioned speech to his troops about being "...an army out to set other men free..." The real Chamberlain wasn't a friend of slavery but he was no abolitionist either. Oates, for his part, (and much to my surpise), was one of the first officers to officially lobby the Confederate Congress for the enlistment of slaves early in 1863. (He was unsuccessful in his attempt).

If I haven't given the book 5 stars it's because the author's writing style is a bit on the ponderous side. Nonetheless, this is the kind of book that you'll need to have in your library if your interest in the period is a serious one. Go experience it for yourself!

Nice Parallel
Very well researched..unique because it looks at two very different (and similiar) generals. Also contains a pretty good overview of significant battles of the war.

A Prime Example of What the Civil War Won for All of Us
The Civil War was, in some ways, our own clash of cultures that ended up with us having a stronger, and more philisophically harmonic country than we had then. After the war we no longer were "Those United States" but "These United States".

While it took longer (and still has not taken root) for some Southern areas to accept that they have changed because of the war, this book outlines in a fascinating fashion why the American Dream was won in 1865.

Joshua Chamberlain and William Oates are both opposing personalities. Chamberlain was a professor, Oates a laborer. Chamberlain was a respected fellow before the war. Oates was much less.. even going into hiding at one point from the law.

What they had in common was a belief that they had gone as far as they could in their lives before the war. Chamberlain was forever going to be a professor. Oates forever a laborer.

Both faced each other in Gettysburg. While Chamberlain was the hero of Little Top in that battle, Oates eventually had a longer and more productive politcal life than Chamberlain.

Neither of these men won their positions by birth, wealth, or by the inner workings of a political machine. They won their positions by hard work, and the admiration of their men in battle and the people they fought for.

While it may have been possible prior to the Civil War for these men to have done so (Abraham Lincoln is a prime example) the fact is that the Southern philosophy was beaten in 1865, and the Northern philosophy of hard work, and position by trust and admiration rather than birth, and wealth won out and both sides reaped benefits and still are from that day.

The Importance of Philosophy
In reviewing Golay's "To Gettysburg and Beyond," I bemoaned the artificial nature of comparative biographies. Ultimately, I argued that the disreputable life of the rebellious Edward Porter Alexander was not worthy to be compared with that of the faithful Joshua Lawrence Chamberlain. I still stand by those claims.

Once again, a comparative study has been published featuring Chamberlain and a Confederate adversary. This book, however, is much more worthy of an investment of your time and attention for at least two important reasons.

First, unlike Golay, Mr. Perry has selected a worthy individual to compare with Chamberlain. Unlike many of his Southern compatriots, Oates was not a former high ranking official of the US federal government (e.g.: John Breckinridge or Jefferson Davis), nor was he a graduate of the US Military Academy at West Point or a former US Army officer (e.g.: Davis, Lee, Longstreet, Jackson, Bragg, Alexander, Ewell, A.P. Hill, Garnett, Pickett, Armistead, et al.). Thus, Oates did not compound his acts of sedition with the violation of sacred oathes.

Second, Mr. Perry's text is not so much a comparative biography as it is a comparison of the philosophies and circumstances that led these two, brave men to heroically oppose one another on Little Round Top.

Following St Origin, the Church has long argued: "Lex orandi; Lex credendi." Mr. Perry makes clear that the opposite is also true: beliefs can lead to actions. Right beliefs lead to great, heroic actions (a la Chamberlain), and flawed philosophies lead to tragically flawed actions (a la Oates).

Mr. Perry's real contribution is not so much that he exegetes the lives of two brave men for us to emulate. His real contribution is that he demonstrates the power and value of our beliefs. ... Read more

Book Description

Pararescue jumpers, or PJs, are the military's most elite force, a highly trained group of men serving in the Air Force and the National Guard. In battle, they fly behind enemy lines to rescue downed pilots. In peacetime, PJs stay sharp with daring civilian rescues, recovering victims from scorching deserts, treacherous mountaintops, raging seas, and natural disasters. Their almost unimaginable courage first came to the public's attention in Sebastian Junger's The Perfect Storm, with that book's riveting account of how a helicopter of PJs plunged into the Atlantic during a tragic rescue attempt. Senior Master Sergeant Jack Brehm was the PJ supervisor coordinating their dramatic efforts that night.

That Others May Live not only sheds new light on that rescue, it also tells the thrilling story of Jack Brehm's devotion to the PJs, a career choice that transformed him from an aimless kid to an on-call hero. Jack's vivid account reveals not only the dangerous rescues and relentless training he and his fellow PJs endure, but the emotional struggles as well: losing friends, waiting anxiously to be called into action, and trying to keep their families together despite the enormous life-and-death pressures of the job. This book is a compelling and deeply personal story of one man's "ordinary" heroism that is, in reality, extraordinary. ... Read more

Reviews (10)

Decent book, some errors
On the whole, I thought this was an excellent view into the lives and mindset of PJs, as well as their families--and let's face it, family is important. Stress destroys relationships, and there's enough stress in this job for a dozen ordinary people.
Some of the more gut-wrenching moments include descriptions of rescues where the weather won't allow an air pickup, so a PJ jumps into the sea with the hope of being able to keep himself and the victims alive until the weather breaks. Not a job for cowards.
Some parts are a tad slow, but then, this is one of those jobs that consists of months of boredom punctuated by moments of sheer terror. It's an essential element, and I didn't find it to detract from the read.
My only complaint is that it seemed rushed into production and some technical errors slipped in. An F-15 rarely seats two people, never side by side, and doesn't have an "escape pod." That sounds somewhat like an F-111, and if the rescue was off the coast of Britain in the 1980s, a likely actuality. Obviously, Jack Brehm didn't make that mistake in print; it was probably an editor shuffling things around. Likewise, some of the parachuting technicals mentioned don't match my jump experience.
But then, this isn't a textbook for students, it's a view into the mind and lives of the men who risk death to save others, amidst the families, organizations and rivalry and the occasional mockery of wannabes. Well worth the read.
As to "The Perfect Storm" reference, there has to be some way to relate the content to a casual reader who would otherwise think of "Pajamas" when hearing "PJ."
It's "Pararescue Jumper," and they and the pilots and the Coasties are all on the same team.

Exciting, enlightening, touching and TRUE!
It is rare that one reads a true account that has moments of gripping excitement and touching personal moments, that provides a clear picture of the little-known world of the PJ's, and does it all while reading like a thriller. Their adventures while in the act of saving lives are as exciting as any adventure/thriller's hero's exploits...and in the PJ world, people can be seriously injured or killed. I read THAT OTHERS MAY LIVE after reading THE PERFECT STORM, the incredible account of how a helicopter of PJ's plunged into the sea during a tragic rescue attempt. The author of THAT OTHERS MAY LIVE was the PJ supervisor coordinating the rescue attempt. This book provides the background and the human side of the drama to answer the many questions that arise after reading or seeing the movie, THE PERFECT STORM. It's difficult to understand how anyone can maintain the discipline, athletic abilities, and commitment that are needed to remain a PJ for 20 years but Jack Brehm's life story proves it can be done - and those whose lives he touched are the better for it.

Wow
I thought this was a fantastic story, I simply couldn't put it down. The tales of adventure are truly compelling, and I particularly enjoyed the way the author contrasted stories of Jack Brehm "Family Man" with Jack Brehm "Action Man". These guys are true heroes, but they're also people - they have families, feelings, and petty squabbles just like everybody else.

I know some people were uninterested in the family stories, but I found them very interesting, and at times dramatic. Frankly, if the entire book were nothing but this guy's war stories, it'd be hard to believe he was a real person.

I'd recommend it wholeheartedly.

PJs Are Hereos
An easy-flowing book to read from start to finish; however, I wish there was more on the pipeline training. For those who expected more on the PJ's lifestyle, I recommend the video, "Pararescuemen - That Others May Live".

SLOW AND LAME
WHAT A DISSAPPOINTMENT. WITH THE EXPERIENCE HE HAD, I HOPED BREHMS BOOK WOULD BE DECENT. IT WAS ANYTHING BUT. A TEDIOUS SLOW READ I POSED THE QUESTION TO MYSELF, "WHY AM I READING THIS?" ... Read more

Book Description

This sophisticated and masterful biography, written by a respected French history scholar who has taught courses on Napoleon at the University of Paris, brings new and remarkable analysis to the study of modern history's most famous general and statesman.

Since boyhood, Steven Englund has been fascinated by the unique force, personality, and political significance of Napoleon Bonaparte, who, in only a decade and a half, changed the face of Europe forever. In Napoleon: A Political Life, Englund harnesses his early passion and intellectual expertise to create a rich and full interpretation of a brilliant but flawed leader.

Napoleon believed that war was a means to an end, not the end itself. With this in mind, Steven Englund focuses on the political, rather than the military or personal, aspects of Napoleon's notorious and celebrated life. Doing so permits him to arrive at some original conclusions. For example, where most biographers see this subject as a Corsican patriot who at first detested France, Englund sees a young officer deeply committed to a political event, idea, and opportunity (the French Revolution) -- not to any specific nationality. Indeed, Englund dissects carefully the political use Napoleon made, both as First Consul and as Emperor of the French, of patriotism, or "nation-talk."

As Englund charts Napoleon's dramatic rise and fall -- from his Corsican boyhood, his French education, his astonishing military victories and no less astonishing acts of reform as First Consul (1799-1804) to his controversial record as Emperor and, finally, to his exile and death -- he is at particular pains to explore the unprecedented power Napoleon maintained over the popular imagination. Alone among recent biographers, Englund includes a chapter that analyzes the Napoleonic legend over the course of the past two centuries, down to the present-day French Republic, which has its own profound ambivalences toward this man whom it is afraid to recognize yet cannot avoid. Napoleon: A Political Life presents new consideration of Napoleon's adolescent and adult writings, as well as a convincing argument against the recent theory that the Emperor was poisoned at St. Helena. The book also offers an explanation of Napoleon's role as father of the "modern" in politics.

What finally emerges from these pages is a vivid and sympathetic portrait that combines youthful enthusiasm and mature scholarly reflection. The result is already regarded by experts as the Napoleonic bicentennial's first major interpretation of this perennial subject. ... Read more

Reviews (6)

A political account of the Corsican Emperor of the French
Stephen Englund is a person who has immersed himself in a study of Napoleon since childhood. His research in the complex politcial world of nineteenth century Europe is well done.
Napoleon emerges from Englund's book as something of a Renassiance soldier of fortune, The little corporal rose from a lieutenant of artilleryin the Republic army to become the titan of nineteenth century Europe,
Napoleon as delineated by Englund is seen as a complex man of warth and cruelty. Bonaparte loved his family and France. He was
a man who believed in strong authoritan rule whose Code Napoleon and military victories and defeat placed an indelible impact on France.
This book is slow reading. Englund's style is replete with long words and is written in a lapidary, anecdotal style reminiscent of an earlier era of histographic authorship.
I fraknly was bored by much of the intricate politcs involved in the countries conquered, ruled and opposed by Empire France.
The accounts of battles are brief relating to how they affected Napoleonic politcal stratgey. The personal life of Napoleon is briefly chronicled but the interest remains focused on politics,
Those wanting the best account of the military aspects of Napoleon's rule would be better served by reading David Chandler's Campaigns of Napoleon. The Army of the Empire has been well presented by the work of Elting.
This work should not be used as an introduction to the Napleonic world. It is somewhat specialized and lacks good maps.
Many of the characters are assumed to already be familiar to the reader.
This book is useful for the information it conveys. It is worth the time spent in reading it. Recommended for history buffs but not for those with only a general interest in the man and the European landscape of post-Revolutionary France.

Excellent
Centuries after his death, Napoleon Bonaparte still stymies biographers. What to make of this amazingly dynamic figure who forever changed the world around him? Is the French Emperor the prototype for 20th century fascist dictatorship, with a strong centralized state dedicated to iron hand rule over a subject populace? Was Bonaparte nothing but a vicious and petty warlord, whose own lust for glory and battle guided the destiny of France in the early 19th century? Or was Napoleon, the so-called "New Man", the dream of an absolute leader guided by the humanist principles espoused by the European enlightenment? If anything, Bonaparte defies almost all characterizations. He was a politician as well as a military leader, a fact often ignored in other biographies. As a very astute political player, Napoleon presents a multi-faceted persona, a fact recognized in Steven Englund's excellent biography. Englund's Napoleon is somewhat sympathetic, a man dedicated to certain ideals and his own ascendancy. The way to the top is a stunning tale, and Englund tells it as well as anyone else.

One of the best parts of Englund's book is the emphasis he places on Napoleon's early life on Corsica. I find this is a part of Bonaparte's psyche that is often ignored, to the detriment of in depth studies. The fractious politics on the little island had a great deal to do with the developing political theories of Napoleon, as he experienced power and competition for the first time. The rise and fall of his erstwhile ally, Paoli, mirrored his increasing disenchantment with truly enlightened politics. At the same time, young Napoleon was no doubt developing a chip on his shoulder as he was educated along with the rich and powerful of French royalist society. These bluebloods shunned rustic Napoleon, who, from an early age, had to fight for everything he had. As a young officer, the vivacious Napoleon was already far ahead of his years in maturity, intelligence, and understanding of the momentous political tidal waves that were ripping apart French society. In a time of indecision, he was a dangerous man indeed.

Englund writes of the rise of Napoleon as well as I've ever seen it. Napoleon did not lead a division into Paris, did not institute a military dictatorship on a whim. One of the most impressive things about Napoleon's ascension was the fact that his actual military power was rarely used by him in order to assume control of the country. Instead, Napoleon shrewdly pushed his way into the new revolutionary institutions formed after the death of Louis XVI through shrew maneuvering and bold action on the battlefield. He was strong enough to dominate his opponents, but subtle enough to avoid most criticism. I found the actual mechanics in Napoleon's power grab to be stunning in their complexity and genius, a point Englund does not gloss over. Equally impressive is the avenue through which Napoleon, inexplicably, managed to be crowned emperor of a nation that had just executed its monarch.

Napoleon's reign as monarch was an experience of contrasts. Through his military power, Napoleon managed to effectively conquer almost all of Europe. He solidified his control of France proper, initiating a whole new spate of civil law. I thoroughly agreed with Englund's notion that Napoleon was a beneficial presence in some instances, especially if one agreed with the Enlightenment. His restructuring of representative mechanisms and the courts of Europe preceded similar improvements made decades later. However, Napoleon's own recklessness ruined him in the end, as he never successfully made use of his conquered states, preferring to constantly denigrate and abuse their resources.

Englund's biography is so successful on two different planes. On is the writing itself. While the book is not overly simplistic, but it is very engaging. Englund has a wonderful ability to convey facts without drowning in them, writing in a very airy style that often mixes his own insightful comments with historical events. The other reason this book is such a joy is because of its exhaustive research. Every opinion and supposition seems very well grounded in voluminous research and evidence. I found the book eye opening and extremely interesting.

Napoleon the nice?
Well, no, not exactly. But this is certainly the most positive recent biography of the Emperor, many of which compare him to Hitler. Steven Englund's new work is a not altogether satisfactory hybrid. On the one hand it is well aware of recent scholarship and frequently refers to it in the notes. On the other hand it is less detailed and less informative than one might expect. Ian Kershaw devoted 1,400 pages of text to Hitler, not counting notes. By contrast Englund devotes about 475 pages and here less is less. Compared to recent biographies such as Paul Preston's Franco, Richard Bosworth's Mussolini or Herbert Bix's Hirohito, this is a less successful book. Another problem lies in its basic thesis. It is complex: Napoleon was a vain man who lusted for military glory and who ultimately failed because he refused to compromise at key points in his reign. But at the same time he was also the advocate of a vaguely progressive reform (which in my view seems to get vaguer as time goes on). The problem with this thesis is not that it is untrue. Indeed it is basically true. But it is poorly presented and argued, with certain lacunae on the way and a certain apologetic tone.

As one reads the book we are reminded of Napoleon's virtues. He was a brilliant general, obviously, such as the quartet of victories he won in five days a few months before his first abdication. He was c