Martin Blumenson's has created a fascinating and surprisingly readable biography of the World War II hero, General George Patton. Blumenson has taken the General's diaries, personal and official letters and combined them with letters written to him and newspaper articles written about him. These are arranged in chronological order.

The period covered by this book was the most active of Patton's lifetime. In the last three years of his life, Patton had adventures enough for several lifetimes. After playing a major part in the conquest of North Africa, then Sicily, Patton was sidelined for nearly a year after the slapping incidents. During this time a disinformation campaign was put forth to convince the Nazis that Patton would command a non-existent army group that was to invade the south of France. A month after D Day Patton took command of the recently formed Third Army and drove across Europe, playing a pivotal role in the Battle of the Bulge.

In this book, Blumenson splices together the actual documents written by and about Patton as the actual events unfolded. Despite being an amalgamation of material from so many different sources, the book reads like a novel. Blumenson very rarely adds his own editorial commentary. This is done in a way that enhances the flow of the narrrative. My only complaint is that it frequently is difficult to determine where these asides begin and end. This readability is what makes the book great and unique. Having read many other biographies that over-analyze and inject the authors' personal opinion into the narrative it is refreshing to simply have the facts laid out in front of you.

Patton had an amusing tendency to give sarcastic nicknames to his rivals and adversaries. Omar Bradley is "the tentmaker," both for his Arab name and his tendency towards caution, Eisenhower is "divine destiny" for his political ambitions. General W. Bedell Smith, Eisenhower's hated chief of staff, is variously referred to as Beadle and Beetle. At the same time he is privately mocking these people, Patton takes great pains to praise and flatter them publicly. He even admits to himself in his diary that he is a shameless bootlicker and rear-end kisser when necessary. Patton justifies his actions because he feels he must be a sycophant to fulfill his destiny of leading men in battle. Patton even advises his son (who was a West Point Cadet at the time) that the way to advancement at the Academy is to seek out the Commandant and Superintendent and suck-up to them and their wives as much as possible.

I had low expectations for this book. Every other collection of the letters of famous men I have read has been interesting in spots but unreadable as a whole.Even the famous collected letters of Pliny the Younger are mostly dreary reports to the emperor and uninteresting notes to friends. For Blumenson to have created such an entertaining and informative document from similar material is a remarkable achievement.

I used this book while writing a paper for my Graduate level International Relations class. Although it is not considered a classic, it possess and delivers enormously relevant information regarding one of the greatest and most controversial master of war acknowledged in modern history. I commend this book as an pleasurable read, as well as an highly effective intellectual reference instrument.

Although a fan of General Patton, I hesitated to purchase this book. The title indicated a daunting book for reference only, rather than one for reading. But one shouldn't judge a book by its cover; I was wrong. "The Patton Papers" is surprisingly readable, and a must for anyone who would seek to understand this American hero. From diary entries to personal letters, Martin Blumenson weaves a fascinating story that makes one feel one is a part of the Seventh and Third Army staff! I recommend that you read a biography first ("Patton: A Genius for War" is excellent) so that you have an overview of Patton's life. A word of caution: reading this book will dampen your enthusiasm for the movie "Patton," as it makes clear the multitude of historical inaccuracies. A really great book!

This other book goes into this crime further and the association with the Manson Family. I remember reading this book a few years ago and it sent chills up my spine...why? well, because I used to date Bill Mentzer (the "hit man" profiled in this book. It's truly amazing that he could have actually been the person that I read about and I was, well, shocked to say the least. I thought he made all of his money being a body guard for the rich and famous and had no idea that the trips he took me on were his alibi's...scary stuff when I look back. I also learned from the book that he was cheating on me with Lannie what's her name. Well, at least it had a good ending and he ended up in prison where he 'ought to be after he got his 7 minutes of fame featured on "America's Most Wanted. I stopped taking his collect calls and letters since I saw the show and read the book.

Chilling true life crime. Good portayal of the subjects

Oh wow!!!! Just when you think you've read everything about very bad people, along comes this gem. The cast of characters in this book makes Caligula look like Mother Teresa. A real page-turner about the murder of an aspiring producer, Roy Radin, in the 1980s. Steve Wick is a reader's writer: he keeps the pace moving weaving the details into a very rich tapestry. I didn't want the book to end. NB--Because this book is out-of-print, run, don't walk, to the public library and check out a copy. It's worth your time and effort.

This book is one of inspiration and courage... it is one you can not put down... The events these men went through makes you realize what you have in life and how friendship really can overcome all obstacles... I recommend this book to everyone... once your done reading, the triumph of all vetrans will stay in your heart and mind for a lifetime!

This book is EXCELLENT! It is one you won't be able to put down... It is remarkable that this is a true story it just shows what our soldiers have truly done for our freedom... This book is one of inspiration and courage... and once your through you will look at life in a whole new perspective!

This was a very inspirational book, about a man who had to sacrafice alot for this great country of ours! The tellings of what he had to go through, and how those friends, he met along the way, helped him get through it all, is just very touching! It tells apart of our history not many people know about, and gives the deserved recognition to those men who fought in the Korean War. It certainly deserves 5 stars! I could not put it down, once I started reading it!

I no longer remember where I stumbled across Vessel of Sadness. I recall that I was totally unfamiliar with this book and its author. I was puzzled by the title. But my attention was captured by the literary reviews on the back cover.

"How have you said so much and involved me so deeply with so few words?" Gunnar Myrdahl, Nobel laureate.

"One of the most sensitive and moving books of the war, both authentic and poetic" A.L. Rowse, Elizabethan historian and Shakespearean scholar.

This is a fictional account of the protracted and bloody Allied invasion of Anzio in 1944. The story is told through shifting points of view - an Italian child, a British general, a camp commandant, and Allied and German soldiers. This mosaic is slow to unfold, but a tragic, unrelenting story emerges. Overall the book is subdued and somewhat detached. But its impact is staggering.

This short book is quite remarkable. It has a haunting aspect to it, but it is not a blatant antiwar account. As others have noted, possibly the best comparisons are with The Red Badge of Courage and All Quiet on the Western Front. In a poetic style William Woodruff conveys a frightening sense of realism. High level strategic decisions move down through the chain of command and are translated into battle. Confusion, fear, and pain are pervasive. The focus is on survival.

The author participated in the initial invasion landing at Anzio on January 23, 1944 with the First British Infantry and fought for the next four months on the beachhead, trapped by German forces on the high ground. Woodruff tells the story of war with an emotional impact that ensures that this literary work will become a classic. I highly recommend Vessel of Sadness.

This is a brief, powerful story of life on the front lines in WWII. It is a quick read, but it will touch your soul.

This is a moving and vivid description of the Allies attempt to take Rome during World War II. The novel is brief and concise but reaches a level of greatness comparable to the best World War II literature. Woodruff has make an understanding effor to convey to all readers the stupidity of war and the suffering of those who were persuaded to fight for the betterness of humankind but were uncertain of their personal destinies. As a reader I was very impressed with the quality of the narrative, the interesting dialogues, the sense of inmediacy that the novel brings and the matter of fact approach to war. Woodruff has brought us a magnificient work that will leave an ever-lasting impression on those who read it.

The battle of the general spells out the huge fight that existed within the allied camp during the war. Patton and Montgomery didn't like each other and the Bradley/Patton relationship wasn't much better. Dr. Blumenson does a excellent job of showing how close the allies came to ending the war 10 month earlier. It's a book to add to your collection.

On the 16th of December, 1944, from Luxembourg to St Vith, Belgium, sixteen German divisions struck four American division equivalents across an assault front of some sixty miles, splitting the US 1st Army in two. John Morelock's 'Generals of the Ardennes' is one of the most incisive accounts of American military actions during this German Ardennes Offensive, known to most today as the Battle of The Bulge. Detailed yet easy to follow, Morelock's work sets the standard for studies of US general officer leadership during one of the most critical campaigns of World War II. Throughout his critique he both praises and traduces the decisions and actions of these leaders, outlining both their strengths and weaknesses. Just as vital, Morelock's descriptions of small unit actions often proves superior to other accounts of the fighting during that most terrible of winter offensives, one which would see American armies suffer 50,000 casualties to all causes. Many readers today equate the Battle of Bulge with Bastogne, Patton, and the 101st Airborne Division. However, Morelock reveals the little known or overlooked fact that without the disintegrating yet determined actions of units to the east - destined within a few days to be rendered 'combat ineffective' -- there would never have been a fabled Bastogne today. Although the green 106th Infantry Division which bore the brunt of the initial attack and subsequently lost thousands of men as POWs, the division was never 'destroyed' -- a myth made popular by Charles Whiting's earlier book on the Bulge, 'Death of a Division.' Rather, several units of that division such as the 424th Infantry Regiment, its engineers and its artillerymen, along with the 14th Cavalry Group and a Combat Command of the 7th Armored Division, fought key actions that blunted the maneuvering of vaunted German units such as the 1st SS Panzer Corps. Although fighting against tremendous odds, such retrograde operations delayed the panzer assaults long enough for Allied forces to jam and eventually reverse the German offensive. As Morelock so clearly delineates, the courage and determination of these unheralded units and their leaders allowed US forces to the west and north to rush to and command key terrain along the salients of St Vith and Bastogne.

If you only read a singular book on the Battle of the Bulge, make this the one!

Blumenson writes an outstanding history of the battle from the point of view of commanders from platoon level to Corps level, stressing the problems facing them and the means by which they arrived at their decisions. The best acount of the US army's initiation to combat against the Germans that I have ever read.

It has material SELECTED in order that we, the future students of history,not have a clue as to what really happened during that historical period. The "Selectivity"just accidently left out the period 1940-45. Can't let that information get out! Others may begin suspecting censureship elsewhere!

Not a big history buff, but I had to read this for a class.
Very interesting! Blumenson actually served with Patton in the Third Army HQ in Europe and also in Korea.

But don't stop at this volume - The Patton Papers 1940-1945 finishes Patton's unique story. These years weren't forgotten as another reviewer said, just in another book.

Blumenson lets Patton speak for himself though a huge number of personal letters, lectures, papers and other materials. You can watch the young Patton grow through trial (being held back after his first year at West Point), and triumph (his heroic actions combat during WWI), into the famous fighting general of WWII. Don't let the long length of the book put you off. I found it to be absolutely absorbing. By the end of the book you feel that you know Patton, his family and his friends and that you have some idea of what made him who he was.

Blumenson obviously has deep respect for Patton but he also does not shy away from Patton's serious flaws in character and behavior. Even before the well known incidents of WWII, some of the things Patton wrote, did and said were really mean, crude and / or embarrassing. He was an accomplished brown noser and jealous of his peers to the point of paranoia at times. Its all here to see.

Of course, I also highly recommend the second half of the story in the Patton Papers 1940 - 1945 by the same author.

Although there is no doubt in my mind that Patton is one of the most brilliant generals of 20th century USA, Blumenson seems to be a bit biased towards this controversial figure. He rationalizes all of the various controversies that surrounded Patton to put Patton in the best light. There is no controversy, or 'dirt' dug up on Patton here. Otherwise a fairly quick and very interesting examination of the life of Patton.

For readers who want a top-notch biography of Patton without committing to an 800-page or 1000-page tome, this is the book. Blumenson makes excellent use of Patton's personal letters, especially those to Patton's wife, to reveal the human side of his tough-as-nails persona. Patton with nervous indigestion? Patton feeling worthless and inferior? Who would have guessed! Highly recommended for those interested in historic figures and military history, but who don't want to get bogged down in minutae such as detailed battlefield tactics. This book focuses on the man, as it should, and not so much on the wars that made his career. That being said, my only complaint is that for the chapters about actual warfare the book could have used some basic large-scale maps of North Africa and Western Europe, especially France, showing the route of Patton's advances and major battles. I sometimes felt lost as Patton rolled through one village after another to attack the enemy.

I saw the movie with George C Scott, and was inspired to learn more about Patton, and this was the first book I picked up. It turns out that this was the right one, as it is fast reading, relatively short, and gives a good overview of the man behind the legend. I feel that the author is objective, and is not biased, which must be hard. He talks about Patton's weaknesses as well as his strengths. He even discussess Patton's later years when he became delusional and described the Jewish people as "lower than animals". I particularly liked the end, where it states that if Patton had lived, he would not be the legend that he is today. I have since read "The last days of Patton", an entire novel, which is only covered here in one short chapter. Of course, this is not a bad thing if you have not read a Patton book before. I HIGHLY recommend this one as a first Patton book to read or give as a gift to a friend.

This book is Manstein's version of WWII. Manstein obeyed Hitler during the war but later was critical unlike Rommel. Manstein, after supervising over the death of millions of his countrymen and others, himself went into comfortable retirement.

Quite simply, in late November 1942, the situation did not seem potentially disastrous to the Germans, from Hitler downwards. Their intelligence agencies had completely failed to discover the buildup of the Soviet Armies poised to surround the Sixth Army. They simply could not believe that the Soviets still had such strong armies left.

Hitler and his generals all believed that the losses they had inflicted on the Soviets had to be crippling. Their underestimation of Soviet strength was what led to Stalingrad, no matter what Manstein may claim he would have done otherwise, the Soviets would still have been victorious.

This book was a very good read, but I wouldn't believe everything he says either. However, if you're interested in
the Russian Front Campaign and the events surrounding the disaster the Germans never recovered from at Stalingrad, this book will put a lot of those events into perspective.

Upon reading this book it would appear Manstein not only had a talent with the sword but also the pen. Manstein's book is a very readable account of his war time experiences. Included in his book is the demise of the OKH ( General Staff of the Army) through its lack of decisiveness in making a military decision.The formulation, acceptance and implementation of the "Mainstein Plan" which was adopted for the offensive in the West as other plans would NOT acheive total victory. Mainstein shares his simplistic but interesting views on how the Battle of Britain should have been fought.

He then takes us through his brillant victories in the Crimea which were acheived againsnt overwhelming numbers and where his successes were largely acheived through having a free hand and no interference from Hitler. Mainstein devotes a chapter on Hitler as Supreme Commander and analyses Hitlers strengths and many weaknesses.

There is a fascinating detailed account of the German tragedy at Stalingrad and how the beleaguered Sixth Army had the opportunity to break out towards Mainstein's relief forces. However the opportunity was lost due to the Army's hesitation and Hitlers insistence Stalingrad must be held. The sacrifice of the Sixth Army however gave time for other Army Groups to leap frog back to safety and deal a counter blow at Kharkov.

One diappointing feature of the book is the short chapter devoted to operation "Citadel" ( or the battle of Kursk). This is because the translators of the book have taken a much shorter translation than what was orginally contributed by the author. I would be most interested in obtaining the orginal full length translation.

Mainsteins views on how operations should be fought subsequent to Kursk were constantly at odds with Hitlers views on holding onto everything. This along with some other top Nazi Party members insistence that Manstein was a defeatist guaranteed his dimissal in April 1944.

This book is a MUST READ and indispensable to anyone with an interest in the Second World War.