American Caesar

Douglas MacArthur 1880-1964

By: William Manchester

Narrated by: Grover Gardner

Length: 31 hrs and 53 mins

Publisher's summary

Virtually all Americans above a certain age hold strong opinions about Douglas MacArthur. They either worship him or despise him. Now, in this superb book, one of our most outstanding writers, after a meticulous three-year examination of the record, presents his startling insights about the man. The narrative is gripping, because the general's life was fascinating. It is moving, because he was a man of vision. It ends, finally, in tragedy, because his character, though majestic, was tragically flawed.

©1978 William Manchester (P)1991 Blackstone Audio Inc.

Critic reviews

"Listening to Parker, one imagines a jovial uncle delivering a slap on the back and sitting down to describe war experiences in a rich voice filled with humor and pathos. The 'you-are-there' quality grabs and holds. This is a carefully done, seamless audio presentation." ( AudioFile)

Masterfully written and narrated.

Manchester is, of course, a genius. This book joins his works on Churchill and the Middle Ages as a beautiful literary tribute to their subjects and the craft. Manchester’s prose is perhaps the greatest of the American 20th Century.
He was aided by extraordinary subject matter. The General deserves volumes, and only Manchester could do him justice in one.
Gardner does really well narrating. He fits the time and subject matter, particularly as the narrative rolls into WWI and beyond.

Great read!

Great Read

It was great hearing information about so many important historic events through an important person that was there for all of those events.

A biography with great historical context

The author did a wonderful job of positioning the history into what is happening and how MacArthur would feel about it.

Mesmerizing

I picked this up for sale mainly because I love Grover Gardner. I ended up listening to the majority of this tome when I was hiking across Scotland and I could not possibly love it more. It was awfully educational for me and with my favorite narrator at the helm it was like a free Harvard lecture series. I wish there were more titles like this.

Engaging

Very informative — obviously a lot of work went into this book. For my taste, I would have preferred a strict adherence to reporting and none of the author’s opinions. The book was written in the 1970’s, from a comfortable, middle class, lifestyle. The author had been involved in World War II, in the Pacific, 30 years earlier. It seems obvious to me, at least, that this experience and the intervening years could not help but color his views.

the details

I liked all the detail about his life. it provides great insight into the military and political battles.

Hail Caesar and Hail Manchester!!!

The epic life story of one of the greatest generals in American history as told by a virtuoso biographer and storyteller. You tell me. Does it get any better than this? Well yes, it does. The narration of Tom Parker (also known as Grover Gardner) can best be described as an iron fist in a velvet glove. Parker complements the story with his gravitas and smooth diction. I have listened to about 50 audio books from many genres. I can tell you without reservation that this book is a must in your collection. Buy it. You won't be disappointed. One last thing. This not just a book for those interested in military history. The story covers every facet of MacArthur's life and it should be of interest to anyone. MacArthur was truly fascinating.

American Caesar

Would you consider the audio edition of American Caesar to be better than the print version?

I didn't read the book so...... I can say that this is the absolute best audible book I've ever listen to.

What was one of the most memorable moments of American Caesar?

General MacArthur's WW1 experience was an inspiration.

Which character – as performed by Grover Gardner – was your favorite?

Well General MacArthur of course! The man was just right for his challenges and just what our country needed. The positives to this man far outweighs any negatives.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

I tend to buy books that are lengthy and this one was a long one. My only wish for this book is that it would be twice as long as it was.

Any additional comments?

This book is just wonderful. I listen to it while I run. When I'm finished running I quit the book and absolutely look forward to my next run to continue with the book.

A Type of Romantic Hero the World Seldom Sees

He was a military Officer of tremendous will and power who had a great deal of understanding, compassion and agresiveness. who served as a protector of Republican government not just in America,but all over asia

Solid

This was a solid biography of MacArthur. One note, Grover Gardner is one of my all-time favorite narrators but this was a sub-par performance by him. The reading is stilted and choppy.