• The Drillmaster of Valley Forge

  • The Baron De Steuben and the Making of the American Army
  • By: Paul Lockhart
  • Narrated by: Norman Dietz
  • Length: 12 hrs and 8 mins
  • 4.6 out of 5 stars (139 ratings)

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The Drillmaster of Valley Forge

By: Paul Lockhart
Narrated by: Norman Dietz
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Editorial reviews

In the late 1770s, his promising military career aborted, Baron de Steuben uprooted himself from his native Prussia and landed in America, where he schooled its troops to fight in the European manner, thereby influencing the outcome of the Revolutionary War. Norman Dietz's smooth, clear delivery make this biography easy to follow, and his energy never flags. He gives a straight narration, rather than adopting different voices or accents, which suits a text that is long on description and short on dialogue or quotations. This is a fine introduction to a significant player in Revolutionary War history, and Dietz makes it a listening experience even nonmilitary buffs may enjoy.

Publisher's summary

The image of the Baron de Steuben training Washington's ragged, demoralized troops in the snow at Valley Forge is part of the iconography of our Revolutionary heritage, but most history fans know little more about this fascinating figure.

In the first book on Steuben since 1937, Paul Lockhart, an expert on European military history, finally explains the significance of Steuben's military experience in Europe. Steeped in the traditions of the Prussian army of Frederick the Great---the most ruthlessly effective in Europe---he taught the soldiers of the Continental Army how to fight like Europeans. His guiding hand shaped the army that triumphed over the British at Monmouth, Stony Point, and Yorktown. And his influence did not end with the Revolution. Steuben was instrumental in creating West Point and in writing the "Blue Book"---the first official regulations of the American army. His principles have guided the American armed forces to this day.

Steuben's life is also a classic immigrant story. A failure in midlife, he uprooted himself from his native Europe to seek one last chance at glory and fame in the New World. In America he managed to reinvent himself---making his background quite a bit more glamorous than it really was---but redeeming himself by his exceptional service and becoming, in a sense, the man he claimed to be.

©2008 Paul Lockhart (P)2008 Tantor

What listeners say about The Drillmaster of Valley Forge

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

Great history good naration

I truly enjoyed this book. The writing flowed nicely and the narrator was quite good.

This is a standard biography of de Steuben that covers his life in great detail drawing upon a number of sources including many that are highly critical of the Barron. It was a "page turner" and the author strove to be even handed in his presentation of the sources available to him although his analysis of that evidence was heavilly slanted towards the Barron. The author's statements border on the hagiographic. This is, however, not a problem since he makes is very clear when he presents his own opinion and he includes all sources including those which are highly critical of the Barron.

That said, it was an entirely conventional biography without any very keen or deep insights. This does not stop me from giving him five stars however, because the writing is clear, the Barron has not been adequately "biographed" (is that a word?) prior to this book, and the life covers often overlooked portions of history and the American Revolution.

I can unreservedly recommend this book to anyone interested in military affairs, the Revolution, or even the enlightenment period as there are interesting lessons and insights for all of these areas contained in the Barron's life.

The Narration is very good.

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6 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

Fabulous

Fabulously written and narrated, this was a very interesting book that did a great job of telling the story of De Steuben. One of many foreign volunteers who I think have been under appreciated for their roles in helping us gain our independence.

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5 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

Buy the book

Great work. The book is fast-paced and well done. You understand 18th century life and culture. He helps make sense of why things were done a certain way-- for example why soldiers stood in long lines and blazed away at one another. Get the book, you will not be disappointed.

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4 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Interesting side story to US History

A friend of mine recommended this book after I told him that I enjoyed Team of Rivals and a book on Ulysses Grant, but was looking for something easier to bite off. I think the 13 or 14 hours of narration are just right to get a clear picture of Steuben's long journey into and through the Revolutionary War. The author seems to strike a fair and accurate balance on what Steuben's strengths and failings were. There is very little on Steuben's sexuality and rumored partying (so FYI if that's what you're looking for; I would be curious to know of the veracity of sources for some other more sensationalized recountings I've seen online). The book sticks almost entirely to his deeds and personality, save a paragraph or two on the circumstances of why he was kicked out of the Prussian army.

Narrator's voice I find is very relaxing but also keeps me engaged to material that can be dry at times.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Entertaining and Interesting

Steuben contributed a lot to the country but got little credit. The book gives an interesting insight into the founding of this nation and its army.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

Good book, odd in places though

It's a good book about the military and political aspects of his life. However, it comes down very hard against the gay thing. Which is in contrary to just about every other thing I've ever read about him. it's hard to know if the author is simply correct, or if they have a bias. Reading between the lines, the random strange things that happen do seem to make much more sense if it was about a man and his partners/ex's than a bunch of guys looking after their odd old general.

It is a bit of a rush through the second half of the war, but that's probably more a side effect of his role in it. The effect on Valley forge though is front and centre. including the idea "if any random from Europe could have taught this stuff. why wasn't it already done."

The politics and his issues with Jefferson and Laffiette were things I wasn't aware of and was good to hear. including how everyone so overly romanticised militia at the time. It does tend Into hero worship of Washington, but it's hard to find books that don't.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

von/de; who cares

The service the Baron rendered the United States is immeasurable. This book reveals much about the upbringing that formed the man, commander, leader. The info is concise, but not overwhelming. “Easy listening”.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Evan's Review

If you want to learn more about the men of the America Revolution this is a good book that looks at the baron. Probably under rated by his commands around him because he was a Prussian and because of his ego but I high recommend the book.

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    3 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

Forgotten Hero

Interesting insight into a key figure of American history. His sexual past completely glossed over and could have added another layer of complexity to the man.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Excellent narration, very informative

Leaned so many things in this book, very interesting. The narration was excellent as well, would highly recommend.

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