Patton

The Man Behind the Legend, 1885-1945

By: Martin Blumenson

Narrated by: William Lavelle

Length: 8 hrs and 27 mins

Publisher's summary

In paying final tribute to his Third Army commander, General Eisenhower said: "He was one of those men born to be a soldier...whose gallantry and dramatic personality inspired all he commanded to great deeds of valor." This detailed and persuasive study by the author of The Patton Papers was described by Patton's daughter Ruth as "an extraordinary book". It is widely considered the best biography ever written of the General, an American hero as compelling as he was complex.

©1985 by Martin Blumenson (P)1990 by Blackstone Audiobooks

Critic reviews

"A gem of a biography...No previous work on Patton can match it." (Stephen E. Ambrose)
"Blumenson makes [clear]... the contradictory elements in his character that caused him at times to be outrageously impossible but made him a winning commander." (Forrest Pogue)

Good listen

Really enjoyed this. Good insight into the man, dispelled some myths and verified others. If you like WWII history, or the history of individuals who made a difference in his/her time, you'll like this

Great but brief!

The performance is not as bad as other reviewers have said. Just old. This was a remarkable biography but too brief for me. Being from Martin Blumenson, I thought there would be more meat to this biography. Very satisfying to get a general idea of his character and motivations. This book will satisfy anyone who wants a brief history of Patton.

Patton the man

I liked this book because it gives a picture of the whole personality of the man as well as his family history, etc. It's a fascinating book. It "listens well" and my husband and I could hardly wait to get to the next disk.

Enjoyed learning about an American hero

I have long admired Patton but knew little about the mans life. This book provided great details about his leadership and desire to achieve. It also gives his moral flaws as well, reminding us Patton was a real person like any of us. We all have the ability to achieve great things.

An interesting highlight of an amazing person’s life.

Not an in-depth look but certainly a good look at an amazing general’s life. I’m not sure where the reader is from but he says Roosevelt in a very unusual way.

Insightful bio

Relatively short, like a Reader’s Digest version, of Patton’s life beginning with his ancestry. Just right, no excessive detail, which provided an excellent understanding of the man’s personality, limitations, foibles, and success. Like other reviewers have mentioned, there are audio flaws throughout the recording in which there are short gaps but it was no big deal.

Magnificent!!!

Would you listen to Patton again? Why?

The panoramic storytelling is breathtaking. This is a fascinating narrative about the life of a truly great man.

What other book might you compare Patton to and why?

Shelby Foote's Civil War A Narrative

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

It made me proud to be an American and also further appreciate our greatest generation.

Good, Not Great

Good book and interesting read on George Patton. However, it seemed short and didn't dive into his military prowess in WWII like I felt it should. Also the recording was not the best and at times difficult to hear and understand.

Single best biography of Patton

What did you love best about Patton?

Concise and informative.

What did you like best about this story?

What's not to like about Patton's story. In this case, well told.

Which scene was your favorite?

The WWII years.

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

Yes.

A solid biography, sympathetic but frank.

Some spotty audio issues, but not too severe.
The author does a commendable job of delving into Patton's life, giving credit and critique where they are due. Oddly he completely glances over Patton's attitudes towards black soldiers. The book is unflinching in its frankness about Patton's racism, unsurprising in the proud scion of displaced Virginia aristocracy. The author goes into great detail about Patton's crippling post war antisemitism, but no mention is made at all of his handling of black troops. This is unfortunate because his approach showed just as much of his character as anything. Possessed of all the prejudices of his upbringing, he nevertheless gave the blacks under his command an unprecedented opportunity to distinguish themselves.