Baden-Powell : The Two Lives of a Hero [Hardcover]

William Hillcourt (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 1992

Newest Edition (as of 2011) w/ 2 men on cover.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 466 pages
• Publisher: Gilwellian Press d/b/a/ Scouter's Journal Magazine (October 1992)
• ISBN-10: 0963432001
• ISBN-13: 978-0963432001
• Product Dimensions: 9.5 x 6.4 x 1.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (10 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #689,881 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

17 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An inspring read for Scouters and non-Scouters alike, July 28, 1999

By 

Paul Porwoll ([e-mail]) (Atlanta, Georgia) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Baden-Powell : The Two Lives of a Hero (Hardcover)

Who would have thought that a general, who in his time achieved the same stature that Eisenhower did after World War II, would turn his attention when he was in his 50s to a completely new journey - and create a system to engage boys in purposeful fun at a time when so many were being offered only the mean streets of turn-of-the-century industrial England! Having recently returned from a trip to Kenya, where we visited Paxtu, B-P's last home, and his gravesite, we experienced a pilgrimage fulfilled. To see how this great man and his wife (who herself led the worldwide Girl Scout movement) lived in such simple, humble accommodations there, surrounded by their version of wealth - nature - provides a stark contrast to our end-of-the-century obsession with material wealth. This is about as good a read as it gets - whether you're involved in Scouting or not. I've used it as a gift for members of my Wood Badge patrol. The purchase price is worth every cent. Enjoy!

12 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The spark that ignited the world, October 1, 2002

By A Customer

This review is from: Baden Powell: The Two Lives of a Hero (Hardcover)

Having gone through almost the entire scouting program (from cub scouts, boy scouts, venture scouts, order of the arrow, and on to my eagle scout rank, philmont, national jamboree, and woodbadge leader training WE3-27-00) I never heard the whole story of Lord Baden-Powell. While attending woodbadge I was told of this book that was written by William Hillcourt (a.k.a. green bar bill)with the help of Olave, Lady Baden-Powell(his wife also founder of the girl scouts)and His mother. Green bar bill (Gbb) also wrote from knowing Lord Baden-Powell (B-P) and B-P own writting from his pamphlets, books, and notes. So in using first hand knowledge it was not weighed down with the fog that contimporary writers will place on their own books. I found it to be very delightful to read. B-P is the only person that I know of to be a true ledgend in his own time. B-P was not only a scouter but a spy, a british general, a writer,an artist among other things. He also knew famous people like Cecil Rhodes and Winston Churchill before their own fame. B-P really did live more than one life and he is certainly a hero.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars very detailed account using family letters and interviews, January 6, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Baden-Powell : The Two Lives of a Hero (Hardcover)

I was thoroughly enchanted with this book as it added details to stories I already had read about. Having read just about everything about the man, it was nice to see a large volume like this. Written by someone who had first hand knowledge of B.P., it is somewhat less than objective in parts, however, any fan of this incredible hero will undoubtedly love it. It is a fairly easy read and one which holds a special place in my Scouting library.

Scouter Mike Reid Montreal, Canada