A Hell of a War [Hardcover]

Douglas Fairbanks (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: March 1993

The sequel to Douglas Fairbanks's autobiography, The Salad Days, traces the actor's World War II experiences, when he served aboard a destroyer in the thick of the naval battle for the North Atlantic.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

In this second volume of his autobiography, following The Salad Days , the eminent actor covers his career as a U.S. naval officer from six weeks before Pearl Harbor to the end of WW II. Downplaying his military achievements (including a mission behind German lines in Italy and his earning a Silver Star), Fairbanks delights the reader with anecdotes about his struggles to maintain a low profile, carry out his duties and convince military colleagues that he was not simply a rich, spoiled son-of-a-movie-star movie star. His evocative recollections of wartime Washington and London include tales of romps with such "fine old chums" as Noel Coward, David Niven, Laurence Olivier and Marlene Dietrich, plus encounters with President and Mrs. Roosevelt. Readers will look forward to the next installment of these elegantly written, witty and warmly entertaining memoirs. Photos.
Copyright 1993 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Library Journal

This second installment of the film actor's autobiography ostensibly begins in October 1941, when Salad Days ( LJ 2/15/88) ended. But first Fairbanks spends 60 pages recapitulating the earlier book, presumably since this enables him to entice readers with the engaging subject of Hollywood. He finally moves on to more serious matters, telling of his naval career and his ascent in rank from lieutenant (jg) to commander. Fairbanks is shot at a few times, and once the man standing next to him is killed, but for the most part he serves in staff jobs. Nonetheless, his naval experiences are fairly interesting--more so, certainly, than his fulsome accounts of time spent with the rich and occasionally famous. A marginal purchase. Previewed in Prepub Alert, LJ 11/15/92.
- John Smothers, Monmouth Cty. Lib., Manalapan, N.J.
Copyright 1993 Reed Business Information, Inc.

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 278 pages
• Publisher: St Martins Pr; 1st edition (March 1993)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0312088078
• ISBN-13: 978-0312088071
• Product Dimensions: 9.4 x 6.4 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,381,258 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An Entertainer as History., January 21, 2000

By 

Michael A. Schriner (California) - See all my reviews

This review is from: A Hell of a War (Hardcover)

Entertainers have for many years portrayed individuals of historical significance. In " A Hell of a War" Mr. Fairbanks relates his activities during World War II as a naval officer. The book became more interesting when he became involved with Lord Mountbatten's Combined Operations Command raids. With remarkable sublty Mr. Fairbanks relates his participation in the development of a U.S. Navy unit named the Beach Jumpers. Based in Little Creek, VA. this unit came latter to be known as the SEALS. A fact that has been verified by former SEALS, and is not common knowledge outside of that organization.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars You've got to be joking!, April 7, 2007

By 

Richard L. Ivice "rixtar" (Sydeny, Australia) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Hell of a War (Hardcover)

OK, I admit I haven't read this book yet, but I just ordered it after reading (and thoroughly enjoying) "the Salad Days", Volume One of Fairbanks' auto-biography. But I just had to say something about the nonsense in the "Library Journal" review above. When a reviewer uses terms like "his (Fairbanks') fulsome accounts of time spent with the rich and occasionally famous" to describe this book, it seems obvious that the reviewer has a big problem with his subject, a problem such as hating either Hollywood, actors, the rich, the famous, or all of them! Look up fulsome, and you'll know what I mean. And that a Library Journal reviewer (presumably living in his comfy bookish little world) has the temerity to criticise Fairbanks (who joined the military 6 months before the USA even entered the war, and who had been actively encouraging the Americans to support the British) by saying "Fairbanks is shot at a few times, and once the man standing next to him is killed, but for the most part he serves in staff jobs" as if those events in themselves would not be life changing for most of us, just beggars belief. A very marginal review, to say the least.

From what I now know of Fairbanks from several sources, it is apparent that he was a very gifted and special man, who lived an amazing and very worthwhile life. I am looking forward to receiving this book very much.

5.0 out of 5 stars A must-read for World War II survivors in the year, 2010, March 17, 2011

By 

Patricia M. Jones (Grants Pass, Oregon United States) - See all my reviews
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Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: A Hell of a War (Hardcover)

A wonderful autobiography of a man who challenged himself and created a new kind of warrior, the Seals. Not by himself of course, but he kept up a campaign for a type of "special effects" fake battlefield sets during a real war and with real and exceptionally dangerous enemies, the crack German navy, army and air force. It's fascinating reading to learn about what was "new" and of course, kept secret from the populace, like me. He had a double hazard, he was young and had been privileged and was of course a famous actor's son who became a famous actor in Hollywood. The Navy brass et al. leaned on him while his shipmates (he started as a Lieut. j.g. USNavy), were in awe at first; his enlistment began before the U.S. had entered the war in Europe. He admits in the book to "terror" a number of times during his service; acting a hero in films was easier; you could quit after a short while and re-shoot. I was so impressed by his recounting his appalling lack of naval experience and his fears and his dogged persistence to do the best job he could and of course stay alive even with the handicaps and the inevitable twists of fate that confront all who fight in a war. I must say despite being convinced that he deserved a medal or two, that I was amazed at all the medals he received from the U.S. and its allies.
So was he. All the Americans not in the European Theatre or in Great Britain during WWII will be unable to comprehend the privation and the fears that the population underwent constantly. He puts us in the front view and stays for the duration, as "one of the fellows" fighting the war, in his very good book. And one does have the impression that like most "special intelligence" chaps, there remains many facts he did not relate or was not permitted to reveal even at this late date.