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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Mannerheim-Finland's George Washington,
By
This review is from: Mannerheim: The Years of Preparation (Paperback)
Carl Gustav Emil Mannerheim is to Finnish history what George Washington is to American history. Both were soldier-statesman involved in huge political,social and military upheavals both in their younger careers and even more so in their more senior years. However unlike Washington, who was separated by 3,400 miles of ocean from his powerful foe,Mannerheim in World War2 had to contend with an enemy just over the border. Three years ago a Finnish diplomat in Canberra sent me JEO Screen's small- but excellent- book (159 pages),' Mannerheim-The Years of Preparation,' a publication that concentrates on the great Finnish Marshal's early life. From aristocratic stock, Mannerheim entered the Russian cavalry(Finland's sovereign at that stage was the Czar)and like the young Washington, and indeed the young Winston Churchill, was always involved in larger-than-life events.Whether at ceremonial functions, such as the coronation of Czar Nicholas the Second,or fighting in the Russo-Japanese War(1904-5), Mannerheim was always to the forefront, being involved in reconnaissance work in the Battle of Mudken,having his horse shot from under him on one patrol. Screen notes that Mannerheim's fearless bravery in the ill-fated Manchurian campaign would be repeated many times during and after World War 1. Indeed. Between 1906-08 Mannerheim turned into a latter-day Marco Polo with his great horseback expedition, on behalf of the Russian Army, across Asia. Ostensibly he was to accompany a French professor, Paul Pelliot, on an archaeological tour but in reality he was to gather political and military intelligence for the Russian General Staff whose interest in China stemmed from their expansionist dreams (something Mannerheim would have to confront later as Finnish C-I-C in the Winter War of 1939-40). It has to be remembered that Russo-Chinese relations were as strained in this period as they would become half a century later during the Cold War period. Screen gives the reader a brief historical context to Mannerheim's mission. This book is like an entree, it leaves you wanting more and there is so much more about the man who became the greatest Finn of all.Unfortunately Screen finishes his book with Mannerheim departing a disintegrating Russia, controlled by the Red mob, and a brief summary.Perhaps, the book could have been extended somewhat to include more about the declaration of independence period and the ensuing White-Red struggles for control of Finland's soul. Nevertheless this a fine book about the early life of a great man from a small country. _
5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
A thoughtful, well researched biography,
By William C. Roege, Jr. (East Lansing, MI USA) - See all my reviews
This review is from: Mannerheim: The Years of Preparation (Paperback)
This is an excellent, well written book which fills in many of the details of the Marshal's life which he omitted from his memoirs. His modesty and sense of privacy caused him to neglect to discuss many aspects of his life, his achievements, feelings, concerns with social reform, and a few events which he might have considered to be failures. The book presents a clear picture of a very complex and honorable man liing in turbulant times. He comes through as a very human person. There are a great many details of his life which I have never before read. I highly recommend this book to those who hold the Marshal in high esteem and to any who enjoy reading about very accomplished MAN.
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
The successful White General,
By
This review is from: Mannerheim: The Years of Preparation (Paperback)
Was there ever a wiser statesman than Mannerheim? In every stage of his career he generally found himself the wisest man in the room. This well-researched book shows how the father of independent Finland (his weakest language) acquired his knowlege of things military and the world.
Mannerheim was of the old Swedish nobility who effortless had made the transition between loyalty to the king of Sweden to loyalty to the Tsar. This group which made up about 10% of the population and made up a large segment of the elite. Being nobility, Mannerheim had few career options particularly after his father went bankrupt. After a rather disasterous tenure in Swedish military school, he managed to make his way to St Petersburg where the combination of a military career and advantageous marriage allowed him to enjoy the high life of the waning days of Tsarist Russia. J.E.O Screen tells Mannerheim's story succinctly and well, covering Mannerheim's career in the Russo-Japanese War, his espionage trip through Central Asia, and his career in WWI where he won the Order of St George for heroism. The book concludes with Mannerheim leaving St Petersburg for Helsinki and an uncertain future. It is this later period which showed Mannerheim in all his greatness. This book showed how he was able to reach these heights of glory.
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