Pershing (Great Generals) [Hardcover]

Jim Lacey (Author), Wesley K. Clark (Foreword)

Book Description

Publication Date: June 10, 2008 | Series: Great Generals

In this persuasive biography, Jim Lacey sheds light on General Pershing's legacy as the nation's first modern combat commander, setting the standard for today's four-star officers. When the U.S. entered into WWI in 1917, they did so with inadequate forces. In just over a year, Pershing built and hurled a one million man army against forty battle-hardened German divisions, defending the hellish Meuse-Argonne and turning the tide of the war. With focus and clarity, Lacey traces the development of Pershing from Indian fighter, to guerrilla warrior against the Philippines insurgency to victorious commander in WWI.

Editorial Reviews

From Booklist

A general who may not have achieved greatness as a field commander but certainly had great influence on his country’s military development, Pershing came to command of the American Expeditionary Force in World War I after a career in which both promise and personal tragedy had figured. He assumed that command as virtually the only American experienced in commanding more than 10,000 men, and more than half his work lay in organizing and training in the field the largest American army up to that time and diplomatically keeping it from being used as a replacement pool for the other, man-hungry Allies. His combat leadership was reasonable, but his postwar influence in picking men who could manage a similar military expansion in a future war proved to be truly invaluable. Pershing’s rather dour and austere disposition (despite his having a mistress in his old age) has made him somewhat unsympathetic for biographers. Lacey’s contribution to the Great Generals series substantially redresses the balance in Pershing’s favor by underlining his achievements. --Roland Green

Review

"Lacey's contribution to the Great Generals series substantially redresses the balance in Pershing's favor by focusing on his acheivements." -- Booklist

 

“Jim Lacey’s very readable biography of General Pershing is an excellent reminder of his role in swiftly transforming the United States Army into a major fighting force in 1917 – 1918, and also of his great importance in selecting the men who would command American forces in World War Two.  It is a first-rate life of a great American General who is all too often overlooked or underestimated today.” -- Michael Korda, author of Ulysses S. Grant and Ike

"Well researched, well presented, and well reasoned, this slim volume makes a convincing case for Pershing as the key figure in the AEF’s contribution to  Allied victory in the Great War. Pershing’s government gave him two million men in uniform. His tireless work, detailed preparation, and situational awareness molded them into a war-winning army. He might not have been a great captain–but John J Pershing was a first-class general." -- Dennis Showalter, author of Patton and Rommel: Men of War in the Twentieth Century

"Jim Lacey has provided a wonderful study of Pershing and his generalship that is well researched, but even more important brings a real understanding of the art of leadership to the subject." -- Williamson Murray, author of A War To be Won

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 224 pages
• Publisher: Palgrave Macmillan; First Edition edition (June 10, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0230603831
• ISBN-13: 978-0230603837
• Product Dimensions: 8.4 x 5.8 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 10.4 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #656,789 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Superb, June 11, 2008

By 

Pershing_Fan (MA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Pershing (Great Generals) (Hardcover)

Pershing has always been an interest of mine, as I viewed him as the best forgotten general America has ever produced. The two best biographies prior to this were both huge multi-volume editions and I was a bit wary about anyone trying to capture Pershing and all of his many accomplishments in a single slim volume. However, Jim Lacey appears to have captured everything I would want covered and even presented a few priceless bits of information I had not seen elsewhere. For instance, he lays to rest a debate that has raged on the Internet and among historians as to whether Pershing ever condoned wrapping dead Islamic insurgents in pork skins to deter others. In summary, the book proceeds at a furious pace and truly brings Pershing to life. It is a must read for all historians, and for anyone else look for brilliant leadership study.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Outstanding, July 22, 2008

By 

Lucas G. Miles "Lucas' Review" (Bloomington, IL) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Pershing (Great Generals) (Hardcover)

The author, Jim Lacey, does an outstanding job of capturing the history of one of the first great military leaders of the 20th Century, General Pershing. It is undeniable the mark that Pershing left on the military after WWI, giving the United States a huge advantage when it saw action again during World War II. Lacey does a fantastic job of telling the life story of Pershing in 193 easy-to-read pages. For any student of history, more specifically military history, this text is a must read.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Wonderful introduction to an often ignored American, May 26, 2010

By 

AP Coen (Omaha NE) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Pershing (Great Generals) (Paperback)

I read this book as part of a research paper I did on the Spanish American War. This book is short but is filled with information and does not leave gaps in his life they way other biographies sometimes do that tend to focus on only big events. I think any one interested in the man, the time period or any of the event Pershing was a part of will find the length of this book, the content and is ease of reading a true pleasure. As an introductory to Pershing it should be first on anyone's list. I recommend this often to people curious on Pershing, or interested on American history at the turn of the last century in general. If you only read one book about Pershing make it this one.