Sergeant York: An American Hero (Paperback)

by David D. Lee (Author) "Home for Alvin York was the Valley of the Three Forks of the Wolf River nestled in the Cumberland Mountains of Tennessee just a few..." (more)
Key Phrases: rural faction, second elder, interview with the author, Fentress County, Alvin York, Sergeant York (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Review
"Lee's description and analysis of York's heroic deed will stand as definitive." -- Edward M. Coffman

Review

"A valuable look at the man, the times, and -- most important -- at the process of creating a national legend.-- Appalachian Journal" -- Appalachian Journal

"Lee's description and analysis of York's heroic deed will stand as definitive.-- Edward M. Coffman" -- Edward M. Coffman

"Should become the standard reference on the red-haired Tennessean who, in the final days of World War I, emerged from the Argonne Forest by himself with 132 German prisoners.-- Gun Week" -- Gun Week

"An impeccably researched account of what fame can do to a simple and good man.-- Jerusalem Post" -- Jerusalem Post

"A highlight of American World War I literature.-- Library Journal" -- Library Journal

"A finely written and appealing biography of Alvin C. York, the man and American hero.-- McCormick (SC) Messenger" -- McCormick (SC) Messenger

"York, as brought to life in the riveting book, made greatness out of simplicity and personified America and its values at their best -- a true hero.-- Military Heritage" -- Military Heritage

"It is to David Lee's credit that he has shown us the power and poverty of York the symbol and York the man.-- Reviews in American History" -- Reviews in American History

"David D. Lee strips away the ticker tape-and-bravado image and takes us back to the early days that shaped the man who initially resisted going to war -- back to the unruly youth whose companions were alcohol and firearms until religion took their place. Reads like a good novel.-- Southern Living" -- Southern Living

"The most thoroughly researched and satisfying account yet published on Sergeant Alvin C. York, one of the nation's greatest war heroes.-- Tennessean" -- Tennessean

"A biography which fits his hero into his times, illuminating both of them.-- Tennessee Historical Quarterly" -- Tennessee Historical Quarterly

"Clearly written and thoroughly researched in both American and German sources.... Its definitive account of York's life and its elaboration of what hero status and the hero-making process illustrate about American society make it a worthwhile addition to the literature on modern America.-- The Historian" -- The Historian

"This well-written, carefully researched study reveals the man and the often puzzling values that made him a hero.-- American Studies" -- American Studies

"A valuable look at the man, the times, and -- most important -- at the process of creating a national legend.-- Appalachian Journal" -- Appalachian Journal

"Lee's description and analysis of York's heroic deed will stand as definitive.-- Edward M. Coffman" -- Edward M. Coffman

"An impeccably researched account of what fame can do to a simple and good man.-- Jerusalem Post" -- Jerusalem Post

"A highlight of American World War I literature.-- Library Journal" -- Library Journal

"A finely written and appealing biography of Alvin C. York, the man and American hero.-- McCormick (SC) Messenger" -- McCormick (SC) Messenger

"It is to David Lee's credit that he has shown us the power and poverty of York the symbol and York the man.-- Reviews in American History" -- Reviews in American History

"David D. Lee strips away the ticker tape-and-bravado image and takes us back to the early days that shaped the man who initially resisted going to war -- back to the unruly youth whose companions were alcohol and firearms until religion took their place. Reads like a good novel.-- Southern Living" -- Southern Living

"The most thoroughly researched and satisfying account yet published on Sergeant Alvin C. York, one of the nation's greatest war heroes.-- Tennessean" -- Tennessean

"A biography which fits his hero into his times, illuminating both of them.-- Tennessee Historical Quarterly" -- Tennessee Historical Quarterly

"Clearly written and thoroughly researched in both American and German sources.... Its definitive account of York's life and its elaboration of what hero status and the hero-making process illustrate about American society make it a worthwhile addition to the literature on modern America.-- The Historian" -- The Historian

"This well-written, carefully researched study reveals the man and the often puzzling values that made him a hero.-- American Studies" -- American Studies

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 184 pages
• Publisher: University Press of Kentucky (February 28, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0813190282
• ISBN-13: 978-0813190280
• Product Dimensions: 8.7 x 5.7 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 5.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #90,204 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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  #63 in	Books > History > Military > World War I

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Riveting!, May 22, 2001

By A Customer

This review is from: Sergeant York: An American Hero (Hardcover)

A valuable look at York the man, the times he lived in, and the process of creating a national legend. Distinguishes the myths of York's life from the simple facts of his famous exploits. I especially enjoyed the look back at York's rural background and how those values shaped him as a man as well as an American heroic ideal. WEll-researched and documented, but also simply a good read!

17 of 19 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Grab some toothpicks, April 17, 2000

By	Cindy (Texas) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Sergeant York: An American Hero (Hardcover)

If you like to grab a book and take a nap shortly after opening it, this is the book for you. It starts out keeping your interest, but will quickly loose it. If you are looking for a book that really lets you meet York (which was what I was looking for), this is not the right book. This book is a wealth of information, but you will get easily dis-interested, lost, and confused as the author goes into great depths to introduce the men that were involved in York's struggles after the war. I was hoping for a book about York and his family, but was disappointed in this one. He gives very little information about York's family life.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Superb Bio of a WWI Hero, July 13, 2004

By	Kevin Fontenot (New Orleans, LA United States) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Lee views the life of World War I hero Alvin York through the lens of a changing society. York represented, according to Lee, the values of 19th century rural American-simplicity, honesty, hard work, Protestantism, and Anglo-American heritage-in an industrializing society. His defeat of German machine gunners came to symbolize "man over machine" as well. York moved from a pacifist, noninterventionist position to accept America's role as a major world power. This acceptance was based on a religious vision of the US as a defender against evil in the world. Lee's book is well written, moves fast, and well argued. He succeeds in demonstrating that an indivdual life can be used to understand American history in the early 20th century.