“A simply superb exposure of the Great Georgie out of his own mouth.”
–S.L.A. Marshall
“[The Patton Papers] reveal a much more complicated character than his comicbook legend suggested.... Blumenson has done a superb job of editing Patton’s diaries, letters, memos and speeches. He has skillfully stitched them together with explanatory narrative.”
—Time
“Here is Patton in all his truculent glory.... Blumenson is extraordinarily evenhanded in his final assessment.”
—Christopher Lehmann-Haupt, New York Times
“Blumenson brings his sharp psychological insight into the inner turmoil of George Patton.... It is Patton’s often acute and unexpected humorous characterizations of men that provide the freshest perceptions in this . . . sympathetic and flawlessly crafted biography.”
—New York Times Book Review
“By means of superior editing and sparing comment of his own, Blumenson has permitted George S. Patton to speak for himself through his letters and diaries, and the result is a disturbing and absorbing portrait.”
—Saturday Review
“The only definitive work ever published on America’s most controversial military figure . . . The multifaceted personality of Patton comes through with a force that is rare in literary works today.”
—Dallas News
“Blumenson has produced the first picture of Patton that is more than one dimensional. He gives insights into Patton’s mind and character hitherto unknown, but, as important, also gives a clear portrait of Patton’s era.... This biography is unique; there is nothing in print that so clarifies this individual or provides the wealth of data between two covers. A must.”
–Choice
“The lavish use of Patton’s letters and diaries brings the general sharply to life—an intelligent, bigoted, inquisitive, generous, witty, sensitive, spiteful man, impressive and exasperating, thoroughly right or totally wrong, but never a waffler. A great soldier who just possibly should never have been a soldier at all.”
—Phoebe Adams, New Yorker
“A long book, but it has no dull pages... The most definitive biography of one our most remarkable fighting men.”
—Newsday
“The excellent and judicious selection by Blumenson has given us a self-portrait of Patton that no biographer could possibly draw.... Blumenson has presented the sharpest delineation of any American general in World War II.... One could only wish that other military leaders would be so well served.”
–Library Journal
“A masterful job.”
–Christian Science Monitor