Description: General George S. Patton Jr. is one of the most successful yet misunderstood figures in American military history. Despite the many books and articles written about him, none considers in depth how his love of history shaped the course of his life. In this thematic biography, Furman Daniel traces Patton's obsession with history and argues that it informed and contributed to many of his successes, both on and off the battlefield.
Patton deliberately cultivated the image of himself as a warrior from ages past; the more interesting truth is that he was an exceptionally dedicated student of history. He was a hard worker and voracious reader who gave a great deal of thought to how military history might inform his endeavors. Most scholars have overlooked this element of Patton's character, which Daniel argues is essential to understanding the man's genius.Review Quotes: "Patton: Battling with History is an opportune outlet for Daniel's focus on the student and the soldier, and Daniel shows how each vocation required the general's diligence. The book is written for academic shelves yet has inherent popular appeal."--ARMY
"A valuable read not only for those interested in the general and his career, but for those interested in how history evaluates good generalship."--The NYMAS Review ". . . A fine example of well-documented scholarship. . . . This is an important book that thoroughly examines an overlooked facet of Patton's controversial career and his flawed character."--On Point: The Journal of Army History "There are many biographies about Patton already published, but J. Furman Daniel III's book Patton: Battling with History takes a different approach, by not only documenting the struggle and effort that Patton went through in order to cement his image and reputation for future generations, but how he used history and the military lessons from the past as guides to follow or avoid."--Journal of America's Military Past