MacArthur: (Great Generals)

Douglas MacArthur was Supreme Commander of the Allied forces in the Southwest Pacific area during World War II. Best remembered for the adaptability that fostered his greatest accomplishments, he led the defence of Australia, and the recapture of New Guinea, the Philippines and Borneo. MacArthur also oversaw the occupation of Japan from 1945 to 1951, the most successful occupation in history, and is credited for making far-ranging democratic changes in that country. Today, MacArthur remains one of the most controversial figures in American history. While greatly admired by many for his strategic and tactical brilliance, MacArthur was also criticized by many for his actions in command, and especially his challenge to President Truman in 1951.

Table of Contents:
Beginnings Chief of Staff New Deal From the Center to the Fringe Catastrophe An Expensive Education Parameters Apprenticeship Breakthrough Return and Redemption Regression, Invasion and Surrender Shogun in Khakai Triumphs and Challenges Korea Triumph Korea Disaster The Sum of the Man

About the Author :
RICHARD B. FRANK is the author of Guadalcanal and Downfall and winner of the General William Greene Award and the Harry S. Truman Book Award. He was an aerorifle platoon leader in the 101st Airbourne Division in the Vietnam War.

Review :
'A vivid, compelling portrait of our most enigmatic battlefield commander. Richard B. Frank strips away both myth and malarkey to reveal both Douglas MacArthur the general and Douglas MacArthur the man.' - Rick Atkinson, Pulitzer prize-winning author of An Army at Dawn: The War In North Africa, 1942-1943 'Richard B. Frank's incisive biography of General Douglas MacArthur offers not only a great read, but a timely and useful study both of the dilemmas of civil-military relations and the challenges facing American military leaders thrust onto a global stage. The writing is always clear, the history always accurate, and the analysis consistently stimulating. For all his faults, MacArthur was indisputably a great man among great contemporaries - this book will make the reader ponder the disappearance of such greatness among our nation's leaders, military or civilian.' - Ralph Peters, author of New Glory and Never Quit The Fight 'Douglas MacArthur was either the greatest American military commander of the 20th century - or a dangerous meglomaniac. In this shrewd, fair, but unblinking biogaphy, MacArthur is both- at once-brilliant and deeply flawed and, in Frank's skillful telling, an endlessly fascinating character. Rich Frank has long been a premier historian of the Pacific War. Now he has shown that he is first rank biographer as well.' - Evan Thomas, Newsweek editor-at-large and author of Sea of Thunder 'Readable and objective' -The Washington Times