Axelrod, Alan. Patton.

AXELROD, Alan. Patton. (Great General Series. General Wesley K. Clark, ed.) Read by Brian Emerson. 6 cds. 75 hrs. Blackstone Audiobooks. 2006. 0-7861-6998-2. $55.00. Vinyl; content, author notes. SA

Axelrod's biography of General George S. Patton is more positive than negative. Patton was one of the most admired, hated, colorful, arrogant, fearless, religious, and profane American generals in WW II. He was called "Old Blood and Guts" and his name and picture frequently appeared on the front pages of newspapers across the US from 1942 to 1945. He was bigger than life in his spit-and-polish uniform complete with a pearl-handled revolver. gleaming helmet, and his "war face." Patton unabashedly sought glory and recognition in every battle. He created controversy throughout the war with his outspokenness, rigid standards, and aggressive "advance and attack and advance" strategy. Both Desert Storm and Operation Iraqi Freedom reflect his influence. Patton began his military career chasing Pancho Villa in 1915 and then moved on to France during WW I where he championed mechanized warfare. In WW II, he heroically took his mechanized units through North Africa, Sicily, and France.

Emerson handles his job flawlessly. He reads in an unvoiced conversational tone that is completely unobtrusive; he lets the listener's imagination carry the story. Prof. John E. Boyd, Jenkintown, PA

S--Recommend for senior high school students.

A--Recommend for advanced students and adults. This code will help librarians and teachers working in high schools where there are honors and advanced placement students. This also will help KLIATT's usefulness in public libraries.