Sgt. York: His Life, Legend & Legacy: The Remarkable Untold Story of Sgt. Alvin C. York

by John Perry

Book Overview

In a world desperate for authentic heroes, the story of Alvin C. York reminds us of the true meaning of heroism. York's bravery on the battlefield made him famous, but it was his decision to turn down the easy riches of celebrity that secured his position as one of history's greatest Christian patriots. Based on new interviews with all of York's living children, and York's own diaries, this exhaustive biography follows the young soldier from the hills...

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0805460748
• ISBN13: 9780805460742
• Release Date: September 1997
• Publisher: B&H Books
• Length: 320 Pages
• Weight: 1.58 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.5" x 6.4" x 9.2"

Customer Reviews

Everyone wanted a piece of him

After reading his life of Mary Custis Lee, which was quite impressive and turned up many unique insights into a tragically misjudged lady, I sought out other books by Tennessee's own and only John Perry. I found a copy of UNSHAKABLE FAITH, but it had mildewed badly and was nearly unreadable. But faith must have led me to a path of light because on a dark shelf in an East Bay bookstore my hand crept down past a row of Elizabeth Peters books, and landed almost by a miracle on this earlier book by Perry. I knew very little about Alvin York, except that my grandfather, whose name was Alvin, always blamed the remarkable fame of Sgt York on the popularity of this previous unknown name. He said when he went to school there were thirty-four boys in his graduating class called Alvin. John Perry addresses this amazing renown. His exploits in the Argonne Forest became the stuff of legend, and the Gary Cooper biopic in 1941 muffed the facts a bit to give York more of a country background than actually he had. Many members of his extended family were quite erudite, and my grandfather always used to say that one of York's aunts had written the very first home economics textbook in English, predating Boston's Fannie Farmer by some years. Perry has a sincere way of writing, and the excitement doesn't let down when York comes back home a hero. You see him doing good works in the name of the Lord and, although many politicians and lawmakers were ever ready and anxious to buy up a piece of his ass, hoping to enlist him into one or another misbegotten crackpot scheme. To his credit York paid them no mind and just continued on his humble way. As with his life of Mary Lee, Perry shows how a good writer concentrates on the facts and lets the legend go its own way, like a small boy cutting the string to a kite and waving it goodbye. The truth is, what becomes a myth is something we have no control over, and Perry acknowledges this with good grace and a wry smile. Highly recommended not only to Tennesseans and to Christians, but to everyone out there interested in a good life story.

Sgt. Alvin York, a true American hero.

After traveling to Pall Mall Tennesse and meeting the son of Sgt. York, seeing his home and visting his final resting place.I had to learn more about this amazing man. John Perry's book did an outstanding job of introducing this great man. This is not a blood and guts account of the horrors of WWI. While it is detailed at times it is through those details you learn what a true hero is. If you are looking for books about an Americans we should never forget this should be one of them.

This is a memorable book by a superb storyteller.

John Perry has done a wonderful service to the memory of a great American hero, Alvin York. Meticulously researched and wonderfully written, this biography reads like a novel, with quotes from York well worth remembering and inspiring events that stir the imagination. At the close of this millenium in an increasingly complex world, it is great to be reminded of people like Sgt. York who, on the battlefield and in his private life simply did his duty and in the process left an enduring legacy to us all. John Perry is to be commended for presenting such a well-written work. It is and will remain for some time the definitive work on York.

The most definitive book on SGT York published to date.

An accurate and balanced portrayal of one of America's greatest heros.

Outstanding

Everyone today seem to be wanting to hear about fruitcakes who have some tragedy they overcome. Well Alvin York's life is anything but a tragedy, you must read this book! With all the rotten books that litter our store shelves this one is refreshing.