The Pattons: A Personal History of an American Family

by Robert H. Patton

Book Overview

The Pattons is an exceptional portrait of the famous military family, eloquently written by the grandson of its most illustrious member, George S. Patton. Washington Post critic Jonathan Yardley called it'one of the best books of the year.'

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0517590689
• ISBN13: 9780517590683
• Release Date: March 1994
• Publisher: Crown Publishing Group (NY)
• Length: 320 Pages
• Weight: 1.52 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.2" x 6.2" x 9.2"

Customer Reviews

Written by his grandson

Anyone interested in General Patton and his family will not be disapointed by this well written, candid account.

Forward Knight!

In writing "The Patton's" Robert Patton has succeeded in an area where most of the previous biographers of his famous Grandfather have failed, namely he manages to humanize the legend and reveal the man behind the myth. This is not a Biography in the strictest sense, rather it's a genealogical history. Here "Georgie" is viewed in the context of his ancestors, and through the prism of his family. Evaluating him in this light, the reader gets a much truer understanding of the part that his upbringing played in formulating the various aspects of his character. As a family member, the author surely has his own opinions of the people involved, but he keeps these to a minimum, letting the rich array of family sources speak for themselves, and presents an amazingly well-balanced, concise portrait of his subjects, he doesn't go out of his way to trash his Grandfather's reputation (as so many tell-all books written by relatives of celebrities today seem only too happy to do) nor does he seek to glorify his accomplishments. He merely sought to chronicle one family's devotion to public service, but most importantly to each other. Although this book can stand quite nicely on its own, those looking for an in-depth analysis of Patton's military campaigns should be warned, this book gives only a general overview of Patton's wartime service. Therefore, it is my humble opinion that this book will be best appreciated when read in conjunction with other books such as: War As I Knew It The Patton Papers, 1885-1940 The Patton Papers 1940-1945 Patton: The Man Behind the Legend, 1885-1945 Patton: A Genius for War The Button Box: A Daughter's Loving Memoir Of Mrs. George S. Patton to get a more complete picture of this legendary and controversial figure.

A Must Read for any Patton Fan

Robert Patton has written a great work not only for general readership but a lasting legacy to the Patton descendants. He delves into family history & writes about more than just names & dates. This book tells the story of the Patton ancestors that shaped the life of General George S. Patton Jr. After reading this book you can clearly see the values & mindsets that drove 'Old Blood & Guts' & made him a legendary figure. It would be inappropriate to just read the military career of Patton & try to form an opinion of him without understanding the inner workings of the family & circumstances that shaped him. This book fills in so many gaps that are left out by other authors & extends past the general's death by following up with other family members. Robert Patton should be commended for telling the whole story without leaving out the negative incidents. He tells the story, good & bad. To leave out negative incidents would be to ignore the occurences that were as much a part of Patton as were his glorious successes on the battlefield. It has been said that "We are the sum total of all our experiences". This clearly explains the man behind the legend & Robert Patton has done him justice.

The Pattons

A truly inspiring work -- when I heard that Jonathan Yardley had dubbed it on the best books of that year, I had to read it... And it is. Should be required reading for anyone interested in history, especially their own.

Kudos to the author's beautiful literary style and wit

I am myself admittedly a Patton aficionado, and I must say, this book reveals an even more complicated man and colorful family history than I realized. But what in my view truly distinguishes this book from other recent studies of General Patton is that its fascinating subject matter does not obscure the author's smooth, beautiful, often funny - but always precise and deliberate - literary style. Unlike so many of our more popular modern historians: this guy can actually write!