George Marshall
Defender of the Republic
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George Marshall
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Narrated by:
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Mark Bramhall
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By:
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David L. Roll
About this listen
The extraordinary career of George Catlett Marshall - America’s most distinguished soldier - statesman since George Washington - whose selfless leadership and moral character influenced the course of two world wars and helped define the American century.
"I’ve read several biographies of Marshall, but I think [David] Roll’s may be the best of the bunch." (Thomas E. Ricks, New York Times Book Review) • "Powerful." (The Wall Street Journal) • "Enthralling." (Andrew Roberts) • "Important." (William I. Hitchcock) • "Majestic." (Susan Page) • "Engrossing." (Andrew J. Bacevich) • "Judicious." (Walter Isaacson) • "Definitive." (Kirkus)
Winston Churchill called him World War II's "organizer of victory." Harry Truman said he was "the greatest military man that this country ever produced." Today, in our era of failed leadership, few lives are more worthy of renewed examination than Marshall and his 50 years of loyal service to the defense of his nation and its values.
Even as a young officer, he was heralded as a genius, a reputation that grew when in WWI he planned and executed a nighttime movement of more than a half million troops from one battlefield to another that led to the armistice. Between the wars he helped modernize combat training, and re-staffed the US Army's officer corps with the men who would lead in the next decades. But as WWII loomed, it was the role of army chief of staff in which Marshall's intellect and backbone were put to the test, when his blind commitment to duty would run up against the realities of Washington politics. Long seen as a stoic, almost statuesque figure, he emerges here as a man both remarkable and deeply human, thanks to newly discovered sources.
Set against the backdrop of five major conflicts - two world wars, Palestine, Korea, and the Cold War - Marshall's education in military, diplomatic, and political power, replete with their nuances and ambiguities, runs parallel with America's emergence as a global superpower. The result is a defining account of one of our most consequential leaders.
©2019 David L. Roll (P)2019 Penguin AudioListeners also enjoyed...
Critic reviews
"A deeply researched and masterfully written work that relies in part on never-used documents, one that should establish Marshall at the top of any list of American titans." (The Washington Times)
"David Roll has brilliantly brought George Marshall to life in a biography chock full of revealing and inspiring moments, reminding us what real leadership can be." (Evan Thomas, New York Times best-selling author of First: Sandra Day O'Connor)
"An overdue, authoritative biography of one of America's greatest soldier-statesmen...a definitive, nuanced portrait." (Kirkus starred review)
What listeners say about George Marshall
Average customer ratingsReviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Richard
- 03-07-24
If you want to test a man’s character, give him power
This special book on a special American ends with this line, spoken of General of the Army George Marshall, Let us pray in these dark times that these words remind us of our better angels.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Severn
- 06-08-19
Simply outstanding
An excellent book, excellently read. An outstanding biography of a major twentieth century figure, and a first class listen from start to finish.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Cryptochimp
- 23-05-20
A first-rate biography
I was wary of purchasing this book because I was afraid that it would lapse into the type of cringeworthy hagiography that mars most of the biographies of another famous WW2 US military leader, Douglas MacArthur. I need not have worried. Roll gives us an objective, unbiased account of the life of a key figure in twentieth-century history. Lack of bias does not preclude empathy and Roll’s empathy for his subject ensures that the biography does not become a dry chronological account of Marshall’s life. Roll’s insight and analysis enable the reader to gain a deep understanding of Marshall’s personality and Marshall's role in some of the key events of the last century. This will surely become the definitive biography of George Marshall for students of twentieth-century history.
Mark Bramhall’s narration is excellent.
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Overall3 out of 5 stars
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Performance4 out of 5 stars
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Story3 out of 5 stars
- M Mansour
- 28-09-19
Disappointing - very 1 dimensional !
Though it is a through book, telling of fact after another within timelines of Marshall's Life, it fails totally in explaining or diving deeper into his character, his managerial strategies and what drove this important man. Instead we get the usual facts - "he did this...then that..etc" most of which any reader can get from many other historical books. Very disappointing.
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1 person found this helpful