In this Pulitzer Prize–winning biography, Barbara Tuchman explores American relations with China through the experiences of one of our men on the ground. In the cantankerous but level-headed “Vinegar Joe,” Tuchman found a subject who allowed her to perform, in the words of the National Review, “one of the historian’s most envied magic acts: conjoining a fine biography of a man with a fascinating epic story.”
Joseph Stilwell was the military attaché to China in 1935 to 1939, commander of United States forces, and allied chief of staff to Chiang Kai-shek in 1942–44. His story unfolds against the background of China’s history, from the revolution of 1911 to the turmoil of World War II, when China’s Nationalist government faced attack from Japanese invaders and Communist insurgents.
Download and start listening now!
"Book is a biography of U.S. Army General Joseph Stilwell who spent several tours in China ultimately leading the U.S. effort in Burma during WWII. Provides insight into both Communist and Nationalist leadership. Not flattering to Chiang Kai Shek." — Dan (4 out of 5 stars)
"Book is a biography of U.S. Army General Joseph Stilwell who spent several tours in China ultimately leading the U.S. effort in Burma during WWII. Provides insight into both Communist and Nationalist leadership. Not flattering to Chiang Kai Shek."
“A fantastic and complex story finely told.”
“Barbara Tuchman’s best book…so large in scope, so crammed with information, so clear in exposition, so assured in tone that one is tempted to say it is not a book but an education.”
“Stilwell performs one of the historian’s most envied magic acts: conjoining a fine biography of a man with a fascinating epic story.”
“The most interesting and informative book on US-China relations…a brilliant, lucid and authentic account.”
“Pam Ward is certainly listenable during this lengthy history of American relations with China through the end of WWII…Tuchman is the most articulate and nuanced of popular historians, and this biography of ‘Vinegar Joe’ Stilwell, head of American forces in China during WWII, is a thorough critique of American policy in China and of the Chiang Kai-shek regime.”
" Well done. A worthwhile read. "
" Barbara W. Tuchman is an outstanding writer and a very good historian. "
" Excellent and thorough history, but ponderous to read unless one had a great interest in this era. Tuchman is a master historian, but not for the mass market. "
" Good history but ultimately frustrating. The entire book resolves around 2 actions: 1) Chiang promising something but really lying to Stillwell and 2) Stillwell not believing him but trying to influence Chiang anyways. This cycle repeats itself for 400+ pages, and you want to pull your hair out after awhile. "
" The only Tuchman I didn't like. "
" Very interesting book about a time period in our history that really I didn't know much about. Took a LONG time to get through the book, but learned a lot; I give it 4 stars due to some sections seemed slow. "
" I love Barbara Tuchman's work. As with most of her other books, the middle of this one seemed to drag on a bit. It kept going after I'd lost my initial enthusiasm. But, the high-quality writing keeps me going. "
" REVIEW: Good book, good narrator "
" Easy to read, as far as history books go. Addresses what must be the most underappreaciated/known campaigns of WWII. "
" If you want to understand China and America's relationship today, this book will provide you with no better place to start. An amazing read. "
" Americans screwing up in Asia is a long tradition. "
" President Roosevelt sent General Stilwell to try to help Chiang Kai Shek. This describes one part of World War II which is largely forgotten. Some of Stilwell's troops are still in The Golden Triangle, mostly in the Burmese part. "
" T%he americans were enthralled with the Chinese and convinced that with the proper aid democracy could flourish. Stillwell was aware of the huge inefficiencies and incompetence of the Chinese government but believed that the US model would ultimately succeed. "
" An amazing story of an unknown hero. Also I learned a great deal about China's way of thinking. Have read twice. "
" Biographical account of the life and experiences of Vinegar Joe Stilwell and the US campaign in China. So far-so good. "
" A seminal history of our relations to the Far East and useful even today. America has not yet learned that some people in the world do not think as we do. A must read for any historian. "
" Longer and less lyrical than Barbara Tuchman usually is, the book was still full of some fascinating stuff about a place, time and history that was relatively new territory to me. "
" An excellent book for anyone interested in China and SEAsia. Great writing. "
" A biography of an interesting WWII general in China, as well as an epic story of the Japanese incursion into that country and the conflict between the Nationalists and Communists. A great read. I love Barbara Tuchman's work. "
" Very good biography of a person in a job they dislike, while others of less experience get the glory. "
" vinegar joe! ya really learn a lot about china in the war and what a prick chiang kai-shek was. "
Barbara W. Tuchman (1912–1989) was a self-trained historian and author who achieved prominence with The Zimmerman Telegram and international fame with The Guns of August, which won the Pulitzer Prize in 1963. She received her BA degree from Radcliffe College in 1933 and worked as a research assistant at the Institute of Pacific Relations in New York and Tokyo from 1934 to 1935. She then began working as a journalist and contributed to publications including The Nation, for which she covered the Spanish Civil War as a foreign correspondent in 1937. Her other books, include The Proud Tower, A Distant Mirror, Practicing History, The March of Folly, The First Salute, and Stilwell and the American Experience in China: 1911-45, also awarded the Pulitzer Prize. In 1980 the National Endowment for the Humanities selected her to deliver the Jefferson Lecture, the US government’s highest honor for intellectual achievement in the humanities.
Pam Ward, an AudioFile Earphones Award–winning narrator, found her true calling reading books for the blind and physically handicapped for the Library of Congress’ Talking Books program. The fact that she can work with Blackstone Audio from the beauty of the mountains of Southern Oregon is an unexpected bonus.
Audiobooks Were Restored to Your Cart
[ShoppingCartItemsAddedOnMerge] audiobook(s) were left in your cart from a previous visit, and saved to your account for your convenience. You may view or remove these audiobooks on the shopping cart page.