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Title: Stilwell the Patriot

Subtitle: Vinegar Joe, the Brits, and Chiang Kai-Shek

Author: David Rooney, John S. Major - foreword

Narrator: Stephen Hoye

Format: Unabridged

Length: 9 hrs and 3 mins

Language: English

Release date: 08-22-16

Publisher: Audible Studios

Ratings: 3 of 5 out of 1 votes

Genres: History, Military

Publisher's Summary:

This new and meticulously researched biography of the controversial American commander Joe Stilwell presents an admirably lucid account of his career and the complex story of the Burma campaign.

Stilwell spent most of World War II as Chiang Kai-Shek's chief of staff in China. He was often at odds with the British Generals Wavell, Slim, and Wingate, men with whom he was to co-operate in Burma. These arguments earned him the nickname of 'Vinegar' Joe. Stilwell and George Marshall had planned to have 90 Chinese divisions armed by the USA. Had they succeeded, in 1945 they would have been strong enough to defeat the Communists and would have changed the course of Chinese, if not world, history. Although Chiang had Stilwell dismissed, he recognized his contribution to the Burma Road campaign by renaming part of it the Stilwell Road.

This sympathetic but critical biography analyses the passions of an American patriot, infuriated by Chiang's dishonesty and chicanery, and looks at the possible outcome had Stilwell's views prevailed.

After World War II service in the Far East and Ghana, David Rooney read history at Oxford and subsequently took a research degree in Commonwealth History. His career in education included four years as Senior Lecturer at RMA Sandhurst. His writings include Burma Victory, considered by Brigadier Michael Calvert the best book yet on the Burma Campaign, Wingate and the Chindits, Mad Mike, and his recent highly acclaimed Guerrilla. Robert Lyman is the author of the best-selling Slim, Master of War.

Members Reviews:

Excellent addition to the WWII Literature on the China-Burma-India Theater and Command Relationships in Coalition Warfighting.

A newer biography of General "Vinegar Joe" Stilwell, the ill fated Commander in the China Burma India Theater of WWII. This complements the well known Barbara Tuchman's "Stilwell and the American Experience in China". What is surprising is that it was written by a British author who served in this theater in WWII. It chronicles Stilwell's early years in China learning the language and culture and his return as one of General Marshall's men from Ft. Banning. It shows the frayed edges of animosity by a frustrated Commander dealing with corruption in Chiang Kai Sheks China, and a Fighter who wanted to reopen the Burma Road. Well, done and a nice addition to the limited works on the CBI in WWII. I would recommend to military historians of the CBI in WWII.

Stilwell Through The Eyes of a Britisher

While the author (British) is complementary of Stilwell's performance in many instances, and does present a case for Stilwell being a patriot, the constant theme throughout is Stilwell's alleged distaste for "Limies." What is not brought out is that Stilwell simply had a distaste for anyone given to inaction or pomposity....and a number of British officers fit that mold. In truth Stilwell respected a number of British officers such as Slim and Festing who were highly competent and favored action against the Japanese.