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The Years of MacArthur, Volume 1
D. Clayton James Book Review

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Plot Summary of The Years of MacArthur, Volume 1
"This first volume of a trilogy dedicated to the life of General of the Army Douglas MacArthur covers the years from his birth in 1880 until America's entry into World War II in 1941. MacArthur, the son of a Medal of Honor winning Union officer during the Civil War, is himself a brilliant, egotistical, vainglorious man who is his father's equal as a military leader. After graduating first in his class from West Point, he rises from relative obscurity in the Army during the years before World War I. During the "war to end wars" (1917-18), MacArthur proves himself a brilliant strategist and tactician, and an uncommonly brave field officer. He is promoted from Captain to Major General during the war, and wins several decorations, including the Distinguished Service Cross.

Between the World Wars, MacArthur continues his steady rise in rank. By 1941, when he is 61 years old, MacArthur has retired from the Army and has decided to remain in the Philippines, where he has served for several years as America's military governor. On the eve of America's entry into World War II, with the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor having already been completed, MacArthur is found impatiently awaiting the expected attack on Manila.

D. Clayton James, the author of this masterful three-volume "Years of MacArthur," is widely recognized as the foremost authority on the life of this brilliant and controversial army general. These volumes are well researched and written and highly readable, although they lack the narrative flair of William Manchester's "American Caesar."   
"

Mike Powers, Resident Scholar



Review Analysis of The Years of MacArthur, Volume 1
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Ratings are on a 1-10 scale (Low to High)
Plot
job/profession: - soldier, infantry
Job/profession/poverty story Yes
Period of greatest activity? - 1900+

Subject of Biography
Gender - Male
Profession/status: - infantry soldier
Age: - 40's-50's
Biography of famous person? Yes
Ethnicity - White
Nationality - American (!)
How sensitive is this person? - hard edged
Sense of humor - Mostly serious with occasional humor
Intelligence - Very much smarter than other people
Physique - very athletic

Setting
How much descriptions of surroundings? - 3 ()
United States Yes
Asia/Pacific Yes
Asian country: - Southeast Asia - Pacific Islands
Misc setting - fort/military installation
Century: - 1930's-1950's

Style
Person - mostly 3rd
Accounts of torture and death? - no torture/death
Book makes you feel? - thoughtful
Writer's slant towards subject: - neutral
Story of entire life, or part? - story of set of events during life
Pictures/Illustrations? - A lot 11-15 B&W
How much dialogue in bio? - roughly even amounts of descript and dialog
How much of bio focuses on most famous period of life? - 26-50% of book
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D. Clayton James Resident Scholar Profiles

TOP SCHOLAR:
  
Mike Powers  

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