Synopses & Reviews
General of the Army Douglas MacArthur was an extraordinary military leader and one of the most controversial figures in American history. An enormous amout of literature has accumulated about his career, which spanned most of the 20th century. General MacArthur is the subject of this first comprehensive assessment and survey of all of the writings by ad about him. Publication coincides and reflects the formal commemoration of the 50th anniversary of World War II. A short biographical essay and chronology set the stage for the historiographical critique, which is organized topically and into different time periods. This extensive historiographical narrative is cross-referenced to the annotated bibliography of 759 published and unpublished sources, both academic and popular, including film and fiction. Author and subject indexes complete the volume. This guide to the literature on MacArthur describes archival collections and research facilities; points to conflicting interpretations about the role of General MacArthur as Chief of Staff of the Army, in World War II, in the occupation of Japan, in the Korean War, and in the sensational recall from his position as Far Eastern Commander in 1951; and suggests areas for further research. The historiographical narrative and annotated bibliography cover the career of the general from his earliest years to his death in 1964.
This easy-to-use research tool is designed for students, scholars, and readers at all levels; for use by all those concerned with recent U.S. and world history; and for special commemorations of World War II.
Synopsis
One of the most controversial figures in American history is the subject of this first comprehensive assessment and survey of all the writings by and about General of the Army Douglas MacArthur. A short biographical essay and chronology set the stage for the historiographical critique, which is organized topically and into different time periods and cross-referenced to the annotated bibliography of 759 published and unpublished sources of all kinds. The guide describes archival collections and research facilities; points to conflicting interpretations about the role of General MacArthur in World War II, in the occupation of Japan, in the Korean War, and in the sensational recall from his position as Far Eastern Commander in 1951; and suggests areas for further research. This easy-to-use guide for readers at all levels who are interested in critical moments in 20th-century world history, is timed also for World War II commemorations.
Synopsis
First comprehensive historiography and bibliography of a controversial American general in World War II and postwar history.
About the Author
EUGENE L. RASOR, Professor of History at Emory and Henry College, is the author of British Naval History: A Guide to the Literature (1990).
Table of Contents
Series Foreword by Myron J. Smith, Jr.
Acknowledgments
Abbreviations
Chronology
Introduction
Historiographical Narrative
Biographical Essay
Manuscript and Archival Resources
General Douglas MacArthur, The Person
World War I, West Point, Army Chief of Staff, and the Philippines
World War II
The Occupation of Japan
The Korean War
The Last Years
Areas for Future Research
Annotated Bibliography
Author Index
Subject Index