by David Reynolds (Author)
Reynolds' readable and scholarly yet entertaining book explores the rich variety of relations between pushy, homesick American GIs, famously lampooned as 'over-paid, over-sexed, over-fed and over here' and their British hosts - 'under-sexed, under-paid, under-fed and under Eisenhower' - during the Second World War. This clever blend of military and social history is the result of relentless research of massive archival and oral sources. David Reynolds balances his study of government and military policies with a vivid, impressionistic account of the formal and informal relationships between the occupiers and the occupied. 'This is an important and original contribution to our understanding of the Second World War.' - John Keegan, Daily Telegraph .
Format: Paperback
Pages: 592
Edition: New
Publisher: W&N
Published: 07 Dec 2000
ISBN 10: 184212112X
ISBN 13: 9781842121122
Book Overview: 'An outstanding study of a most important aspect of the war, never before examined in such depth' Alistair Horne, The Times 'Reynolds ends this fine book with the most poignantly moving conclusion to any history book I have ever read.' Andrew Roberts, Evening Standard 'Reynolds marries the 'new' military history, which studies armies in social and psychological terms, to political, diplomatic, economic and social history, and he articulates his astounding range of material with the fluency of a first rate novelist...the paramount hero of his book is GI Joe himself, eventually tested and not found wanting in the battles in France to which Reynolds at last turns. I won't tell you how the story ends. I fancy the last page will move others, like myself, to tears'. Angus Calder, Sunday Times