Over the weekend, I also finished off my first book since starting the blog. Here, then, is my first book review. [Note that review formatting will probably change as I go along.]
Book: Stilwell and the American Experience in China, 1911-45
Author: Barbara Tuchman
Awards received (if any): 1972 Pulitzer Prize for Non-fiction
This book delivers a biography of China over the first half of the 20th century as seen by General Joe Stilwell, who went there originally in 1911 as a tourist on leave from the army. Over the next 34 years he lived on-and-off in the Orient serving in a variety of roles, ending up as Theater Commander of the CBI (China-Burma-India) theater for most of World War II before being recalled after a series of tiffs with Chiang Kai-shek. Tuchman was an ideal historian (with a previous Pulitzer under her belt) who portrayed Stilwell in a largely positive light. On the other hand, she sharply disagreed with Chiang Kai-shek’s actions, albeit with the caveat that the actions were consistent with the traditional Chinese philosophy. Near the end of the book, she describes a meeting between Stilwell and T. V. Soong, a brother-in-law and close confidant of Chiang, in this way:
Throughout Stilwell’s mission every action and decision of the Generalissimo had been molded by the principle of hoarding resources and waiting until one barbarian should defeat the other. From the Chinese point of view this was sensible and justified. From the point of view of the Americans, who were providing the resources and believed in taking action to command fate, it was unacceptable and unjustified. There could be no meeting across this divide. (490)
The book, like so many of those dealing with wars, pointed out the stark contrasts in views between those that are actually out in the field (in this case, Stilwell in China) versus those who in government who were in charge (Roosevelt and the ilk in DC, along with the general populace). Had there only been better communication and rapport between Stilwell and the people in Washington, he might have survived there and things in that theater may have turned out remarkably different.
Summary: It’s well worth the read if you’re at all interested in Chinese history or finding out more about this much-overlooked part of World War II. Also worthwhile to read as a somewhat non-traditional biography.
Posted by themoonsofbill 
