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"the total number of copies in print... 450,000." - Ballantine Books Whiting's portrait of General George S Patton was first published as a Ballantine's Illustrated History of World War II. Its first printing sold 450,000 copies worldwide. "In a cloud of thick dust, the convoy came to a halt. The tall immaculate general waited till the driver opened the door then descended slowly, his highly polished riding boots sinking into the Tunisian dust. For a long interval he eyed the scene around him. Then with an imperious slap of his riding switch against the calf of his boot, the general stalked towards the headquarters of the US II Corps. 'Old Blood an' Guts' had arrived to take command." Charles Whiting (1926-2007) was one of Britain’s most prolific military writers, with over 300 books to his credit. He saw active service in the Second World War, serving in an armoured reconnaissance regiment attached to both the US and British armies. His books therefore possess the insight and authority of someone who, as a combat soldier, actually experienced the horrors of the Second World War. Charles Whiting is the author of numerous history books on the Second World War. Under the pen name of Leo Kessler he also wrote a series of bestselling military thrillers featuring SS Assault Battalion Wotan, and the infamous "Dogs of War" Series.
135 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 1970
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About the author
Charles Whiting
257 books52 followersCharles Whiting was a British writer and military historian and with some 350 books of fiction and non-fiction to his credit, under his own name and a variety of pseudonyms including Ian Harding, Duncan Harding, K.N. Kostov, John Kerrigan, Klaus Konrad, and Leo Kessler.
Born in the Bootham area of York, England, he was a pupil at the prestigious Nunthorpe Grammar School, leaving at the age of 16 to join the British Army by lying about his age. Keen to be in on the wartime action, Whiting was attached to the 52nd Reconnaissance Regiment and by the age of 18 saw duty as a sergeant in France, Holland, Belgium and Germany in the latter stages of World War II. While still a soldier, he observed conflicts between the highest-ranking British and American generals which he would write about extensively in later years.
After the war, he stayed on in Germany completing his A-levels via correspondence course and teaching English before being enrolled at Leeds University reading History and German Language. As an undergraduate he was afforded opportunities for study at several European universities and, after gaining his degree, would go on to become an assistant professor of history. Elsewhere, Whiting held a variety of jobs which included working as a translator for a German chemical factory and spells as a publicist, a correspondent for The Times and feature writer for such diverse magazines as International Review of Linguistics, Soldier and Playboy.
His first novel was written while still an undergraduate, was published in 1954 and by 1958 had been followed by three wartime thrillers. Between 1960 and 2007 Charles went on to write over 350 titles, including 70 non-fiction titles covering varied topics from the Nazi intelligence service to British Regiments during World War II.
One of his publishers, Easingwold-based Rupert Smith of GH Smith & Son said he was a quiet man and prolific writer.
"He's one of a band of forgotten authors because he sold millions of copies and still, up to his death was doing publishing deals.He was the kind of man who was very self-effacing, one of Britain's forgotten authors, still working at 80 years of age, with his nose down and kicking out books."
Charles Henry Whiting, author and military historian died on July 24 2007, leaving his wife and son.
Born in the Bootham area of York, England, he was a pupil at the prestigious Nunthorpe Grammar School, leaving at the age of 16 to join the British Army by lying about his age. Keen to be in on the wartime action, Whiting was attached to the 52nd Reconnaissance Regiment and by the age of 18 saw duty as a sergeant in France, Holland, Belgium and Germany in the latter stages of World War II. While still a soldier, he observed conflicts between the highest-ranking British and American generals which he would write about extensively in later years.
After the war, he stayed on in Germany completing his A-levels via correspondence course and teaching English before being enrolled at Leeds University reading History and German Language. As an undergraduate he was afforded opportunities for study at several European universities and, after gaining his degree, would go on to become an assistant professor of history. Elsewhere, Whiting held a variety of jobs which included working as a translator for a German chemical factory and spells as a publicist, a correspondent for The Times and feature writer for such diverse magazines as International Review of Linguistics, Soldier and Playboy.
His first novel was written while still an undergraduate, was published in 1954 and by 1958 had been followed by three wartime thrillers. Between 1960 and 2007 Charles went on to write over 350 titles, including 70 non-fiction titles covering varied topics from the Nazi intelligence service to British Regiments during World War II.
One of his publishers, Easingwold-based Rupert Smith of GH Smith & Son said he was a quiet man and prolific writer.
"He's one of a band of forgotten authors because he sold millions of copies and still, up to his death was doing publishing deals.He was the kind of man who was very self-effacing, one of Britain's forgotten authors, still working at 80 years of age, with his nose down and kicking out books."
Charles Henry Whiting, author and military historian died on July 24 2007, leaving his wife and son.
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
July 25, 2009
The story of the delusional megalomaniac who shortened the war in Europe, despite Eisenhower's best efforts to keep him away from the thick of things.
This book is a punch in the gut, coldly dissecting the man, his genius, his pathological ego, and his eerie intuition; a lucid description of everything I loathe in men, and so desperately admire.
George C Scott does a good job portraying the ambiguity of the character in the eponymous movie, but nothing like this.
This book is a punch in the gut, coldly dissecting the man, his genius, his pathological ego, and his eerie intuition; a lucid description of everything I loathe in men, and so desperately admire.
George C Scott does a good job portraying the ambiguity of the character in the eponymous movie, but nothing like this.
September 12, 2025
My ten year-old, fifth grade self thanks Charles Whiting for this crisp biography of a gruff, colorful military genius. PATTON fed my young appetite for more history and biography.
April 15, 2020
Need I say more? Obviously, not an in depth look at the man but enough to wet your whistle and wanting to learn more.
Four stars.
Four stars.
November 5, 2017
As great as the Ballantine's Illustrated series of series is, this entry may have been a bit better had it come out later, when the series transmographied into History of the Violent Century. Then, we could have read more about Pre-WW2 Patton, which, while possibly not as interesting to most, is the less trodden ground about this controversial figure. Most of this book is likely rather familiar to Patton fans, of which I am not one, but I suspect it was written to communicate to the non-fans, anyway. We get a brief pre-WW2 sketch in the introductory chapter, but it doesn't give us much. The majority of the book gives us Patton in WW2, the highlights, the lowlights, the mistakes, and the triumphs. Through it all, Mr. Whiting reminds us of Patton's irascible personality, which at once enabled him to accomplish what his allies could/would not as well as brought about his own demise. I had forgotten what a tragic, senseless death Patton suffered, getting paralyzed in a jeep crash a few months after WW2 and dying a few days later. Mr. Whiting gives us some interesting summations at the end, as well as some thoughtful commentary throughout, but his penchant for reminding us of Patton's personality combined with the lack of WW2 information (again, I understand the premise of the series) prevent me from giving it four stars. I realize after typing that sentence how ironical that is, but it was not intended. (Or was it...)
October 11, 2024
O principal mérito da obra é ilustrar como foram as batalhas conduzidas por Patton. Além disso, o autor explora os detalhes não mencionados no relato do próprio General ( A Guerra que eu vi - Bibliex), que mancharam sua gloriosa biografia.
July 30, 2024
I enjoyed the work and the look into the man of Patton and what an interesting person he was. Definitely born into a time that wasn't ready for him but a war that needed him and Whiting paints a picture of a man who was even at war with himself with his contradictions of character. In this how Patton would preach annihilation to his troops but practice maneuvers that would avoid the toughest challenge. I think the book does a good job of laying out who Patto was but maybe a little more anecdote and a little less analysis could have maybe worked a little better to make that picture clearer but that would be my only gripe with it. Does a great job of following and explaining his campaigns and I appreciated that the most.
July 16, 2013
Truthfully, Im not really sure. Is this a thorough dissection of Patton that clearly shows how the man didnt even come close to living up to the legend or a hatchet job by someone who simply detested Patton's character.
I eventually had to go with hatchet job, as though Patton was a loose cannon and an egomaniac, Whiting has written some other obvious hatchet job (Hemingway goes to way his worst) and I found the way he used Bradley's Biography to back up some of his points and then accused Bradley of essentially having lied when he disagreed with his theories.
Too much conjecture, too much going against what those present said happened.
Yet still interesting
I eventually had to go with hatchet job, as though Patton was a loose cannon and an egomaniac, Whiting has written some other obvious hatchet job (Hemingway goes to way his worst) and I found the way he used Bradley's Biography to back up some of his points and then accused Bradley of essentially having lied when he disagreed with his theories.
Too much conjecture, too much going against what those present said happened.
Yet still interesting
October 17, 2016
Great read and a common idea or set of competencies emerges about what it takes to get the job done.
Patton was greater than people at the time realized. I read this book for a basketball coaching class I took from Charlie Harrison, Johnny Orr's asst coach. This book has a lot of application for the sports world. I would have to reread it again to determine if there is applicability to the world of business.
Patton was greater than people at the time realized. I read this book for a basketball coaching class I took from Charlie Harrison, Johnny Orr's asst coach. This book has a lot of application for the sports world. I would have to reread it again to determine if there is applicability to the world of business.
not-read
February 23, 2015Volume in Ballantine's Illustrated History of World War II
December 25, 2015
Good primer
No new revelations but a well written brief history. A bit weak on the possible reasons for Pattons demise. A good primer for readers unfamiliar with the subject.
No new revelations but a well written brief history. A bit weak on the possible reasons for Pattons demise. A good primer for readers unfamiliar with the subject.
May 22, 2023
🖊 My review: An excellent history book.
🤔 My rating 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
📕 Media form: Read from my private library.
✿●▬●✿●✿●▬●✿
🤔 My rating 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
📕 Media form: Read from my private library.
✿●▬●✿●✿●▬●✿
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews