Heroes: From Alexander the Great and Julius Caesar to Churchill and de Gaulle
by Paul Johnson
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Book Summary Information
Author: Paul JohnsonEdition: Hardcover
Published: 2007-12-01
ISBN: 0061143162
Number of pages: 320
Publisher: Harper
Book Reviews of Heroes: From Alexander the Great and Julius Caesar to Churchill and de Gaulle
Book Review: JOHNSON DELIVERS AGAIN
Summary: 5 Stars
Paul Johnson remains one of the few serious writers who combines an immensely accessable prose style with an intellect rarely encountered in contemporary non-fiction. In his vivid snapshots he compresses larger-than-live historical figures into human beings while simultaneously making the case as to why they are "heroic". Many of these insights are cleanly fresh and restorative to a reader like myself who has read biographies of them all. Johnson explains his criteria for judging who and why he chose who he did as a hero. And in the process makes a powerful case for each individual, even those who are frankly a little tough to swallow. Among them deGaulle.
From other works (Malraux's "Felled Oaks" for example) and lengthy biographies, my own assesement of deGaulle never changed. I'd always considered him a mostrously egotistical chauvanist who'se WW2 credentials mainly lay in his lucky proximity to true greats like Churchill, Roosevelt and Eisenhower, who in one way or another tolerated his insufferable ego and pretentions.
Louis X1V presumably said, "c'estate ce moi" I am the state. In a seventeenth century king it's one kind of conceit, but in a 20th century military and politcal leader of a free democracy, it is a disgrace. Or so was my conclusion. However, Johnson's book brought me a new veiwpoint. I didn't conclude I'd been totally wrong, but Johhnson made me see that had deGaulle not existed, he probably would have had too be invented. And in a way, it wasd probably on balance, more fortunate for France that he was the invention, rather than some of the absurd French leaders who preceeded and
succeeded him. Johnson made me see that. And in that respect and in all the other sketches, ever new lights went on.
Paul Johnson is one great writer, historian, thinker. And to me, in this age when so much garbage flows from the media.
Strongly recommend it and all his other books.
Summary of Heroes: From Alexander the Great and Julius Caesar to Churchill and de Gaulle
A galaxy of legendary figures from the annals of Western history comes to life in this stirring sequel to Intellectuals and Creators.
In this enlightening, entertaining work, Paul Johnson continues his engaging history series, approaching the subject of heroism with stirring examples of men and women from every age, walk of life and corner of the world who have inspired and transformed not only their own cultures but the whole world as well.
Heroes includes
Samson, Judith and Deborah
Alexander and julius Caesar
Henry V and Joan of Arc
Thomas More, Lady Jane Grey, Mary Queen of Scots
Elizabeth I and Walter Ralegh
George Washington, the Duke of Wellington and Lord Nelson
Emily Dickinson
Abraham Lincoln and Robert E. Lee
Winston Churchill and Charles de Gaulle
Mae West and Marilyn Monroe
Ronald Reagan, Margaret Thatcher and Pope John Paul II
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