"Worst generals’ memoir of World War II?"

[MarkOttawa]

Tom Ricks really doesn't like my namesake (I concur with him):
http://ricks.foreignpolicy.com/posts/2010/07/06/worst_generals_memoir_of_world_war_ii

I've just finished reading Gen. Mark Clark's Calculated Risk,
http://www.amazon.ca/Calculated-Risk-General-Mark-Clark/dp/1929631596
and I have to say I think it is one of the dullest war memoirs I've ever read, and certainly the worst I've seen by an American general who served in that war. (I have yet to read some of those by MacArthur and his band of sycophants, though-they are staring at me from the bookshelf but I have been avoiding tackling them.)

Clark comes off as a slippery customer, constantly glossing differences that I know from other books are mighty interesting. Monty? What a jolly fellow...

Two of the best generals' memoirs of World War II, I think, are Slim's and Eisenhower's. Likewise, the best Civil War memoir is Grant's. By contrast, what would Fredendall or Short have to say?     

Clark wasn't a failure, but he was mediocre. So his memoir is worse than his record would indicate.

Any other nominations for Worst War Memoir Ever?

 

Comments bash Tommy Franks and Monty (who, in my view, did brilliantly with the armies he led given the capabilities of his troops, and more esp. of the British Army's officers).

Meanwhile,  a new bio of one who generally gets better reviews:

Manstein: Hitler's Greatest General
http://www.amazon.ca/gp/product/0297845616/ref=pe_4690_16190220_snp_dp

Mark
Ottawa

 

[daftandbarmy]

I find it interesting that the best memoirs, with a few exceptions, are usually written by Generals from the losing side e.g., Germany in WW2. Perhaps this is a method of absolving oneself from the guilt associated with defeat.