Product Description

Alvin C. York went out on a routine patrol an ordinary, unknown American doughboy of the First World War. He came back from no-man’s-land a hero. In a brief encounter on October 8, 1918, during the Argonne offensive, York had killed some two dozen German soldiers and, almost single-handedly, effected the capture of 132 others. In this definitive biography, David D. Lee has firmly established the facts of York’s life, distinguishing them from myths that have grown up around the man. York claimed a special place in the hearts of his countrymen because his life seemed to show that the virtues of the common man continued to be a vital part of American society.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #586987 in Books
• Published on: 2002-02-28
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 184 pages

Review
"Lee's description and analysis of York's heroic deed will stand as definitive." -- Edward M. Coffman

Review

"A valuable look at the man, the times, and -- most important -- at the process of creating a national legend.-- Appalachian Journal" -- Appalachian Journal

"Lee's description and analysis of York's heroic deed will stand as definitive.-- Edward M. Coffman" -- Edward M. Coffman

"Should become the standard reference on the red-haired Tennessean who, in the final days of World War I, emerged from the Argonne Forest by himself with 132 German prisoners.-- Gun Week" -- Gun Week

"An impeccably researched account of what fame can do to a simple and good man.-- Jerusalem Post" -- Jerusalem Post

"A highlight of American World War I literature.-- Library Journal" -- Library Journal

"A finely written and appealing biography of Alvin C. York, the man and American hero.-- McCormick (SC) Messenger" -- McCormick (SC) Messenger

"York, as brought to life in the riveting book, made greatness out of simplicity and personified America and its values at their best -- a true hero.-- Military Heritage" -- Military Heritage

"It is to David Lee's credit that he has shown us the power and poverty of York the symbol and York the man.-- Reviews in American History" -- Reviews in American History

"David D. Lee strips away the ticker tape-and-bravado image and takes us back to the early days that shaped the man who initially resisted going to war -- back to the unruly youth whose companions were alcohol and firearms until religion took their place. Reads like a good novel.-- Southern Living" -- Southern Living

"The most thoroughly researched and satisfying account yet published on Sergeant Alvin C. York, one of the nation's greatest war heroes.-- Tennessean" -- Tennessean

"A biography which fits his hero into his times, illuminating both of them.-- Tennessee Historical Quarterly" -- Tennessee Historical Quarterly

"Clearly written and thoroughly researched in both American and German sources.... Its definitive account of York's life and its elaboration of what hero status and the hero-making process illustrate about American society make it a worthwhile addition to the literature on modern America.-- The Historian" -- The Historian

"This well-written, carefully researched study reveals the man and the often puzzling values that made him a hero.-- American Studies" -- American Studies

"A valuable look at the man, the times, and -- most important -- at the process of creating a national legend.-- Appalachian Journal" -- Appalachian Journal

"Lee's description and analysis of York's heroic deed will stand as definitive.-- Edward M. Coffman" -- Edward M. Coffman

"An impeccably researched account of what fame can do to a simple and good man.-- Jerusalem Post" -- Jerusalem Post

"A highlight of American World War I literature.-- Library Journal" -- Library Journal

"A finely written and appealing biography of Alvin C. York, the man and American hero.-- McCormick (SC) Messenger" -- McCormick (SC) Messenger

"It is to David Lee's credit that he has shown us the power and poverty of York the symbol and York the man.-- Reviews in American History" -- Reviews in American History

"David D. Lee strips away the ticker tape-and-bravado image and takes us back to the early days that shaped the man who initially resisted going to war -- back to the unruly youth whose companions were alcohol and firearms until religion took their place. Reads like a good novel.-- Southern Living" -- Southern Living

"The most thoroughly researched and satisfying account yet published on Sergeant Alvin C. York, one of the nation's greatest war heroes.-- Tennessean" -- Tennessean

"A biography which fits his hero into his times, illuminating both of them.-- Tennessee Historical Quarterly" -- Tennessee Historical Quarterly

"Clearly written and thoroughly researched in both American and German sources.... Its definitive account of York's life and its elaboration of what hero status and the hero-making process illustrate about American society make it a worthwhile addition to the literature on modern America.-- The Historian" -- The Historian

"This well-written, carefully researched study reveals the man and the often puzzling values that made him a hero.-- American Studies" -- American Studies

About the Author
David D. Lee, Dean of the Potter College of Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences at Western Kentucky University, is the author of Tennessee in Turmoil: Politics in the Volunteer State, 1920-1932.

Customer Reviews

Riveting!
A valuable look at York the man, the times he lived in, and the process of creating a national legend. Distinguishes the myths of York's life from the simple facts of his famous exploits. I especially enjoyed the look back at York's rural background and how those values shaped him as a man as well as an American heroic ideal. WEll-researched and documented, but also simply a good read!

Grab some toothpicks
If you like to grab a book and take a nap shortly after opening it, this is the book for you. It starts out keeping your interest, but will quickly loose it. If you are looking for a book that really lets you meet York (which was what I was looking for), this is not the right book. This book is a wealth of information, but you will get easily dis-interested, lost, and confused as the author goes into great depths to introduce the men that were involved in York's struggles after the war. I was hoping for a book about York and his family, but was disappointed in this one. He gives very little information about York's family life.

Superb Bio of a WWI Hero
Lee views the life of World War I hero Alvin York through the lens of a changing society. York represented, according to Lee, the values of 19th century rural American-simplicity, honesty, hard work, Protestantism, and Anglo-American heritage-in an industrializing society. His defeat of German machine gunners came to symbolize "man over machine" as well. York moved from a pacifist, noninterventionist position to accept America's role as a major world power. This acceptance was based on a religious vision of the US as a defender against evil in the world. Lee's book is well written, moves fast, and well argued. He succeeds in demonstrating that an indivdual life can be used to understand American history in the early 20th century.