Partage des connaissances

Nom légal: Cray, Edward Beryl
Autres noms: CRAY, Edward Beryl
CRAY, Ed
Date de naissance: 1933-07-03
Date de décès: 2019-10-08
Sexe: male
Nationalité: USA
Lieu de naissance: Cleveland, Ohio, USA
Lieu du décès: Palo Alto, California, USA
Lieux de résidence: Santa Monica, California, USA
Études: University of California, Los Angeles (BA|1957)
Professions: journalist
professor (Journalism)
folklorist
biographer
Organisations: University of Southern California
United States Army (Korean War)
The Los Angeles Mirror
The Los Angeles Daily News
American Civil Liberties Union
Los Angeles Philharmonic (tout afficher 7)
The Los Angeles Times
Courte biographie: BA (1957), graduate study (1958-59), University of California, Los Angeles; instructor in folklore and folksong, University of California, Los Angeles, 1958-60; associate editor and business manager, Frontier, 1961-64; director of publications, American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) of Southern California, 1965-70; associate professor (1976-90), then in 1991 professor of journalism, University of Southern California.

Ed Cray was a writer about the Los Angeles scene, with articles printed in magazines such as Coast; and wrote books arising out of his interest in the ACLU.

Membres

Critiques

Chrome colossus : General Motors and its times par Ed. Cray

See also SH Archive, Companies box 1.

Signalé

LibraryofMistakes | 1 autre critique | May 19, 2021 |

General of the Army: George C. Marshall, Soldier and… par Ed Cray

This book was an excellent read. But you have to appreciate its intent and what other books offer.

First I think George Marshall was a brilliant soldier. Probably one of the smartest, if not the smartest, officer to hold General officer rank in the United States. The US is a better nation because of his contributions. I can’t visualize how exactly our involvement in World War II might have been different without him. But I can say that without Marshall, things would have been quite different and probably much longer.

Clearly there is a only limited amount of material to be found on any one person so each biography of the same person looks at the person with a different perspective.

I have read several biographies on Marshall or related topics (each with different focuses):

Marshall and His Generals: U.S. Army Commanders in World War II by Stephen R. Taaffe (A study of Marshall’s relationship with the 38 Corps Commanders and above during the war.)

Partners in Command: George Marshall and Dwight Eisenhower in War and Peace by Mark Perry (self-explanatory title)

There's a War to Be Won: The United States Army in World War II by Geoffrey Perret (While focused on how the US transitioned into and ran its various operations during the war, it provides a fascinating overview of Marshall as the central force and inspiration behind many of the Army’s activities leading to its impressive status at the end of the war.)

15 Stars: Eisenhower, MacArthur, Marshall: Three Generals Who Saved the American Century by Stanley Weintraub (self-explanatory title)

George C. Marshall: A General for Peace by Alan Saunders (A relatively short book, but it covers many of Marshall’s career highlights.)

Marshall, Hero For Our Times by Leonard Mosley (One of the better biographies on a WWII US general that I have read. Lots of detail.)

I found Cray’s book was very readable and one the better general officer biographies I have read. I do have some comments that temper this statement with reality:

I noted a couple of entries that seemed to repeat material and wording from other books. Not critical as there are probably a limited number of ways of saying the same thing. But I had the impression some entries were almost copy and paste from other books.

Each chapter discussed major phases or events in Marshall’s life and career. The first part of each chapter provides historical context and background for the subsequent presentation of Marshall’s actions. Some events are quickly covered or just not addressed. I found there to be a very fast leap from Winter of 43/44 to the June 1944 Normandy invasion. I am sure that Marshall was just as busy as Ike during this period, but nothing was mentioned about Marshall.

I prefer biographies that don’t dwell into the author’s personal opinions about their subjects. I noted a couple of statements that took opinion stances that probably were not needed in the book.

Overall still a very good book. Fills in some blanks and background that other books do not get into. Worth the purchase to read and add to my library.… (plus d'informations)

Signalé

usma83 | 2 autres critiques | Sep 19, 2014 |

CHIEF JUSTICE: A Biography of Earl Warren par Ed Cray

Cray clearly admires Warren, and this plus his liberal political bias mars the narrative and the selection and emphasis of event. Nevertheless, as a native Californian, I was amazed at how little I knew about the history of California in the first half of the 20th century.

Signalé

KirkLowery | 1 autre critique | Mar 4, 2014 |

General of the Army: George C. Marshall, Soldier and… par Ed Cray

Obwohl ein Umfang von knapp 800 Seiten abschreckend wirken mag, versteht es der Autor, durch seine lebendigen Schilderungen an keiner Stelle Mühsal in der Lektüre aufkommen zu lassen. Dabei zieht das Werk ganz besonders seine Stärke aus dem Umstand, dass es sich nicht allein um eine Biographie über George C. Marshall handelt, auch wenn dies allein ausreichend Raum für intensive Erörterungen liefern würde. Vielmehr handelt es sich gleichzeitig um eine sehr umsichtige Darstellung der historischen Hintergründe und Zusammenhänge jener Zeiten, in denen Marshall wirken konnte.… (plus d'informations)

Signalé

ThomasK | 2 autres critiques | May 15, 2010 |

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