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The Emperor's General
 
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The Emperor's General (Mass Market Paperback)

by James Webb (Author)
4.8 out of 5 stars See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
US List Price: $7.99
UK Equivalent: £5.37
Price: £4.87 & eligible for Free UK delivery on orders over £5 with Super Saver Delivery. See details and conditions
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Product details

  • Mass Market Paperback: 480 pages
  • Publisher: Bantam Books; Reissue edition (Feb 2000)
  • Language English
  • ISBN-10: 0553578545
  • ISBN-13: 978-0553578546
  • Product Dimensions: 17.4 x 10.6 x 2.8 cm
  • Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
  • Amazon.co.uk Sales Rank: 478,897 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Product Description

Amazon.co.uk Review
Webb's vividly imagined thriller arrives with imprimatur of Tom Wolfe, who calls him one of the five most important writers in America today. Does Webb justify this lavish praise? In the year 1945, General MacArthur has brought off the allied triumph in the Pacific. Webb's hero, Captain Jay Marsh, a young aide-de-camp, is happy to serve his hero. But when he discovers that the General has undertaken a strange agreement with the Emperor of Japan, Marsh finds himself dealing with a bizarre scenario in which MacArthur plans to become an American Caesar, ruling over his conquered Japanese subjects while preserving their imperial system. Webb's fascinating and original plot is carried off with considerable style and authority, and he is particularly assured in his characterisation: MacArthur is created with a convincing detail that is cleverly not allowed to eclipse the tormented protagonist Marsh.

Like all the best historical fiction, the day-to-day detail of the forties is sketched in with assurance and the narrative (culminating in the rigged trial of Japan's greatest General) is handled with clarity and precision. It's no surprise that the film rights for The Emperor's General have been sold--but, as a reading experience, this is a book that justifies Wolfe's fulsome praise --Barry Forshaw, Amazon.co.uk --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.


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What Do Customers Ultimately Buy After Viewing This Item?

The Emperor's General
67% buy the item featured on this page:
The Emperor's General 4.8 out of 5 stars (6)
£4.87
Fields of Fire
33% buy
Fields of Fire 5.0 out of 5 stars (6)
£7.50

 

Customer Reviews

6 Reviews
5 star:
 (5)
4 star:
 (1)
3 star:    (0)
2 star:    (0)
1 star:    (0)
 
 
 
 
 
Average Customer Review
4.8 out of 5 stars (6 customer reviews)
 
 
 
 
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

 
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars A first-rate novel on MacArthur in the Philippines and Japan, 20 May 1999
By A Customer
As fiction, this is first-rate, with vivid scenes and excellent characterization of the Philippines and Tokyo in the closing months of World War II. As history it is flawed by numerous errors, which will not be noticed by most readers but grate on my own personal experiences as long-time resident of the Philippines, where from 1941 until February 1945 I a civilian POW; then an Associated Press war correspondent in devastated Manila, later covering the war crimes trials of Yamashita and Homma. For example, Webb discusses only military POWs, ignoring the 7500 American and other Allied civilian men, women and children who remained alive for liberation in February 1945 and even then confuses prison camps. He provides a location for Yamashita's surrender across two major mountain ranges from the actual site. It was the Roosevelt administration that prodded him to provide details on how he planned to try Japanese war criminals. Even historical fiction needs to get the background details right.
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5.0 out of 5 stars A wonderfully crafted journey through the aftermath of WWII, 7 Jun 2000
This review is from: The Emperor's General (Paperback)
Some men have greatness thrust upon them - but how do they react, and what changes as wrought by the new powers?

From the backwoods of Arkansas, to the inner sanctum of MacArthur proconsular administration in Tokyo, we grow with Jay Marsh's incredulous rise through the diplomatic machinations of being the supreme commander's monkey boy.

Webb has been there and done it and he writes a book that, standing alone, is thought provoking, but when considered with his knowledge makes you wonder when he crosses the line between fact and fiction. There are real people described - did SE Asia after VJ day really pan out as outlined?

To many Europeans, the Far East was the forgotten war, a much more American effort - books like this serve to educate but do they misinform, too?

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5.0 out of 5 stars Wonderful - best read of 2000 so far., 25 April 2000
By A Customer
This review is from: The Emperor's General (Paperback)
I agree with previous reviewer - most thoughful and moving book since Birdsong, although much more emphasis on the moral dilemma's and political intrigue than Birdsong.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars Douglas MacArthur's aide comes of age, as he changes history
Probably the most insightful, thought-provoking book I've read since Angela's Ashes and Birdsong.

As it was written by a former Secretary of State, the book makes you think... Read more

Published on 17 April 2000

5.0 out of 5 stars Impressive.
I thought The Triumph and the Glory would be the best WWII novel of the summer, but it has been edged into 2nd place by Webb's outstanding The Emperor's General. Read more
Published on 3 Jul 1999

5.0 out of 5 stars A must read
This has to be the best book I have read in a long time. The story of Jay Marsh and his victories and failures of his navigation through post-war Japan and the Philippines is... Read more
Published on 15 Jun 1999

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