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MWSA Review
Meticulously researched, Stefanie van Steelandt’s debut biography, Lady of the Army: The Life of Mrs. George S. Patton, sheds light on the woman behind the man—the woman without whom the man might not have fulfilled his destiny. In love with George from the time she was sixteen, Beatrice Ayer saw through the man’s self-centeredness, holding to the sensitive, insecure boy she found so endearing regardless of his abusive rages and a possible romantic relationship with her niece.
Narrated in a style that combines expository writing with epistolary and narrative, the author composes the complex portrait of a wealthy, cultured woman supporting her husband through her wisdom and insight. The reader learns about the couple’s philosophical differences, first as the author traces the Republican Ayer lineage and the Democratic Patton lineage, then as she guides the reader to an understanding of their private and public lives. The highlight of the story occurs when the scale tipped in Hawaii. In 1925, George purchased the schooner Arcturus, seeking adventure in the absence of a war to fight. When they reached Hawaii, however, Beatrice experienced that unmistakable sense of being home, drawn by the island culture and mythology. Ironically, she found her creative soul at a time when George battled depression and a sense of uselessness.
An admirable work of this magnitude warrants and deserves an honest review. The author at times documents information about secondary players. Though interesting, the information detracts from the story’s strength and overall focus. Events presented out of sequence hinder the narrative flow. Nevertheless, Van Steelandt aptly achieves her purpose illustrating how Beatrice Patton was, not only a lifeline for the man who “would rather be dead than nobody” during three wars but also a woman who evolved into her own person and shone in her own time.
“It is impossible” to tell Beatrice Patton’s story “without bringing George along for the ride” writes the author in her Introduction. The emphasis rides heavily on George leaning on Beatrice to give him fortitude and yet, by the end of the book, the reader is left wondering, "Was it Beatrice or George who was brought along for the ride?" for, as the author makes clear from start to finish, to know one is to know the other.
Review by Janette Stone (May 2023)
Author's Synopsis
If anyone considered an army wife to be merely the kite's tail, Beatrice Ayer Patton had the perfect retort, "How high can a kite soar without its tail?"
General George Patton once remarked that World War II undoubtedly would have lasted a lot longer were it not for his soldiers and his wife. Those who knew the Pattons were aware of the vital role Beatrice played in his reaching his destiny, but few others understood the singular impact of this remarkable woman whom people described as having "a personality which radiates like a brilliant gem."
The arduous army life was alien to Beatrice growing up on Boston's Commonwealth Avenue, but her adventurous spirit and insatiable curiosity allowed her to adapt quickly. She became an immediate asset to her husband's career and continuously fanned the flames of his burning ambition, yet she managed to maintain her identity and pursue her interests. As comfortable on the back of a magnificent steed as at the helm of a great schooner, she became an authority on Hawaiian legends while stationed on the islands twice.
Lady of the Army: The Life of Mrs. George S. Patton tells the story of the General's greatest champion in life and fiercest defender in death while shedding new light on a complex personality many remember as "old blood and guts”. Beatrice Ayer Patton was a good soldier who fought the war on the home front three times, but she would not have hesitated a second had she been offered the chance to stand beside her husband on the battlefield.
Format(s) for review: Paper and Kindle
Review Genre:Nonfiction—Memoir/Biography
Number of Pages:475
Word Count:175,000