Bibliograph

Captured by history, one man's vision of our tumultuous century, John Toland

Type

Label

Captured by history, one man's vision of our tumultuous century, John Toland

Language

eng

resource.biographical

autobiography

Index

index present

Literary Form

non fiction

Main title

Captured by history

Responsibility statement

John Toland

Sub title

one man's vision of our tumultuous century

Summary

This is a personal story of a hugely inquisitive man who became a historian not by accident or design, but by fate. John Toland's unorthodox approach to history came from his early desire to be a playwright. He found that he saw history as a play, with narrative structure and drama, not as a dry series of dates and names. Few historians have interviewed as many men and women who helped shape the most momentous events of our century. Here, for the first time, he reveals how he found these key players and how he persuaded them to talk to him. From disgraced Japanese generals to the German doctor who nearly succeeded in assassinating Hitler, Toland's sources are remarkable for what they reveal about their subjects. It was Toland's ability to listen, more than anything else, that persuaded those he interviewed to divulge secrets and stories they would tell no one else.--From publisher description

Table Of Contents

Volume 1: Growing pains -- I: In the beginning (to 1923) -- I arrive -- A boy's life -- Eastward, ho! -- II: A raw youth (1924-1936) -- Growing up -- The play's the thing -- "Exeter fair, mother stern yet tender" -- Williams college, or building castles in the air -- III: a fool there was (1936-1942) -- On the road -- Going left -- With confused confidence (1940-1942) -- IV: At war with the army (1943-1957) -- At ease -- Riding the air force roller coaster -- Return to duty -- Life begins at forty-two -- Volume 2: Living history -- I: New ventures (1958-1965) -- The battle of the bulge -- My bridge to the Orient -- Try, try, try again -- The Dillinger days -- The last 100 days -- The search begins -- Behind the iron curtain -- The last days of the Nazis -- II: The rising sun (1966-1970) -- Abandon self -- The last battles -- The road to peace -- Endgame -- Volume 3: Adolf Hitler -- I: The quest (1970-1976) -- Off to Germany -- The beer hall Putsch -- The family circle -- The final solution -- The writing process -- II: From the fact to fiction (1977-1986) -- No man's land -- Infamy -- Gods of war and occupation -- III: In mortal combat (1987- ) -- "One good man can work wonders" -- In dubious battle -- Captives and heroes -- Journey's end

Classification