'With the fate of Australia at stake, the two great Allied generals of the Pacific War face off against the Imperial Japanese Army - and each other.
'11 March 1942: The Japanese have stormed the Philippines, forcing US general Douglas MacArthur to flee with his family, escaping by the skin of their teeth to the nearest safe country - Australia.
'Meanwhile, Australia's foremost general, Thomas Blamey, is ordered home from the Middle East by Prime Minister Curtin to tackle the military emergency suddenly facing our nation, with invasion appearing imminent.
'These two generals, both with colourful pasts and intensely clashing personalities, are now tasked with defending Australia against the Japanese war machine. One will lead us to victory, the other will claim the glory.
'In The Battle of the Generals, Roland Perry, bestselling author of Monash and The Changi Brownlow, does full justice to the dramatic story of MacArthur, Blamey and the desperate defence of Australia in World War II.' (Publication summary)
'What an uneven battle! Thomas Blamey, the little guy, rural-bred, rough, rumbunctious, distrusted; Douglas MacArthur, nobly bred, imperious, destined for greatness, the darling of his own heart. Roland Perry shows the true picture. MacArthur (1880-1964) was a scheming, narcissistic, lying braggard and manipulator. Blamey (1884-1951) fought to keep his Australians from fighting with the Americans, and tried, often with little effect, to influence his prime minister to act in the interests of the Australian troops and the Australian people, while displaying worrying moral failures of his own.' (Introduction)
'What an uneven battle! Thomas Blamey, the little guy, rural-bred, rough, rumbunctious, distrusted; Douglas MacArthur, nobly bred, imperious, destined for greatness, the darling of his own heart. Roland Perry shows the true picture. MacArthur (1880-1964) was a scheming, narcissistic, lying braggard and manipulator. Blamey (1884-1951) fought to keep his Australians from fighting with the Americans, and tried, often with little effect, to influence his prime minister to act in the interests of the Australian troops and the Australian people, while displaying worrying moral failures of his own.' (Introduction)
