Thomas F. (hardtack) -
Based on my knowledge of World War II, and its more famous personalities, especially Dwight Eisenhower, I believe this book is mostly a work of fiction. There are so many contradictions and irregularities I lost count. So I'll just mention a few.
First of all, Eisenhower was a man of the highest morals as he proved time and again. As an example, in mid-1941, before our country's entry into World War II, the President of the Philippines gave Douglas MacArthur a "gift" of $500,000, and lesser amounts to people on MacArthur's staff. Eisenhower received $50,000. Why these monetary gifts were given when the Philippines Army desperately needed funds to purchase modern equipment is a matter still questioned by historians. Some suggest it was a 'bribe' to MacArthur to help keep the Philippines out of the war, which helps explain his initial inertia in reaction to the bombing of Pearl Harbor. On that matter I'll say no more, except to say Eisenhower gave the money back. He was the only one to do so
On page 51, Summersby, when writing about her engagement to an American lieutenant colonel while awaiting her divorce to come through, states: "I would no more have suggested Dick move into my flat....before we were married than I would have walked down Piccadilly naked." Then she writes an entire book about having an affair with a married man, and continually states how much she loved him, although this book sullies his reputation! In several places, she relates how the man she loved so deeply was impotent. Is that a true reflection of a woman's love or her spite?
My feeling is that during the war, while Summersby was "associated" with greatness, in that she often met some of the most important personages of that period, she was annoyed none of that greatness rubbed off on her. I find it amusing the book's description states she was by Eisenhower's "...side through every crisis and high-level meeting of the war." So how many generals and highly elected officials of a country do you know invited their chauffeurs to sit in meetings while high-level strategy was discussed?
On page 110, Summersby mentions President Roosevelt was at a meeting in Turkey. Never happened! Google the Web and the only connection to Franklin Roosevelt and turkey are the turkeys he pardoned for Thanksgiving, as many presidents do. In addition to this interesting error, she often gets her timelines messed up, describing events before or after they actually happened. She also mentions several times how she and Eisenhower flew in his specially modified B-17 bomber, when in fact it was a modified B-25.
When Eisenhower's son John, a notable historian in his own right, graduated from West Point in June 1944, he joined his father's staff for the rest of the war. If his father was involved in an affair, John would have learned of it. You don't keep stuff like that secret, as General George Patton's sexual affair with his own niece was not only known in Europe, but also in the U.S. As stated on Summersby's Wikipedia page, when "Past Forgetting" was published, a U.S. TV network planned to do a TV production on it. John Eisenhower then published a book of over 300 letters his father wrote his mother during war while they were separated. The TV network canceled the project, realizing Summersby's book was a work of fiction.
Finally, her Wikipedia page reveals that Summersby, who was dying of cancer at the time the book was written, didn't write the book at all. It was written by a ghostwriter, and it names that person. Obviously, that person was more interested in writing a best seller than a true memoir.
First of all, Eisenhower was a man of the highest morals as he proved time and again. As an example, in mid-1941, before our country's entry into World War II, the President of the Philippines gave Douglas MacArthur a "gift" of $500,000, and lesser amounts to people on MacArthur's staff. Eisenhower received $50,000. Why these monetary gifts were given when the Philippines Army desperately needed funds to purchase modern equipment is a matter still questioned by historians. Some suggest it was a 'bribe' to MacArthur to help keep the Philippines out of the war, which helps explain his initial inertia in reaction to the bombing of Pearl Harbor. On that matter I'll say no more, except to say Eisenhower gave the money back. He was the only one to do so
On page 51, Summersby, when writing about her engagement to an American lieutenant colonel while awaiting her divorce to come through, states: "I would no more have suggested Dick move into my flat....before we were married than I would have walked down Piccadilly naked." Then she writes an entire book about having an affair with a married man, and continually states how much she loved him, although this book sullies his reputation! In several places, she relates how the man she loved so deeply was impotent. Is that a true reflection of a woman's love or her spite?
My feeling is that during the war, while Summersby was "associated" with greatness, in that she often met some of the most important personages of that period, she was annoyed none of that greatness rubbed off on her. I find it amusing the book's description states she was by Eisenhower's "...side through every crisis and high-level meeting of the war." So how many generals and highly elected officials of a country do you know invited their chauffeurs to sit in meetings while high-level strategy was discussed?
On page 110, Summersby mentions President Roosevelt was at a meeting in Turkey. Never happened! Google the Web and the only connection to Franklin Roosevelt and turkey are the turkeys he pardoned for Thanksgiving, as many presidents do. In addition to this interesting error, she often gets her timelines messed up, describing events before or after they actually happened. She also mentions several times how she and Eisenhower flew in his specially modified B-17 bomber, when in fact it was a modified B-25.
When Eisenhower's son John, a notable historian in his own right, graduated from West Point in June 1944, he joined his father's staff for the rest of the war. If his father was involved in an affair, John would have learned of it. You don't keep stuff like that secret, as General George Patton's sexual affair with his own niece was not only known in Europe, but also in the U.S. As stated on Summersby's Wikipedia page, when "Past Forgetting" was published, a U.S. TV network planned to do a TV production on it. John Eisenhower then published a book of over 300 letters his father wrote his mother during war while they were separated. The TV network canceled the project, realizing Summersby's book was a work of fiction.
Finally, her Wikipedia page reveals that Summersby, who was dying of cancer at the time the book was written, didn't write the book at all. It was written by a ghostwriter, and it names that person. Obviously, that person was more interested in writing a best seller than a true memoir.
Luke J. (Lukester) reviewed Past Forgetting: My Love Affair with Dwight D. Eisenhower on + 20 more book reviews
AUTOBIOGRAPHY THAT CREATED CONTROVERSY UNREAL!
Very interesting look at a different side of Eisenhower during World War II. I read this book many years ago and finally found another copy of it in hardback. Was so happy to readd this to my collection
