Publishers Weekly
★ 06/19/2023
In this eye-opening account, historian Manning (When Books Went to War) delves into the pivotal role amateur U.S. troop newspapers played in WWII. In 1942, Army Chief of Staff George Marshall revitalized the Army’s tradition of unit-based newspapers with the distribution of field kits “brimming with printing gear,” including mimeograph machines, on which the mostly novice journalists cranked out their newssheets. At a time when the press around the world was censored (even American newspapers were corralled by the U.S. government into a voluntary program of “self-regulation”), troop journalists on the Western front counterpunched against Nazi propaganda and kept soldiers well-informed. (In the Pacific theater, on the other hand, unit newspapers under the domineering Gen. Douglas MacArthur bristled with “the rancor, depression, and resentment” of censorship.) Army soldier-journalists in the field, “dazed by the horror of combat and the prospect of death,” documented critical moments in history: for example, the May 11, 1945, issue of the 42nd Rainbow Division’s Rainbow Reveille was absent its “usual swagger and humor” because it focused its coverage on the liberation of the Dachau concentration camp. Based on letters and newspaper extracts, Manning’s vital study draws liberally and poignantly on soldiers’ own words. It’s an essential contribution to the history of WWII. (Sept.)
author of The Librarian of Burned Books Brianna Labuskes
Molly Guptill Manning’s compelling, conversational storytelling and thorough research pack a one-two punch that distinguishes The War of Words as one of the best reads of the year. As newspapers and free speech continue to face a barrage of attacks, it also serves as a timely reminder that both are cornerstones of the democracy these men fought so hard to protect. Sometimes laugh-out-loud funny, other times achingly tragic, this book is hopeful first and foremost, making it an absolute must-read for anyone who believes in the power of words to act as a light even in our darkest days.”
author of How Ike Led Susan Eisenhower
Molly Guptill Manning has written a remarkable book: one that is memorable, inspiring, and very timely. She tells the fascinating story of how our fighting men in World War II, armed with weapons and typewriters, freely disseminated their knowledge, expressed diverse opinions, and wrote immediate accounts of life and loss, even in the heat of battle. Manning’s important book gives fresh meaning to the notion that the pen is indeed mightier than the sword. Highly recommended.”
Wall Street Journal
Deeply researched and crisply written, the book is a compelling social history of the four-year conflict as told through military-produced publications…Now, thanks to Molly Guptill Manning, the overlooked story of the resourceful, heroic military press in World War II is on the record.”
Daniel P. Bolger
American troops fought World War II with both the sword and the pen, and it’s high time that the latter got its due. In The War of Words, acclaimed author Molly Guptill Manning asks all the right questions about American soldier-journalists and explains why it mattered so much to our GI grandparents and great-grandparents to face the truth even when it hurt.”
Stephanie Gorton
Molly Guptill Manning’s The War of Words is a mesmerizing, poignant, and beautifully humane portrait of World War II. How astounding to be immersed in the lives and words of the GIs and WACs to the point that you can practically taste the C-rations, and to see their editorials and poems alternate between mordant humor and the very real terror of mortality. From the Bitching Post to the Gripe Club and beyond, there was a quiet heroism to the military journalists defying censorship and preconceived ideas about boosting morale in absurd and oppressive situations. As sparkling as it is weighty, Manning’s book is a gem.”
New York Times bestselling author of Having Our Sa Amy Hill Hearth
As the daughter of an American who served in World War II, I was eager to read The War of Words: How America’s GI Journalists Battled Censorship and Propaganda to Help Win World War II. I was not disappointed. The War of Words is a salute to the American spirit and a tribute to the importance of freedom of the press. It is a fascinating and significant contribution to our collective knowledge and understanding of World War II.”
