http://www.msnbc.com/news/820766.asp?pne=msnStephen Ambrose, historian, dies at 66
‘Band of Brothers’ author known
for books about World War II
ASSOCIATED PRESS
NEW ORLEANS, Oct. 13 — Stephen E. Ambrose, whose best-selling books made America’s aging World War II veterans hometown heroes again, died early Sunday at a Bay St. Louis, Miss., hospital. He was 66.
With unadorned but lively prose, Ambrose continued to captivate readers as he churned out history books at an industrial pace, publishing more than 30, including best-sellers such as ‘Citizen Soldiers’ and ‘The Wild Blue.’
AMBROSE, a longtime smoker, was diagnosed with lung cancer in April. Family members were with him when he died at about 4 a.m.
Ambrose spent much of his career as a relatively little known history professor until he burst onto the best-seller’s list with his 1994 book “D-Day June 6, 1944: The Climactic Battle of World War II.”
RIP Stephen Ambrose
RIP Stephen Ambrose
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Scott Smith
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Although I didn't care for Ambrose's "aroused democracy" rhetoric or "apple-pie" style of history--which was more believable for a Captain America comic book than historical narrative--at only age 66, it is very sad for such a young historian to pass-away. I wish I could do a tenth of what he did.
Last edited by Scott Smith on 14 Oct 2002, 01:45, edited 1 time in total.
Guess he didin't get my letter in time. Lung cancer, such a bad way to go. He had some good books left in him. RIP.A true Patriot, like him or not the man loved his country, and I liked him a great deal, he would say what he wanted and believed without concern of the pseudo so-called historians. More of a Great American Storyteller, gave us a lot rather you agree with it or not.
Unfortunately I think we will be reading a lot of these stories in the next few years as we lose more and more historians to father time.
Unfortunately I think we will be reading a lot of these stories in the next few years as we lose more and more historians to father time.
"A great story teller" is I think a good summing up. He brought us exceptionally readable history and was a great collector of anecdotes. His style of writing is something for other historians to emulate, though his analysis is perhaps best forgotten. And even in that aspect, he at least provoked some healthy discussion, if primarily in refutation of his leaps of imagination. A loss, to be sure. And to die of lung cancer at 66, man, what does historiography matter compared to that.
I don't completely agree with Qvist's comments but his insight is excellent and his summation indeed agreeable.
Much like others setiments towards Ambrose he made history readable to many Americans and brought WWII into the conscience of many Americans. His book Citizen Soldiers renewed an interest in WWII for me personally. I will miss his contributions.
Much like others setiments towards Ambrose he made history readable to many Americans and brought WWII into the conscience of many Americans. His book Citizen Soldiers renewed an interest in WWII for me personally. I will miss his contributions.
Andy from the Shire