Friday, April 23, 2010

The Historical Record and Stephen Ambrose's Research Claims

Link to April 23 Chronicle of Higher Education article, "Another Blow to the Reputation of Stephen Ambrose". 

Excerpt:   Now The New Yorker in an article by Richard Rayner raises new questions about the foundation of Ambrose's academic reputation: his work on Eisenhower. The article says that while Ambrose always claimed to have been asked by Eisenhower to write an authorized biography, in fact he himself asked permission to do so. Further, while he said that he had had numerous long and often personal discussions with the general, he really met him just a few times. The story came to light after officials at the Dwight D. Eisenhower Presidential Library and Museum came across unpublished correspondence.

Ambrose died late in 2002. According to rankings on Amazon.com, his books continue to sell well.

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