Lady of the Army

The Life of Mrs. George S. Patton

By: Stefanie Van Steelandt

Narrated by: Dana P. Rowe

Length: 19 hrs and 51 mins

Publisher's summary

A 2023 Silver winner: Benjamin Franklin Awards (Biography & Autobiography)

If anyone considered an army wife to be merely the kite’s tail, Beatrice Ayer Patton had the perfect retort: “How high can a kite soar without its tail?”

General George Patton once remarked that World War II undoubtedly would have lasted a lot longer were it not for his soldiers and his wife. Those who knew the Pattons were aware of the vital role Beatrice played in his reaching his destiny, but few others understood the singular impact of this remarkable woman whom people described as having “a personality which radiates like a brilliant gem”.

The arduous army life was alien to Beatrice growing up on Boston’s Commonwealth Avenue, but her adventurous spirit and insatiable curiosity allowed her to adapt quickly. She became an immediate asset to her husband’s career and continuously fanned the flames of his burning ambition, walking beside him on his path to glory while maintaining her own identity. As comfortable on the back of a magnificent steed as at the helm of a great schooner, she became an authority on Hawaiian legends while stationed on the islands twice.

Called “a triumph” by Joanne Holbrook Patton and hailed for its extensive research and factual reporting, Lady of the Army straddles the line between the home and war fronts and tells the story of Beatrice Ayer Patton, the woman who shaped the man, fortified the soldier, and created the legend.

©2022 Stefanie Van Steelandt (P)2023 Stefanie Van Steelandt

Critic reviews

"A masterpiece of seminal research, Lady of the Army is an extraordinary, detailed, and unique biography of a remarkable woman married to a now legendary American military leader in both World War I and World War II." (Midwest Book Review)

Behind every great man is a good woman.

*I received a free copy of this audiobook for review purposes*

Extensively researched and well written, this book is a fascinating look into the woman behind the man. George Patton was in many ways larger than life, but that doesn’t make Beatrice Patton any less interesting in her own right. She was the support structure that allowed her husband to be the giant that he was. Her support, both emotionally and financially, was indispensable.

This is an easy listen, and contains much good information. If you’re looking for revelation on why George Patton was the way he was, this is a great read.

A Leader Among the Men

“If your actions create a legacy that inspires others to dream more, learn more, do more and become more, then, you are an excellent leader”. I feel this quote by Dolly Parton says it all about this book. I so enjoy stories of women of strength behind the person in the spotlight. After enjoying the first two chapters, I decided to switch to the audiobook which I thought might work better around my busy schedule. I followed Beatrice’s story in my car, in the garden, and around my house and enjoyed the narrator, Dana P. Rowe very much. He brought the Pattons to life, and truly captured the strength, humor,and intelligence of Beatrice- Lady of the Army. I feel he cared about telling her story as much as the author herself. Great read and great listen!