Captain Professor - by Michael Howard (Hardcover)

About the Book

Awarded the Military Cross in the Second World War, the author recounts how between battles he befriended the young film director Franco Zefirelli. His account of beating the Germans out of Italy with Bishop Simon Phipps and the ballet critic Richard Buckle is hilarious. This memoir gives insight into the history of Britain in the post war years.

Book Synopsis

Not since A.L. Rowse published his memoir On Historians has such a witty and perceptive memoir been published by a celebrated historian.

Captain Professor constitutes the memoir of one of the most distinguised British historians of the post war years, Professor Sir Michael Howard. Award the Military Cross in the Second World War, Howard recounts how between battles he befriended the young film director Franco Zefirelli, and fought the Germans in Italy with (the future Bishop) Simon Phipps and the (future) ballet critic Richard Buckle. In Oxford after the war, he gives delicious insights into academic life, including perceptive portraits of Hugh Trevor-Roper, Keith Thomas and A.L. Rowse.

Howard had a major influence on the strategic and defence policy of the country and made his name as a military historian. His influence on the study of history in schools and universities has been considerable, and he has been substantially responsible for the burgeoning of First World War studies, its history and its literature. He claims, however, that he eventually pipped many more obvious candidates to the post to become the royally-appointed Regius Professor of History because he was the only candidate that the Queen of England had heard of.

Review Quotes

'he [Michael Howard] is such a brilliant writer, succinct, exact, candid, without the least degree of conceit or artificiality, he commands the readers confidence and sympathy without ever embarrassing him. He never tells us too much or suppresses anything that night be held to discredit him. He is generous to others, but not indiscriminately, and, where he cares to, he is a skillful portraitist.... ...The book is a true product of the Age if Enlightenment and to be applauded for challenging the unreason and the violence to which feebler minds and a less-educated understanding of history so easily succumb. it is beautifully written, amusing and perceptive, perhaps from its unusual angle the best interpretation of our terrifying times.' Richard Ollard, 'Under the Influence of Mars', The Spectator, July 2006--Sanford Lakoff "The Spectator "

"a fascinating memoir"--Sanford Lakoff

"All the qualities of powerful exposition, extraordinary insight and concision that adorn Howard's other books can be found in this, possibly his last book, as well as a haunting elegiac tone. But Michael Howard might still feel the urge to write. Let us hope so."--Sanford Lakoff "Times Literary Supplement "

"Military Education is in a sad state, and Michael Howard's memoir, Captain Professor: A Life in War and Peace, "stands as a reminder of how far it has fallen. No student of the military art should leave this book unread. Michael Howard is an excellent military historian. In one school or another, every Army officer has encountered his translation of Clausewitz's On War, "his contribution on World War I in Peter Parot and Gordon Craig's classic Makers of Modern Strategy from Machiavelli to the Nuclear Age" (which includes an essay on Soviet strategy by a young scholar named Condoleezza Rice) or his seminal War in European History". There are few Michael Howards left, and it is not clear that there is a generation following the great scholars of the Cold War to replace them. Nor is it clear that civilian universities or the Pentagon are doing much to address this shortfall. Soldiers and students should read Howard's Captain Professor". They will do so wistfully, regretting that they may never have a mentor of his equal." --Sanford Lakoff

Interview on Michael Howard. 'Captain Professor is an admirable slice of life: likeable, interesting and well written.' Jeremy Lewis, Sunday Times, 16 July 2006--Sanford Lakoff "Sunday Times "

"[Howard] belongs to a long line of British military historians, such as John Wheeler-Bennett, who have drawn on their deep historical knowledge to expound upon contemporary politics in vivid and forceful prose that is almost impossible to read without mounting excitement. In "Captain Professor", Howard blends his personal history with world events to provide a delightfully informal and disarming account. He begins with his privileged childhood before turning to his years in British boarding schools. His descriptions of the combat he experienced during the Italian campaign in the Second World War are seldom less than gripping. Scarcely less robust than the real thing, his accounts of academic warfare are, more often than not, mordantly entertaining...In recalling his own past, Howard offers important lessons for the present." National Interest Online

"Sir Michael Howard's vivid and most interesting memoirs will give pleasure to many. Well recommended." The Guards Magazine, 1 August 2008

"a fascinating memoir"--,

"a fascinating memoir"--Alan Jeffreys, The Bulletin of the Military Historical Society, November 2006

"[Howard]belongs to a long line of British military historians, such as JohnWheeler-Bennett, who have drawn on their deep historical knowledge to expoundupon contemporary politics in vivid and forceful prose that is almostimpossible to read without mounting excitement. In "Captain Professor", Howard blends his personal history withworld events to provide a delightfully informal and disarming account. Hebegins with his privileged childhood before turning to his years in Britishboarding schools. His descriptions of the combat he experienced during theItalian campaign in the Second World War are seldom less than gripping. Scarcelyless robust than the real thing, his accounts of academic warfare are, moreoften than not, mordantly entertaining...In recalling his own past, Howard offersimportant lessons for the present." --National Interest Online

"As can be guaranteed from Howard's pen we are treated to plenty to think about and to appreciate, both in content and style." Reviewed by Alistair Irwin in The British Army Review

"Howard blends his personal history with world events to provide a delightfully informal and disarming account...In recalling his own past, Howard offers important lessons for the present." Reviewed by Jacob Heilbrunn, November 2007

Review in British Scholar.

About the Author

Sir Michael Howard served with the British Army in Italy during the Second World War and was awarded a Military Cross. Thereafter he established the Department of War Studies at King's College London, which he left to become first Chilchele Professor of the History of War, and then Regius Professor of Modern History at Oxford, ending his professional career as Robert A. Lovett Professor of Military and Naval History at Yale. He has been awarded The Order of Merit and is a Companion of Honour. In addition to his own "History of the First World War," his works include "The Franco-Prussian War," "War in European History," and most recently "Liberation or Catastrophe."