Welcome to Peter Krass Online, Author of books such as Carnegie, The Life and Times of Jack Daniels and Portrait Of War
Peter Krass Online
Portrait of War: The U.S. Army's First Combat Artists and the Doughboys' Experience in WW I
by Peter Krass
Eight U.S. soldiers witnessed more of the American fighting experience during World War I than any other U.S. participant, military or civilian. Their harrowing mission was a groundbreaking event in the annals of U.S. military history: They were the first combat artists recruited by the army, with the purpose of making a historical record of war.
Although they had no military training, these soldier-artists were commissioned captains and entered the war determined to capture "the shock and loss and bitterness and blood of it." Relying on their letters, diaries, interviews, and, of course, their artwork, in PORTRAIT OF WAR: The U.S. Army's First Combat Artists and the Doughboys' Experience in WW I (Wiley, Fall 2006) Peter Krass tells their gripping story, which is, at the same time, a richly textured recounting of the soldier's experience. What emerges is a fresh and unique perspective on World War I.
Unlike imbedded journalists confined to their assigned units, these highly regarded artists were given passes that allowed them to travel freely; so, at great personal risk, they alone witnessed all major American action. They came under fire and charged through burning wheat fields as they pushed to the front along the Marne River, where the Americans were making a desperate stand. They penetrated hallowed Belleau Wood, where the Marines fell in waves and the stench of blood overwhelmed them. They painted while standing among the dead during the terrifying Meuse-Argonne Offensive. And they went "over top" to fully comprehend the soldier's experience. Through it all they recorded their encounters in letters, diaries, and sketchbooks.
Amidst the carnage and chaos, the artists were also forced to battle with the General Staff in Washington, who wanted art conducive to conducting a propaganda campaign. The artists' rendering of grim realism hardly served as propaganda, but they were determined to show the truth of war. A dramatic story with many dimensions, PORTRAIT OF WAR has a humorous element, too, as these untrained captains attempted to adapt to military life.
By building a compelling narrative interwoven with a blues motif and by including more than 40 pieces of the artists' work, Krass brings the reader into the trenches, into battle with the soldiers, and into the combat artists' lives as they struggle to survive what was at times a surreal experience that changed them forever.
Krass has published nine previous books, including CARNEGIE, a biography of ruthless tycoon and pioneering philanthropist Andrew Carnegie. CARNEGIE was cited by Barron's as the "definitive" Andrew Carnegie biography. Krass is currently working on a book about Mark Twain's business misadventures. He lives in Hanover, New Hampshire.
Peter Krass
Peter Krass is an accomplished and prolific author, editor, and researcher. He has written and edited 10 books, including two biographies. His most recent work is Portrait of War: The U.S. Army's First Combat Artists and the Doughboys' Experience in WWI (Wiley, Fall 2006). It is the gripping tale of eight combat artists who entered the war determined to capture "the shock and loss and bitterness and blood of it."
Krass's first biography was Carnegie (Wiley, 2002). It made the bestseller's list in Pittsburgh, Cleveland, and Denver, was selected as one of the best biography/business books for 2002, and featured on C-Span's Booknotes. It was reviewed widely, including Barron's, the Economist, the Washington Times, the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, the Tribune-Review, the Dallas Morning News, the London Times, and The Scotsman, among many other newspapers and magazines. Barron's cited the book as "the definitive Andrew Carnegie."
His next biography was Blood & Whiskey: The Life and Times of Jack Daniel (Wiley, 2004), the first ever biography of the flamboyant boy moonshiner turned whiskey baron in the tumultuous post-Civil War South. Blood & Whiskey was featured on NPR's Marketplace, BBC Radio, C-Span's BookTV, and was the subject of an Associated Press article reprinted widely across the United States.
Prior to his biography work, Krass was the creator of a highly successful series of books on business wisdom, which have sold almost 100,000 copies in English alone: The Book of Business Wisdom, The Book of Leadership Wisdom, The Book of Investing Wisdom, The Book of Entrepreneurs' Wisdom, The Book of Management Wisdom, and The Little Book of Business Wisdom. These books were endorsed by such industry leaders as Warren Bennis, the CEOs of NBC and Merrill Lynch, and renowned investor Roy Neuberger, among others. Books have been translated into Chinese, Japanese, Korean, Russian, German, Dutch, and Portuguese.
Krass also edited a collection of business essays for The Conference Board, the world's leading business research organization and executive forum, the book entitled The Conference Board Challenge to Business: Industry Leaders Speak Their Minds. In addition, he has written for Investor's Business Daily, profiling past and present business leaders, and Across the Board, which included a cover article detailing the mega-merger craze of the latter 1990s, and Whisky magazine.
Krass has appeared on many national and local television and radio programs. He also served as script consultant for a BBC Scotland television program on Andrew Carnegie that aired in the winter of 2002-2003.
As a lecturer, Krass is in high demand from both civic and business organizations. He has spoken at numerous libraries, museums, historical societies, and business organizations. A graduate of Lafayette College (BA Economics) and Seton Hall University (MA English Literature), Krass lives with his family in Hanover, New Hampshire.
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