George Kennan: A Study of CharacterA man of impressive mental powers, of extraordinary intellectual range, and—last but not least—of exceptional integrity, George Frost Kennan (1904-2005) was an adviser to presidents and secretaries of state, with a decisive role in the history of this country (and of the entire world) for a few crucial years in the 1940s, after which he was made to retire; but then he became a scholar who wrote seventeen books, scores of essays and articles, and a Pulitzer Prize-winning memoir. He also wrote remarkable public lectures and many thousands of incisive letters, laying down his pen only in the hundredth year of his life. Having risen within the American Foreign Service and been posted to various European capitals, and twice to Moscow, Kennan was called back to Washington in 1946, where he helped to inspire the Truman Doctrine and draft the Marshall Plan. Among other things, he wrote the 'X' or 'Containment' article for which he became, and still is, world famous (an article which he regarded as not very important and liable to misreading). John Lukacs describes the development and the essence of Kennan's thinking; the—perhaps unavoidable—misinterpretations of his advocacies; his self-imposed task as a leading realist critic during the Cold War; and the importance of his work as a historian during the second half of his long life. |
What people are saying - Write a review
LibraryThing Review
User Review - carl.rollyson - LibraryThingJohn Lukacs calls "George Kennan: A Study of Character" (Yale University Press, 224 pages, $26) a "biographical study," noting that a full-fledged biography has yet to be written. Mr. Lukacs ranks ... Read full review
George Kennan: a study of character
User Review - Not Available - Book VerdictNow in his eighties, Lukacs continues to produce excellent works that reflect his impressive historical mind as well as a deep understanding of the contemporary world; he has a deserved worldwide ... Read full review
Other editions - View all
Common terms and phrases
A√airs a√ected Acheson alliance ambassador anticommunism Berlin biographers Bohlen Bullitt career character chose Cold Cold War communist convictions course Cragged Hill Czechoslovakia Dean Acheson definite Department di√erent di≈cult diaries division of Europe e√ect e√ort eastern Europe embassy entire especially European father fifty find first five Foreign Service George Kennan Germany happened Harriman historian Hitler important impressed indi√erence influence intellectual interest iron curtain JOHN LUKACS Kennan thought Kennan wrote Kennan’s view kind knew Korea least lectures less letters liberal Long Telegram man’s Marshall Marshall Plan Memoirs ment mind months Moscow nan’s o≈ce o≈cial occasion one’s papers perhaps Policy Planning political president Princeton reasons reflection Reith Lectures relations remained respect Riga Roosevelt Russia secretary significant Soviet Union Stalin su≈cient telling things tion Truman United Washington West western words write written Yugoslavia
Bibliographic information
| Title | George Kennan: A Study of Character |
| Author | John Lukacs |
| Edition | illustrated |
| Publisher | Yale University Press, 2007 |
| ISBN | 0300122217, 9780300122213 |
| Length | 224 pages |
| Subjects | › History / General |
| Export Citation | BiBTeX EndNote RefMan |