FightingMac:TheDownfallofMajor-GeneralSir
- 作者
- 出版社 MainstreamPublishing
- 出版时间 2003年9月
- ISBN 9781840187892
- 定价 156.60
内容简介
Onaspringmorningin1903,Major-GeneralSirHectorMacdonald,oneofBritain'sgreatestmilitaryheroes,tookhislifeinahotelroominParis.AfewdayslaterhewasburiedhastilyinanEdinburghcemetaryashisfellowcountrymentriedtocometotermswiththefactthatoneofScotland'smostfamoussoldiershadendedhisliferatherthanfacechargesagainsthischaracter.Thesuicideanditsaftermathcreatedanationalscandalandonewhichstillreverberateslongafterthosedramaticevents-itisnowclearthattheofficialfilesdealingwithhiscase,thepapersoftheJudgeAdvocatehavebeendestroyed.Macdonaldor'FightingMac'ashewasknowntoanadoringpublic,wasnoordinarysoldier.Acrofter'ssonwhohadrisenfromtheranksintheVictorianarmy,hecoveredhimselfwithgloryduringalongandsuccessfulmilitarycareerandin1898waswidelyacknowledgedasthetrueherooftheBattleofOmdurman,whichcementedBritishImperialruleinAnglo-EgyptianSudan.Everythinglayathisfeet-aknighthood,honours,therespectoffellowgeneralssuchasRobertsandKitchener-butMacdonald'scareercametoashockingfullstopwhenhestoodaccusedofhomosexualityandwasorderedtofaceacourtmartial.Unabletocometotermswiththedisgrace,hecommittedsuicide.ThatshouldhavebeentheendofhisstorybutsopowerfulwasthemythcreatedbyFightingMacthatpeoplerefusedtobelievehewasdead.SoonrumourswerecirculatingthatMacdonaldhadfakedhisdeathandhadadoptedthepersonaofaprominentPrussianofficer,thefutureFieldMarshalAugustconMackensen,oneofGermany'sgreatleadersduringtheFirstWorldWar.FIGHTINGMACtellsthetruestorybehindhisdisgraceandshedsnewlightonthemyths....
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