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Lady of the Army: The Life of Mrs. George S. Patton
2023 Silver Winner - Benjamin Franklin Awards (Biography & Autobiography)
"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
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.
"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
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.
500 pages, Paperback
Published April 9, 2023
77 people are currently reading
863 people want to read
About the author
Stefanie Van Steelandt
1 book15 followersAn independent scholar and blogger who spent the last twenty years studying biography, Stefanie Van Steelandt grew up near Belgium's Liberty Road, which General Patton and his Third Army followed during WWII. She currently lives in New York City, where she enjoys cooking and immersing herself in the city's art world.
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Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews
December 13, 2022
The book is a chronicle of the personal sacrifices and bravery of an incredible woman.
A review of Lady of the Army: The Life of Mrs. George S. Patton by Stefanie Van Steelandt can be summed up in one sentence: There is nothing else anybody can add to it. The story encompasses 300 years of history, from the first European immigrants to the present day, and several families: Ayers, Bannings, Pattons, etc. Hard work, hours of archival research and interviews, and respect and admiration for Beatrice are visible throughout the 700 pages of the book.
Contrary to most biographies of military men and women, WW2 and George S. Patton's role in it (and his wife's active work for War Department) didn't become the book's sole focus. Instead, the author aims to show Beatrice Ayer Patton as a separate individual who was much more than the wife of her famous husband. With a passion for her heroine, the author describes Beatrice's struggles of consciously living in the shadow of an ambitious yet diffident man like George Smith Patton. The story, interspersed with personal photographs, reads in part as an incredible romance between Beatrice and her Georgie, a relationship that lasted for decades. The author conveys the nuances of their shared story without flaring up the conspiracy theories surrounding the general's life and death, as well as draws the broader picture of the American high society in the first half of the 20th century.
The only advantage that can become a disadvantage for some readers is the book's academic style. The author describes every passing character and every twist of a family tree with a keen eye for detail. Still, the book contains such a tremendous amount of information that it's hard to process in one sitting. After being read for the first time, the book requires returning to it repeatedly to put this or that event/person into a context.
I received an advance review copy from Reedsy Discovery, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
A review of Lady of the Army: The Life of Mrs. George S. Patton by Stefanie Van Steelandt can be summed up in one sentence: There is nothing else anybody can add to it. The story encompasses 300 years of history, from the first European immigrants to the present day, and several families: Ayers, Bannings, Pattons, etc. Hard work, hours of archival research and interviews, and respect and admiration for Beatrice are visible throughout the 700 pages of the book.
Contrary to most biographies of military men and women, WW2 and George S. Patton's role in it (and his wife's active work for War Department) didn't become the book's sole focus. Instead, the author aims to show Beatrice Ayer Patton as a separate individual who was much more than the wife of her famous husband. With a passion for her heroine, the author describes Beatrice's struggles of consciously living in the shadow of an ambitious yet diffident man like George Smith Patton. The story, interspersed with personal photographs, reads in part as an incredible romance between Beatrice and her Georgie, a relationship that lasted for decades. The author conveys the nuances of their shared story without flaring up the conspiracy theories surrounding the general's life and death, as well as draws the broader picture of the American high society in the first half of the 20th century.
The only advantage that can become a disadvantage for some readers is the book's academic style. The author describes every passing character and every twist of a family tree with a keen eye for detail. Still, the book contains such a tremendous amount of information that it's hard to process in one sitting. After being read for the first time, the book requires returning to it repeatedly to put this or that event/person into a context.
I received an advance review copy from Reedsy Discovery, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
December 2, 2022
Stefanie Van Steelandt paints a vivid picture of a remarkable woman in her biography “Lady of the Army: the Life of Mrs George S. Patton”. The legendary military leader of the US Armed Forces in the Second World War, George S. Patton needs no introduction. He was a towering figure, so much so that his wife and her role in his greatness has been quite overshadowed. Steelandt, an independent long term scholar of biography, has produced an impressive and exhaustively researched work that corrects this anomaly.
Beatrice Patton, a woman of steely will and indomitable courage, moulded herself from an early age into the perfect army wife, one who followed her husband unquestioningly as he forged his military career. Not only was she expected to move households and children from place to place with minimal notice, but it was her duty to defend, promote and champion her husband at all times. This Beatrice Ayer Patton did with exemplary zeal even after his death, when she worked tirelessly to uphold the legend and create memorials to his wartime achievements. Incongruous as the term is when applied to her, she was the ultimate “army brat”, a guiding light for all those younger army wives who looked up to her as a shining example.
The publicity for the book notes that it “sheds new light on a complex man who wanted nothing more than to die a glorious death on the battlefield”. A guiding principle of his life from childhood on, this corroborates everything we know from other sources about General Patton (affectionately known as “Old Blood and Guts”). And, while being in no way a criticism of the book, this is what bothers me about the story. Conflating war with glory and subscribing to the belief that there’s something noble in men killing each other, for love of country or any reason whatever, confounds all humanistic teaching. War is bloody, brutal and senseless. There’s every indication that Beatrice shared her husband’s views. Even if it was a matter of joining the cause to support him, she eventually became, it seems, equally bellicose, frequently quoted as saying she wished she could take up arms and fight alongside the General.
Nevertheless, the purpose of the biography in promoting the woman behind the throne and documenting the very significant contribution she made to the development of the man and later his extraordinary achievements on the battlefield, without which arguably the Allies might not have won the war, is more than fulfilled.
Van Steelandt turns an impartial eye on the many rumours and scandals promulgated by the media about the Pattons, such as his marital infidelities, the so-called “slapping incidents” in regard to his subordinates, allegations of Mrs Patton putting a curse on one of his suspected lovers, conspiracy theories about his death, and so forth, suggesting, probably with justification, that they were little more than the usual attempts to seize headlines and bring larger than life characters down to size.
While portraying Beatrice as her husband’s pillar of strength, staunch advocate, and terrier-like defender of his cause, Van Steelandt makes it clear she was in every way his equal. She was a woman of great vigour, sporting prowess, intelligence, intellect, a writer and scholarly documenter of other cultures and moreover someone with the unique gift of charming and befriending everyone with whom she came into contact, from the humblest to the greatest. Here was a woman who seemingly had it all, coming as she did from a background of wealth, culture and privilege, one that could have bred a sense of entitlement. That she adopted instead one of duty, responsibility and care towards others, was not, it appears, a case of noblesse oblige but rather a deeply ingrained belief that shaped her character.
The book’s strength is that Van Steelandt paints an unsentimental picture of a complex woman with sympathy and sensitivity. As the loving companion of a man who would have been as tough to live with as he was tough in battle, and moreover to carry on cheerfully in the face of constant anticipation of bad news (even knowing he would have welcomed death in battle as the fulfilment of his glorious destiny), the woman commands not just our respect but our empathy. We grasp what a daily battle of the spirit it would have been for her.
The author’s intensive study of biography has paid solid dividends and I look forward to more biographies of this calibre from Stefanie Van Steelandt.
Thanks to Minnegate Press and BookSirens for giving me an advance review copy of this book.
Beatrice Patton, a woman of steely will and indomitable courage, moulded herself from an early age into the perfect army wife, one who followed her husband unquestioningly as he forged his military career. Not only was she expected to move households and children from place to place with minimal notice, but it was her duty to defend, promote and champion her husband at all times. This Beatrice Ayer Patton did with exemplary zeal even after his death, when she worked tirelessly to uphold the legend and create memorials to his wartime achievements. Incongruous as the term is when applied to her, she was the ultimate “army brat”, a guiding light for all those younger army wives who looked up to her as a shining example.
The publicity for the book notes that it “sheds new light on a complex man who wanted nothing more than to die a glorious death on the battlefield”. A guiding principle of his life from childhood on, this corroborates everything we know from other sources about General Patton (affectionately known as “Old Blood and Guts”). And, while being in no way a criticism of the book, this is what bothers me about the story. Conflating war with glory and subscribing to the belief that there’s something noble in men killing each other, for love of country or any reason whatever, confounds all humanistic teaching. War is bloody, brutal and senseless. There’s every indication that Beatrice shared her husband’s views. Even if it was a matter of joining the cause to support him, she eventually became, it seems, equally bellicose, frequently quoted as saying she wished she could take up arms and fight alongside the General.
Nevertheless, the purpose of the biography in promoting the woman behind the throne and documenting the very significant contribution she made to the development of the man and later his extraordinary achievements on the battlefield, without which arguably the Allies might not have won the war, is more than fulfilled.
Van Steelandt turns an impartial eye on the many rumours and scandals promulgated by the media about the Pattons, such as his marital infidelities, the so-called “slapping incidents” in regard to his subordinates, allegations of Mrs Patton putting a curse on one of his suspected lovers, conspiracy theories about his death, and so forth, suggesting, probably with justification, that they were little more than the usual attempts to seize headlines and bring larger than life characters down to size.
While portraying Beatrice as her husband’s pillar of strength, staunch advocate, and terrier-like defender of his cause, Van Steelandt makes it clear she was in every way his equal. She was a woman of great vigour, sporting prowess, intelligence, intellect, a writer and scholarly documenter of other cultures and moreover someone with the unique gift of charming and befriending everyone with whom she came into contact, from the humblest to the greatest. Here was a woman who seemingly had it all, coming as she did from a background of wealth, culture and privilege, one that could have bred a sense of entitlement. That she adopted instead one of duty, responsibility and care towards others, was not, it appears, a case of noblesse oblige but rather a deeply ingrained belief that shaped her character.
The book’s strength is that Van Steelandt paints an unsentimental picture of a complex woman with sympathy and sensitivity. As the loving companion of a man who would have been as tough to live with as he was tough in battle, and moreover to carry on cheerfully in the face of constant anticipation of bad news (even knowing he would have welcomed death in battle as the fulfilment of his glorious destiny), the woman commands not just our respect but our empathy. We grasp what a daily battle of the spirit it would have been for her.
The author’s intensive study of biography has paid solid dividends and I look forward to more biographies of this calibre from Stefanie Van Steelandt.
Thanks to Minnegate Press and BookSirens for giving me an advance review copy of this book.
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November 20, 2022Lady of The Army is the biography of Beatrice Ayer Patton, wife and soul mate of General George S. Patton. Beatrice's story describes an extraordinary woman and offers new and personal aspects of the general himself as his life influences hers. It is a beautifully written, extensively researched saga covering the perils faced by an Army bride, a new mother, a reluctant public figure, and a warrior's warrior as she fights to keep her families safe from a prying public while confronting immovable forces to keep her husband's career and legacy alive and permanent.
Written with great understanding of and an historian's attention to the history and attitudes of the eras the Pattons' lives moved through, we travel with Beatrice (and George) as she faces changes brought about by three wars and new societies, whether transferred to a beautiful life in Hawaii or moved onto an Army base stuffed into an old U.S. cavalry fort in the middle of the Great Plains. The characters we meet throughout are brought to life and are compelling, whether globally known names or personal friends, and we feel their impact through humorous anecdotes and descriptions of moments of historic tension and danger.
Beatrice Ayer Patton, Lady of The Army, is a story finally told and not to be missed.
Written with great understanding of and an historian's attention to the history and attitudes of the eras the Pattons' lives moved through, we travel with Beatrice (and George) as she faces changes brought about by three wars and new societies, whether transferred to a beautiful life in Hawaii or moved onto an Army base stuffed into an old U.S. cavalry fort in the middle of the Great Plains. The characters we meet throughout are brought to life and are compelling, whether globally known names or personal friends, and we feel their impact through humorous anecdotes and descriptions of moments of historic tension and danger.
Beatrice Ayer Patton, Lady of The Army, is a story finally told and not to be missed.
August 27, 2025
I can't say enough about how much I enjoyed this book. I saw The Patton movie when it was originally released when I was a kid. I have only read about Patton while reading general WW2 history book. I am always on the lookout for a compelling biography and this book was very intriguing to me. I like the angle of this book with the focus was on Beatrice. The family pre-history was very interesting and helped to situate the Patton's in the proper social frame. I had no idea he was from the "upper crust" and overall lived a very comfortable existence. Patton was as completely devoted to Beatrice and his family as he was to becoming a legendary General. Beatrice on the other hand knew exactly how driven Patton was to lead armies into war and to die in battle. This book tells her story and how she managed their marriage and family through their marriage. I especially enjoyed reading about Beatrice's experiences in Hawaii. She befriended and was trusted by the locals to the extent that she was invited to participate in their traditional rituals.
February 26, 2023
This was an exceptional book about an exceptional woman. I thoroughly enjoyed getting to know Beatrice and her family. I felt like I lost one of my own when her father passed. Reading this has awakened in me a new interest to get know more about the Ayer and Patton families. I highly recommend this book.
February 11, 2025
am thinking the best biography I have ever read
I only read nonfiction with a focus on biographies. Lady of the Army has to be one of the very best books I have ever read.
I only read nonfiction with a focus on biographies. Lady of the Army has to be one of the very best books I have ever read.
January 26, 2023
Lady of the Army (Life of Mrs. George S Patton) by Stefanie Van Steelandt
If I were to meet with the author of this book, my question would be, Stefanie were you there witnessing the journey of Beatrice Ayer and George Patton’s life?
The author has chronologically documented the life of Beatrice Patton and George Patton. In the process, this book gives us a glimpse of the society where Beatrice and George Patton grew up.
The book, however, is about Beatrice Ayer whose single-minded pursuit was to live a life with George Patton as his wife. There was more to it with the lady. Beatrice was an avid researcher. She was the author of many books on Hawaii. An expert horse rider, accomplished in hunting, (I am not sure what the animal activist would have to say about it.) a speaker, a motivator, a mentor to wives of junior officers in the army, and a sought-after socialite. The book in its minutest details describes Beatrice Patton’s influence on people around her. Very importantly her presence in George Patton’s life made him a successful, and decorated army general. Beatrice weathered many storms in her life. A storm that buffeted her marriage. Aspersions on her husband’s ability, behavior, and character. A strong belief that the army did not treat her husband well. Beatrice on every occasion rose to the challenge to defend her husband’s reputation.
Beatrice Patton till she was alive was the glue in keeping her family close and loving. Such was her legacy that to this day the family remains close and proud of their heritage.
The followers of American war history will find this book a gold mine. It will be a revelation to read about the wives of army personnel battling their anxiety behind brave faces while their husbands are at war. A book for those who can relate to those years of World War 1, World War 2, the aftermath, and America’s involvement in it. I cannot fault the author for all the details. The beauty of this work lies in the details. It throws the reader back to the years of the 19th and 20th centuries. The present generation with a passing interest in this subject would find it mundane and a rigorous exercise to be involved in.
I will recommend this book to those who assume that it is the husbands who go to war and are sacrificing their lives. This book debunks those assumptions. Beatrice Patton and many other women sacrificed their entire life to keep their families functioning, safe and secure.
I will not rate this book a 5-star. A 4-star because the author takes us too far back in the history of the two families to keep us interested. I acknowledge that I could not be speaking for everyone.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
If I were to meet with the author of this book, my question would be, Stefanie were you there witnessing the journey of Beatrice Ayer and George Patton’s life?
The author has chronologically documented the life of Beatrice Patton and George Patton. In the process, this book gives us a glimpse of the society where Beatrice and George Patton grew up.
The book, however, is about Beatrice Ayer whose single-minded pursuit was to live a life with George Patton as his wife. There was more to it with the lady. Beatrice was an avid researcher. She was the author of many books on Hawaii. An expert horse rider, accomplished in hunting, (I am not sure what the animal activist would have to say about it.) a speaker, a motivator, a mentor to wives of junior officers in the army, and a sought-after socialite. The book in its minutest details describes Beatrice Patton’s influence on people around her. Very importantly her presence in George Patton’s life made him a successful, and decorated army general. Beatrice weathered many storms in her life. A storm that buffeted her marriage. Aspersions on her husband’s ability, behavior, and character. A strong belief that the army did not treat her husband well. Beatrice on every occasion rose to the challenge to defend her husband’s reputation.
Beatrice Patton till she was alive was the glue in keeping her family close and loving. Such was her legacy that to this day the family remains close and proud of their heritage.
The followers of American war history will find this book a gold mine. It will be a revelation to read about the wives of army personnel battling their anxiety behind brave faces while their husbands are at war. A book for those who can relate to those years of World War 1, World War 2, the aftermath, and America’s involvement in it. I cannot fault the author for all the details. The beauty of this work lies in the details. It throws the reader back to the years of the 19th and 20th centuries. The present generation with a passing interest in this subject would find it mundane and a rigorous exercise to be involved in.
I will recommend this book to those who assume that it is the husbands who go to war and are sacrificing their lives. This book debunks those assumptions. Beatrice Patton and many other women sacrificed their entire life to keep their families functioning, safe and secure.
I will not rate this book a 5-star. A 4-star because the author takes us too far back in the history of the two families to keep us interested. I acknowledge that I could not be speaking for everyone.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
December 14, 2022
Lady of the Army: The Life of Mrs. George S. Patton - Disappointing beginning. The book took a while to get interesting. The writing struck me as bits and pieces jumbled about and made getting into the writing style difficult. Too disjointed in the author trying to get the families' history. This is definitely a paper written for university, not a commercial book.
It needs editing, too many errors, which were distracting. A common, continuous error is closing a sentence before closing a partial quote. The closing quotation mark comes before the period closing the sentence.
Having read several biographies and autobiographies of several of the characters: Patton, Eisenhower; the three Roosevelts; Truman; Rommel; Montgomery; Churchill; etc., I was satisfied with the history although The Great War, WWII and the actual work Patton did on the tanks in WWI were not indepth. But this is about an amazing woman married to an brilliant warrior-historian. He always reminds me of Theodore Roosevelt and Winnie Churchill with his actions.
I found Beatrice Ayers Patton to be an amazing, interesting, intelligent woman, and her actions and accomplishments were great. Dealing with a personality like the General's would make me reach for my cast iron skillet more than once. But they were perfect for each other and both grew from the relationship. Maybe Eleanor Roosevelt is another woman who comes in a distant second to being as multifaceted and interesting as Mrs. Patton. Mamie and Bess were plain ole housewives compared to B.A.P. and E.R. Back then languages were picked up from travels and horses were the norm, so being multilingual and active in sports was not unusual for the Pattons. The Joseph Kennedys did the same.
I did not care for Ike as a president, from the military standpoint, and I did not like his treatment of Patton when I read Ike's autobiography, although I understood his reasons. This author has the same information about Patton's actions, a cowboy, and Ike's behavior against Patton; lucky he didn't get punched by Bea. I can go on and on but this is a review, not a book report or historical paper. I would read Ike's autobiography, Patton's, and then this book to fully understand the history behind this couple; if you do not have a good foundation in world and military history. 4*
It needs editing, too many errors, which were distracting. A common, continuous error is closing a sentence before closing a partial quote. The closing quotation mark comes before the period closing the sentence.
Having read several biographies and autobiographies of several of the characters: Patton, Eisenhower; the three Roosevelts; Truman; Rommel; Montgomery; Churchill; etc., I was satisfied with the history although The Great War, WWII and the actual work Patton did on the tanks in WWI were not indepth. But this is about an amazing woman married to an brilliant warrior-historian. He always reminds me of Theodore Roosevelt and Winnie Churchill with his actions.
I found Beatrice Ayers Patton to be an amazing, interesting, intelligent woman, and her actions and accomplishments were great. Dealing with a personality like the General's would make me reach for my cast iron skillet more than once. But they were perfect for each other and both grew from the relationship. Maybe Eleanor Roosevelt is another woman who comes in a distant second to being as multifaceted and interesting as Mrs. Patton. Mamie and Bess were plain ole housewives compared to B.A.P. and E.R. Back then languages were picked up from travels and horses were the norm, so being multilingual and active in sports was not unusual for the Pattons. The Joseph Kennedys did the same.
I did not care for Ike as a president, from the military standpoint, and I did not like his treatment of Patton when I read Ike's autobiography, although I understood his reasons. This author has the same information about Patton's actions, a cowboy, and Ike's behavior against Patton; lucky he didn't get punched by Bea. I can go on and on but this is a review, not a book report or historical paper. I would read Ike's autobiography, Patton's, and then this book to fully understand the history behind this couple; if you do not have a good foundation in world and military history. 4*
October 16, 2024
Lady of the Army: The Life of Mrs. George S. Patton by Stefanie Van Steelandt
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@ladyofthearmy
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As we all know, throughout history it has been said that behind every successful man is a great woman and this biography proves that General George S. Patton Jr. was no exception. His wife, Beatrice Ayer Patton, was the true key to all of his success and an amazingly accomplished woman in her own right. This book is so chock full of detailed information regarding both the Patton and Ayer family backgrounds, the rise of General Patton, the intimate relationship between George and Beatrice, as well as George’s wartime service. Also we gain a close look at the Patton family dynamics between both parents and their children. Born and raised in Hamilton, MA, I was fascinated to read about something so close to my upbringing and overlap with my own family’s story. The Patton’s and Ayer’s were very involved with Myopia Hunt Club in Hamilton, which happens to be where my Great x3 Grandfather John Gibney owned his farm\home; the same land that was purchased from him to build Myopia Hunt Club in the late 1800’s. The polo field is named in his honor, Gibney field. Also my grandfather’s yearbook (1946) has a dedication page to General Patton and pictures of when Patton spoke at Hamilton High School upon his return from WW2. I played at Patton park as a child on his tank which Beatrice had placed in his remembrance. Every Memorial Day we would gather at the tank in remembrance. My high school team names were “The Generals” after the very man himself. I learned quite of bit of new information in this book and it made me want to revisit the sites in my own backyard and I will look at each site with a new perspective. Green Meadows is an absolutely beautiful place that is now owned by the town of Hamilton after being donated by Joanne Patton and family; I would love to see something more done with this property for further interpretation of the Patton legacy. Thank you for writing this long overdue tribute and true love story! @pattonhomestead
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#generalpatton #hamilton #hamiltonma #greenmeadows #myopia #myopiahuntclub #northshore #massachusetts #ladyofthearmy #biography
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@ladyofthearmy
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As we all know, throughout history it has been said that behind every successful man is a great woman and this biography proves that General George S. Patton Jr. was no exception. His wife, Beatrice Ayer Patton, was the true key to all of his success and an amazingly accomplished woman in her own right. This book is so chock full of detailed information regarding both the Patton and Ayer family backgrounds, the rise of General Patton, the intimate relationship between George and Beatrice, as well as George’s wartime service. Also we gain a close look at the Patton family dynamics between both parents and their children. Born and raised in Hamilton, MA, I was fascinated to read about something so close to my upbringing and overlap with my own family’s story. The Patton’s and Ayer’s were very involved with Myopia Hunt Club in Hamilton, which happens to be where my Great x3 Grandfather John Gibney owned his farm\home; the same land that was purchased from him to build Myopia Hunt Club in the late 1800’s. The polo field is named in his honor, Gibney field. Also my grandfather’s yearbook (1946) has a dedication page to General Patton and pictures of when Patton spoke at Hamilton High School upon his return from WW2. I played at Patton park as a child on his tank which Beatrice had placed in his remembrance. Every Memorial Day we would gather at the tank in remembrance. My high school team names were “The Generals” after the very man himself. I learned quite of bit of new information in this book and it made me want to revisit the sites in my own backyard and I will look at each site with a new perspective. Green Meadows is an absolutely beautiful place that is now owned by the town of Hamilton after being donated by Joanne Patton and family; I would love to see something more done with this property for further interpretation of the Patton legacy. Thank you for writing this long overdue tribute and true love story! @pattonhomestead
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#generalpatton #hamilton #hamiltonma #greenmeadows #myopia #myopiahuntclub #northshore #massachusetts #ladyofthearmy #biography
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May 16, 2023MWSA Review
Meticulously researched, Stefanie van Steelandt’s debut biography, Lady of the Army: The Life of Mrs. George S. Patton, sheds light on the woman behind the man—the woman without whom the man might not have fulfilled his destiny. In love with George from the time she was sixteen, Beatrice Ayer saw through the man’s self-centeredness, holding to the sensitive, insecure boy she found so endearing regardless of his abusive rages and a possible romantic relationship with her niece.
Narrated in a style that combines expository writing with epistolary and narrative, the author composes the complex portrait of a wealthy, cultured woman supporting her husband through her wisdom and insight. The reader learns about the couple’s philosophical differences, first as the author traces the Republican Ayer lineage and the Democratic Patton lineage, then as she guides the reader to an understanding of their private and public lives. The highlight of the story occurs when the scale tipped in Hawaii. In 1925, George purchased the schooner Arcturus, seeking adventure in the absence of a war to fight. When they reached Hawaii, however, Beatrice experienced that unmistakable sense of being home, drawn by the island culture and mythology. Ironically, she found her creative soul at a time when George battled depression and a sense of uselessness.
An admirable work of this magnitude warrants and deserves an honest review. The author at times documents information about secondary players. Though interesting, the information detracts from the story’s strength and overall focus. Events presented out of sequence hinder the narrative flow. Nevertheless, Van Steelandt aptly achieves her purpose illustrating how Beatrice Patton was, not only a lifeline for the man who “would rather be dead than nobody” during three wars but also a woman who evolved into her own person and shone in her own time.
“It is impossible” to tell Beatrice Patton’s story “without bringing George along for the ride” writes the author in her Introduction. The emphasis rides heavily on George leaning on Beatrice to give him fortitude and yet, by the end of the book, the reader is left wondering, "Was it Beatrice or George who was brought along for the ride?" for, as the author makes clear from start to finish, to know one is to know the other.
Review by Janette Stone (May 2023)
Meticulously researched, Stefanie van Steelandt’s debut biography, Lady of the Army: The Life of Mrs. George S. Patton, sheds light on the woman behind the man—the woman without whom the man might not have fulfilled his destiny. In love with George from the time she was sixteen, Beatrice Ayer saw through the man’s self-centeredness, holding to the sensitive, insecure boy she found so endearing regardless of his abusive rages and a possible romantic relationship with her niece.
Narrated in a style that combines expository writing with epistolary and narrative, the author composes the complex portrait of a wealthy, cultured woman supporting her husband through her wisdom and insight. The reader learns about the couple’s philosophical differences, first as the author traces the Republican Ayer lineage and the Democratic Patton lineage, then as she guides the reader to an understanding of their private and public lives. The highlight of the story occurs when the scale tipped in Hawaii. In 1925, George purchased the schooner Arcturus, seeking adventure in the absence of a war to fight. When they reached Hawaii, however, Beatrice experienced that unmistakable sense of being home, drawn by the island culture and mythology. Ironically, she found her creative soul at a time when George battled depression and a sense of uselessness.
An admirable work of this magnitude warrants and deserves an honest review. The author at times documents information about secondary players. Though interesting, the information detracts from the story’s strength and overall focus. Events presented out of sequence hinder the narrative flow. Nevertheless, Van Steelandt aptly achieves her purpose illustrating how Beatrice Patton was, not only a lifeline for the man who “would rather be dead than nobody” during three wars but also a woman who evolved into her own person and shone in her own time.
“It is impossible” to tell Beatrice Patton’s story “without bringing George along for the ride” writes the author in her Introduction. The emphasis rides heavily on George leaning on Beatrice to give him fortitude and yet, by the end of the book, the reader is left wondering, "Was it Beatrice or George who was brought along for the ride?" for, as the author makes clear from start to finish, to know one is to know the other.
Review by Janette Stone (May 2023)
February 6, 2023
‘She delivered the flowers while he delivered the blows’
This begins with extensive family history for both Pattons. Not merely a list of births, marriages, and deaths, but rather an interwoven tale of art, business, connections, education, family dynamics, leisure activities, mental illness, travels, and volunteer activities.
Here’s something regarding public service:
‘The Dutch Frans Banning-Cocq was a dedicated public servant who served as captain of the militia and mayor of Amsterdam in 1650. He is the man wearing the red sash in Rembrandt’s The Night Watch, originally titled The Company of Captain Frans Banning-Cocq and Lieutenant Willem van Ruytenburch. This call to public service was also present in the English branch of the Banning family once they crossed the Atlantic. John Banning, Ellie’s great-grandfather, was instrumental in the founding of Delaware and cast his vote for George Washington at the first Electoral College in 1788.’
Fave quote:
‘Hidden in the garden was a bust of Hitler, which George sent with an accompanying note to place it somewhere the dogs could pee on it.’
The author provides readers with Family Trees, Bibliography, Notes, and Illustration Credits at the end of the book as well as over one hundred pictures throughout. Each chapter is headed by one of Beatrice’s many aphorisms.
The world needs more biographies and histories written like this. Well done – this is a keeper!
This begins with extensive family history for both Pattons. Not merely a list of births, marriages, and deaths, but rather an interwoven tale of art, business, connections, education, family dynamics, leisure activities, mental illness, travels, and volunteer activities.
Here’s something regarding public service:
‘The Dutch Frans Banning-Cocq was a dedicated public servant who served as captain of the militia and mayor of Amsterdam in 1650. He is the man wearing the red sash in Rembrandt’s The Night Watch, originally titled The Company of Captain Frans Banning-Cocq and Lieutenant Willem van Ruytenburch. This call to public service was also present in the English branch of the Banning family once they crossed the Atlantic. John Banning, Ellie’s great-grandfather, was instrumental in the founding of Delaware and cast his vote for George Washington at the first Electoral College in 1788.’
Fave quote:
‘Hidden in the garden was a bust of Hitler, which George sent with an accompanying note to place it somewhere the dogs could pee on it.’
The author provides readers with Family Trees, Bibliography, Notes, and Illustration Credits at the end of the book as well as over one hundred pictures throughout. Each chapter is headed by one of Beatrice’s many aphorisms.
The world needs more biographies and histories written like this. Well done – this is a keeper!
November 30, 2023
Get ready to become so enveloped in this storytelling that you'll be all, "oh my god, it's dark outside and I've been listening to this for 8 hours straight!" The way the actor switches accents and voices is soooo good and I'm a stickler for accents and nothing brings me down harder that bad ones — I can't take it — even his Boston brahmim was spot-on! I knew NOTHING about Beatrice Patton (and apparently veeeerry little about the general himself) and I LOVED all the upper crust tales and it's really enlightening to see how General Patton was a straight-up marketer and knew EXACTLY what he wanted and HOW to go about projecting the perfect image (he thought owning polo ponies was important to keep up appearances, etc.) and included marrying well and was it calculated because of Beatrice's stature? You betcha. BUT after listening to this for 14-15(?) hours (I recommend you up the speed it up to 1.2) here's what I know: the general would have been nobody without his beloved Beatrice at the helm (and yes, I firmly believe that theirs was a real marriage AND a brilliant partnership!).
December 3, 2023
“Lady of the Army: The Life of Mrs. George S. Patton” is a wonderful read and highly recommended.
As tough and volatile as her husband, Beatrice Ayer Patton was a woman of many talents who was instrumental to her husband’s career and success. Mostly overlooked in all other biographies of General Patton, getting to know Beatrice also meant getting to know the personal side of her husband. The letters they wrote each other daily when not together offer a revealing window into their lives and times, and the more than hundred pictures enhance the story.
At over 400 pages, this book is full of details and extremely well researched (without leaving out any controversial topics). Besides the life of Beatrice Ayer Patton and her family history—the Ayers made their fortune in the patent medicine and textile business—you will also learn the history of Boston’s North Shore and Hawaii, the stories of the varied people they met, and a view of the Mexican Punitive Expedition, WWI, and WWII from the homefront.
As tough and volatile as her husband, Beatrice Ayer Patton was a woman of many talents who was instrumental to her husband’s career and success. Mostly overlooked in all other biographies of General Patton, getting to know Beatrice also meant getting to know the personal side of her husband. The letters they wrote each other daily when not together offer a revealing window into their lives and times, and the more than hundred pictures enhance the story.
At over 400 pages, this book is full of details and extremely well researched (without leaving out any controversial topics). Besides the life of Beatrice Ayer Patton and her family history—the Ayers made their fortune in the patent medicine and textile business—you will also learn the history of Boston’s North Shore and Hawaii, the stories of the varied people they met, and a view of the Mexican Punitive Expedition, WWI, and WWII from the homefront.
January 10, 2023
I would imagine the vast majority of adults have heard of General George S. Patton. I would also imagine much fewer know the story of his wife.
Born at a time when girls were normally taught to be submissive, stay at home mothers, Beatrice was lucky to be born to a very forward-looking set of parents. Even the title of the book reflects her eventual title: Mrs. George S. Patton.
She was a young woman when she first saw George Patton, and determined he was the man she would marry. Once Beatrice set her mind, she would achieve that goal with a steel determination that would serve her well throughout her life.
She was unwavering in her support of her beloved husband, and defended him until her dying day. He did have many who loved him, but there were also a lot of sought to bring him down.
The book is well researched and filled with history you probably never learned in school.
Born at a time when girls were normally taught to be submissive, stay at home mothers, Beatrice was lucky to be born to a very forward-looking set of parents. Even the title of the book reflects her eventual title: Mrs. George S. Patton.
She was a young woman when she first saw George Patton, and determined he was the man she would marry. Once Beatrice set her mind, she would achieve that goal with a steel determination that would serve her well throughout her life.
She was unwavering in her support of her beloved husband, and defended him until her dying day. He did have many who loved him, but there were also a lot of sought to bring him down.
The book is well researched and filled with history you probably never learned in school.
April 15, 2023
This is a fascinating book! From a historical and military perspective, it is exceptionally well-researched. The book's first half is a Michener walk through American history through the genealogy of the Pattons and Ayers families. Patton is a complex man with an incredible public persona. However, Beatrice Ayer Patton was the "patient, judicious and loving counsel." The couple lived a wonderful personal life outside of their military career. They lived life fully: traveling, sailing, and horseback riding. Mrs. Patton validates that behind every successful man is a woman. The book makes one realize that a good marriage is the union of two souls as well as the union of two families. Ultimately, the book is a love story with an "exhilarating drama of passionate highs and lows." This is an incredible story that will bring you to tears. I would change nothing except 1. the font size of the family tree charts at the back of the book and 2. sharper pictures.
February 26, 2023
This book aims to show Beatrice Ayer Patton life and her role as an army wife. It provides an amazingly researched picture of a woman who spent her life promoting her husband but always staying a strong person herself. The book also sheds light on rumors and scandals of the famous family.
Beatrice Ayer Patton is presented as a strong woman, as tough as her husband; a mother who would fight to keep her family save and as a loving wife fighting to keep her husband‘s legacy alive.
I really liked the style of the book which is rather academic but easy to read if you are used to that style.
I can definitely recommend this book as it is a story that was absolutely necessary to be told and I am looking forward to more biographies by Stefanie Van Steelandt!
Beatrice Ayer Patton is presented as a strong woman, as tough as her husband; a mother who would fight to keep her family save and as a loving wife fighting to keep her husband‘s legacy alive.
I really liked the style of the book which is rather academic but easy to read if you are used to that style.
I can definitely recommend this book as it is a story that was absolutely necessary to be told and I am looking forward to more biographies by Stefanie Van Steelandt!
March 5, 2023
Extensive
There was a ton of research done to compile the information contained in this book and it shows. From family history, to life as a child, to the life events and beyond. This was a deep dive into both husband and wife: personally and professionally. My only issues were that this was too much information and the book seemed to never end. Also, it seems to be more singing George’s praises through the eyes of his wife more than the story of being his wife.
#GoodreadsGiveaway
There was a ton of research done to compile the information contained in this book and it shows. From family history, to life as a child, to the life events and beyond. This was a deep dive into both husband and wife: personally and professionally. My only issues were that this was too much information and the book seemed to never end. Also, it seems to be more singing George’s praises through the eyes of his wife more than the story of being his wife.
#GoodreadsGiveaway
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March 7, 2024A true love story. Beatrice Ayers was forever a perfect companion for Gen. George Patton as well as his strongest supporter. Only a few recognized that he was two men, one the greatest US Generals of World War II and a devoted family man. He fulfilled his destiny as leader of the US Third Army in Europe. Author describes her role in his life as strongly as she paints his. An excellent read for Women's History Month.
July 5, 2025
Well researched and in-depth account of Beatrice Ayer Patton’s life. Lots of details. The author uses many primary sources and firsthand accounts from people who knew Beatrice which add a lot to the account of her life. Although the book honors its subject, the author paints a portrait of a woman with many sides to her and not all positive.
October 6, 2023
Excellent biography of General George S. Patton's wife Beatrice Ayer. Lots of details about her family as well as the Patton family, the North Shore of Boston's Gilded Age, the mills in Lowell and Lawrence, so much local history, not just about Mrs. George S. Patton.
October 17, 2025
I can understand going back 1-2 generations to develop why the main characters are the way they are, but to go back to the late 1700's is excessive and boring.
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