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Chink: A Biography
A Sunday Times Book of the Year selection.
'An unexpected and utter joy to read.' - Financial Times
'Enthralling.' The Mail on Sunday
'Friend of Hemingway, dandy, lover and tactician, Chink is marvellously retrieved here.' - Sunday Times Books of the Year
'Chink, at the heart of the international bohemian world, was a figure as incongruous as David Niven strolling into a novel by Dostoyevsky. Hemingway had a lasting admiration for his friend and repeatedly wove elements of him into his fictions over more than 30 years. But Chink's real-life story, as told by Lavinia Greacen, is a stranger and more poignant tale than anything the novelist made of it.' - The Times
'This moving story of an uncompromising outsider must be one of the most interesting publishing coups of the year.' - Sunday Independent
'Greacen's biography deserves wide attention. It is at once shiningly honest and unapologetically partisan; it illuminates the nature both of courage and of command. I cannot think of any account of soldiering, by a man or a woman, which more convincingly conveys its bloody allure.' - Frederic Raphael, The Listener
'Was Chink a military wizard who fell foul of the conservatism of 'Eton in Uniform'? Or was he an egocentric whose skills as a tactician were outweighed by his idiosyncrasies? Whatever the answer, this is an absorbing story which tells us as much about the modern British military as it does about this 'Chink' in its armour.' - Daily Mail
'This complex man has been finely and carefully drawn by Lavinia Greacen. Her use of the family papers and her wide-ranging research have brought Chink to life.' - Hampstead & Highgate Express
'This book, superbly researched and crafted, is a classic tragedy, the inexorable story of a hero destroyed by his own flaws, the hubris that made him a hero. I would not know a TAC HQ or CIGS if I met one, and yet, thanks to the ease of Lavinia Greacen's story-telling, I read this biography in almost one sitting.' - Books Ireland
'Lavinia Greacen's readable and intelligent book states the case for Chink without overstating it. She is aware of his faults as well as his great gifts. The picture which emerges is a convincing one, revealing his charm and his inventive intelligence as well as his vanity.' - Sunday Times
'A dazzling triumph, widely and justifiably acclaimed. I know of several people who tried to get copies and were unable to do so because it had sold out. It is a superb work, both a magnificent piece of research sustained by a beautifully crafted narrative style.' - Irish Times
'A tragic climax, and the enthralling story of a soldier whose worst enemy was himself.' - Mail on Sunday
'A graceful and sympathetic biographer who plots the details of his tendentious career with skill and compassion.' - Irish Independent
'Fascinatingly told; one of the best biographies for years.' - Irish Times
British general and passionate Irish nationalist; revered by Auchinleck, sacked by Churchill; Hemingway's lifelong hero and Montgomery's villain - Chink Dorman-Smith remains a fascinating and controversial enigma.
This is the acclaimed biography of the brilliant soldier who outwitted Rommel at the First Battle of Alamein and helped turn the tide for the British army - only to fall into disgrace and obscurity. It is the larger-than-life story of the man who would continue to inspire Hemingway's imagination, from A Moveable Feast to Across the River and into the Trees.
Lavinia Greacen vividly brings to life a man who defied convention, both in his private life and his public career, to become the most original military thinker of his time.
'An unexpected and utter joy to read.' - Financial Times
'Enthralling.' The Mail on Sunday
'Friend of Hemingway, dandy, lover and tactician, Chink is marvellously retrieved here.' - Sunday Times Books of the Year
'Chink, at the heart of the international bohemian world, was a figure as incongruous as David Niven strolling into a novel by Dostoyevsky. Hemingway had a lasting admiration for his friend and repeatedly wove elements of him into his fictions over more than 30 years. But Chink's real-life story, as told by Lavinia Greacen, is a stranger and more poignant tale than anything the novelist made of it.' - The Times
'This moving story of an uncompromising outsider must be one of the most interesting publishing coups of the year.' - Sunday Independent
'Greacen's biography deserves wide attention. It is at once shiningly honest and unapologetically partisan; it illuminates the nature both of courage and of command. I cannot think of any account of soldiering, by a man or a woman, which more convincingly conveys its bloody allure.' - Frederic Raphael, The Listener
'Was Chink a military wizard who fell foul of the conservatism of 'Eton in Uniform'? Or was he an egocentric whose skills as a tactician were outweighed by his idiosyncrasies? Whatever the answer, this is an absorbing story which tells us as much about the modern British military as it does about this 'Chink' in its armour.' - Daily Mail
'This complex man has been finely and carefully drawn by Lavinia Greacen. Her use of the family papers and her wide-ranging research have brought Chink to life.' - Hampstead & Highgate Express
'This book, superbly researched and crafted, is a classic tragedy, the inexorable story of a hero destroyed by his own flaws, the hubris that made him a hero. I would not know a TAC HQ or CIGS if I met one, and yet, thanks to the ease of Lavinia Greacen's story-telling, I read this biography in almost one sitting.' - Books Ireland
'Lavinia Greacen's readable and intelligent book states the case for Chink without overstating it. She is aware of his faults as well as his great gifts. The picture which emerges is a convincing one, revealing his charm and his inventive intelligence as well as his vanity.' - Sunday Times
'A dazzling triumph, widely and justifiably acclaimed. I know of several people who tried to get copies and were unable to do so because it had sold out. It is a superb work, both a magnificent piece of research sustained by a beautifully crafted narrative style.' - Irish Times
'A tragic climax, and the enthralling story of a soldier whose worst enemy was himself.' - Mail on Sunday
'A graceful and sympathetic biographer who plots the details of his tendentious career with skill and compassion.' - Irish Independent
'Fascinatingly told; one of the best biographies for years.' - Irish Times
British general and passionate Irish nationalist; revered by Auchinleck, sacked by Churchill; Hemingway's lifelong hero and Montgomery's villain - Chink Dorman-Smith remains a fascinating and controversial enigma.
This is the acclaimed biography of the brilliant soldier who outwitted Rommel at the First Battle of Alamein and helped turn the tide for the British army - only to fall into disgrace and obscurity. It is the larger-than-life story of the man who would continue to inspire Hemingway's imagination, from A Moveable Feast to Across the River and into the Trees.
Lavinia Greacen vividly brings to life a man who defied convention, both in his private life and his public career, to become the most original military thinker of his time.
416 pages, Paperback
First published March 1, 1990
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
September 13, 2018
Lavinia Greacen has written a superb biography and study of a brilliant British General, who’s skills and aptitudes played an important role in defeating Erwin Rommel at the First Battle of Alamein in 1942. What makes this such an interesting story is that Major General Eric Dorman-Smith was a very controversial British figure in the beginning of the Second World War. His upbringing was the product of an Anglo-Irish background. It was the influence of his parents and growing up in Ireland that helped create his personality with its strengths in excess that became glaring weaknesses. Highly intelligent, and a voracious reader, he was intellectually very impatient with those individuals who were neither as quick nor as creative in their thinking as was he. At the time he graduated from the military academy at Sandhurst, he achieved the highest ever marks in the Officer’s passing out examination. He was awarded a military cross during the First World War before he had reached the age of 20.
One of the most interesting aspects of this biography is the influence that “Chink” Dorman-Smith had on Ernest Hemingway. His influence on Hemingway lasted until Hemingway’s death, and it is this biography where they were first revealed. A leader with strong beliefs and values, General Dorman-Smith rattled the traditional thinking of most of the British Generals at the time of the Second World War’s opening battles. For this, in spite of his superb contribution to the defeat of Erwin Rommel, he was sacked a month later by Churchill in one of the most unhappy episodes of the Second World War. For readers who are interested in an unusual chapter of military history, centered around a unique individual, Lavinia Greacen has written a superb biography.
One of the most interesting aspects of this biography is the influence that “Chink” Dorman-Smith had on Ernest Hemingway. His influence on Hemingway lasted until Hemingway’s death, and it is this biography where they were first revealed. A leader with strong beliefs and values, General Dorman-Smith rattled the traditional thinking of most of the British Generals at the time of the Second World War’s opening battles. For this, in spite of his superb contribution to the defeat of Erwin Rommel, he was sacked a month later by Churchill in one of the most unhappy episodes of the Second World War. For readers who are interested in an unusual chapter of military history, centered around a unique individual, Lavinia Greacen has written a superb biography.
June 9, 2026
GRIPPING BIOGRAPHY ABOUT A BRILLIANT TRAINWRECK OF A HUMAN BEING.
One of the best biographies I have ever read. The purpose of a biography is to give the reader an impression of who the subject was as a flesh and blood human being and, even more importantly, make them care. Greacen does this spectacularly by putting everything about Eric Dorman-Smith, good and bad, on full display and without qualification or excuse.
And he is a gripping and contradictory figure, brilliant one moment and self-destructive the next. A tactical genius, narcissist, willing to think outside the box, unwilling to play well with others, passionate about professionalism in the army, adulterer to the wife of a fellow officer, Englishman, Irishman, British Officer, IRA advisor, loyal to those he respects, bridge burning to all others, treated as scapegoat by some of the histories and a savior by others (the truth is closer to the latter, but still not quite accurate), enshrined in the characters of Hemingway novels, and yet dying in obscurity in his Irish country estate.
Graecen's even-handed biography brings all this into the light so the reader can make of him what they will. Her writing style is prosaic enough to be worthwhile yet crisp enough to not bog it all down. She balances all the aspects of his life (military, family, personal, friendships, professional, political) masterfully to show their interconnectedness, instead of compartmentalizing them. By the end the reader can come away feeling they can picture what it would have been like to meet Eric Dorman-Smith/O'Gowan in person.
Whether or not they would wish for such an experience, I'll let those who have read the book decide that for themselves.
One of the best biographies I have ever read. The purpose of a biography is to give the reader an impression of who the subject was as a flesh and blood human being and, even more importantly, make them care. Greacen does this spectacularly by putting everything about Eric Dorman-Smith, good and bad, on full display and without qualification or excuse.
And he is a gripping and contradictory figure, brilliant one moment and self-destructive the next. A tactical genius, narcissist, willing to think outside the box, unwilling to play well with others, passionate about professionalism in the army, adulterer to the wife of a fellow officer, Englishman, Irishman, British Officer, IRA advisor, loyal to those he respects, bridge burning to all others, treated as scapegoat by some of the histories and a savior by others (the truth is closer to the latter, but still not quite accurate), enshrined in the characters of Hemingway novels, and yet dying in obscurity in his Irish country estate.
Graecen's even-handed biography brings all this into the light so the reader can make of him what they will. Her writing style is prosaic enough to be worthwhile yet crisp enough to not bog it all down. She balances all the aspects of his life (military, family, personal, friendships, professional, political) masterfully to show their interconnectedness, instead of compartmentalizing them. By the end the reader can come away feeling they can picture what it would have been like to meet Eric Dorman-Smith/O'Gowan in person.
Whether or not they would wish for such an experience, I'll let those who have read the book decide that for themselves.
March 6, 2018
Review to follow in due course...
May 28, 2019
Chink
An excellent book on a truly brilliant and complex man. Extremely well researched. Fascinating insight to his friendship with Hemingway. Thoroughly recommended.
An excellent book on a truly brilliant and complex man. Extremely well researched. Fascinating insight to his friendship with Hemingway. Thoroughly recommended.
May 5, 2016
For anyone who has ever been involved in flying aeroplanes or organised expeditions, this book is gripping But it’s also a fascinating read because the author follows the lives of the protagonists and lives through their tribulations with them. He does this very well, and it gives a great understanding of the sort of people they were, and the problems they had.
The main players such as Wilkins, Byrd and Amundsen – giants of men in their different ways – were obsessives, and through his research and storytelling ability, Maynard paints their characters. The wealth of detail about the players and how the expeditions were organised is impressive, and he has clearly spent years researching his subjects and their often crackpot expeditions. And we should remember that these were the days before Film Stars, Football Stars and TV Clebs, and these men were the heroes of the day.
Actually, there is such a lot of detail, that at times one feels rather overcome by it all, but the story always picks up again, and one is carried away once more by the derring-do of the exploits and the drama of the endless set-backs - and as usual in the world of expeditions, our heroes spent most of their time having set-backs!
The action is particularly well described – and for those of you who haven’t been involved in small plane flying in odd areas of the world, I can tell you that the action is every bit as thrilling/haphazard/scary/dangerous/ as Maynard paints it.
One of the most interesting aspects of the book for me is the light that it shines on how difficult it has always been to raise the money for expeditions, even a hundred years ago when discovery was all the rage.
It was sad to see that most of the heroes ended their days heavily in debt, but the essence of the book is that these men were the sort who were obsessed with an idea and determined to see it through, no matter what the cost to themselves or those around them.
Highly recommended for anyone interested in the subject.
The main players such as Wilkins, Byrd and Amundsen – giants of men in their different ways – were obsessives, and through his research and storytelling ability, Maynard paints their characters. The wealth of detail about the players and how the expeditions were organised is impressive, and he has clearly spent years researching his subjects and their often crackpot expeditions. And we should remember that these were the days before Film Stars, Football Stars and TV Clebs, and these men were the heroes of the day.
Actually, there is such a lot of detail, that at times one feels rather overcome by it all, but the story always picks up again, and one is carried away once more by the derring-do of the exploits and the drama of the endless set-backs - and as usual in the world of expeditions, our heroes spent most of their time having set-backs!
The action is particularly well described – and for those of you who haven’t been involved in small plane flying in odd areas of the world, I can tell you that the action is every bit as thrilling/haphazard/scary/dangerous/ as Maynard paints it.
One of the most interesting aspects of the book for me is the light that it shines on how difficult it has always been to raise the money for expeditions, even a hundred years ago when discovery was all the rage.
It was sad to see that most of the heroes ended their days heavily in debt, but the essence of the book is that these men were the sort who were obsessed with an idea and determined to see it through, no matter what the cost to themselves or those around them.
Highly recommended for anyone interested in the subject.
November 2, 2016
A slow read.
May 6, 2016
This is the fascinating biography of a true maverick. Lavinia Greacen is a fine writer, and really brings the story to life.
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews