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All Blood Runs Red: The Legendary Life of Eugene Bullard-Boxer, Pilot, Soldier, Spy

Phil Keith,

Tom Clavin (With)

3.98 · Rating details · 56 ratings · 20 reviews

*A New York Times Book Review Editors' Choice*

"A whale of a tale, told clearly and quickly. I read the entire book in almost one sitting."--Thomas E. Ricks, New York Times Book Review

The incredible story of the first African American military pilot, who went on to become a Paris nightclub impresario, a spy in the French Resistance and an American civil rights pioneer

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Hardcover, 352 pages

Published November 5th 2019 by Hanover Square Press

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Start your review of All Blood Runs Red: The Legendary Life of Eugene Bullard-Boxer, Pilot, Soldier, Spy

Nov 25, 2019 Faith rated it really liked it

Shelves: audio, overdrive

Eugene Bullard had an incredibly eventful life. Born in Georgia in 1895, he was one of 10 children of a Haitian American father and Creek mother. He grew up believing that France was a place where he would find equality and left home at the age of 12 to pursue his dream. He became the first African American fighter pilot and his plane was adorned with paintings of red, pierced hearts and the words “all blood that flows is red”. His list of endeavors is quite extensive including, boxer, musician, ...more

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Oct 23, 2019 Kimberlee (reading.wanderwoman) rated it really liked it

Shelves: 2019

What an incredible story and what an incredible human being. It's one of those times I finished reading and wondered why I've never heard about him before. But there are so many reasons, many of which are listed in the book. All Blood Runs Red was originally supposed to be an autobiography, but unfortunately Gene passed away and poop it was never published. So in keeping with honoring him, Phil kept the original title. And I love it.

I'm always fascinated by some people's ability to persevere. ...more

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Aug 11, 2019 Janet rated it really liked it

Shelves: 2019reviwed-when-i-read, k-e-k

When it is hot as heck outside and there is nothing cool to do but reading as everything else makes you end up a sweaty mess, it is the perfect day for a speed reader.

I received a temporary digital Advance Reader Copy of this book from #NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

From the publisher, as I do not repeat the contents or story of books in reviews, I let them do it as they do it better than I do .

The incredible life story of Eugene Bullard, the first African American military When it is hot as heck outside and there is nothing cool to do but reading as everything else makes you end up a sweaty mess, it is the perfect day for a speed reader.

I received a temporary digital Advance Reader Copy of this book from #NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

From the publisher, as I do not repeat the contents or story of books in reviews, I let them do it as they do it better than I do 😸.

The incredible life story of Eugene Bullard, the first African American military pilot in WWI, who went on to become a self-taught jazz musician, a Paris nightclub impresario, a spy in the French Resistance and an American civil rights pioneer

Eugene Bullard lived one of the most fascinating lives of the twentieth century. The son of a former slave and an indigenous Creek woman, Bullard fled home at the age of eleven to escape the racial hostility of his Georgia community. His five-year journey led him to a tramp steamer bound for Europe. There he discovered boxing, climbed the ranks and garnered worldwide fame as the “Black Sparrow.” At eighteen he settled in Paris as a beloved celebrity and bon vivant. A year later World War I broke out.

Bullard joined the French Foreign Legion, where he went on to become the first African American fighter pilot in history. After the war, Bullard returned to Paris a decorated war hero and leveraged his celebrity to become a fixture of Parisian nightclub society. Hemingway and Fitzgerald drank champagne at his club. A young Langston Hughes worked as a busboy. He counted Picasso, Josephine Baker and Man Ray as friends. He married a French countess and they had two daughters.

At the dawn of World War II, with echoes of Casablanca, Bullard became a French spy, drawing Nazi soldiers to his club and conducting crucial surveillance for the Allies. After fleeing Paris, he joined the Resistance before being safely smuggled onto a ship bound for America. He lived out the rest of his life in Harlem with his daughters, working for a time as an assistant for Louis Armstrong.

All Blood Runs Red is the dramatic untold story of an American hero, a thought-provoking chronicle of the twentieth century and a portrait of a man who came from nothing and by his own courage, determination, gumption, intelligence and luck forged a legendary life.

This is an ordinary man who lived an extraordinary life - I remember first reading about him on the History girls blog as his story was so incredible it could not have been written as fiction and been believed. Eugene was the definition of a patriot as he did anything and everything for his country but was punished for the colour of his skin. One hundred years later have things changed? He]] no! (What a great book club talking point!)

This is a great read for any lover of history - it is meticulously researched but written for a general audience which basically means that it does not read like a textbook. I have read a lot of history textbooks and this one would have been wonderful to read as it is not dry and dusty - it is vibrant and engrossing. The expression "all blood runs red" was painted on his plane and is the title of several other biographies about Bullard - read this one!

As always, I try to find a reason to not rate with stars as I love emojis (outside of their incessant use by "Social Influencer Millennials" on Instagram and Twitter) so let's give it ✈✈✈✈

p.s. --- http://the-history-girls.blogspot.com... ...more

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Sep 27, 2019 Nathan Schmidt rated it liked it

I received an uncorrected proof through Goodreads First Reads and am very grateful for the opportunity.

This is a very interesting and pulling biography, and I was fascinated with Bullard's complex story during the whole journey - from his early adventures with gypsies to that fateful conversation on the elevator.

I think my only main issue with the book was that, while it is several hundred pages, it still seems a little brief. There's still plenty of detail, but at times I felt there could have ...more

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Oct 23, 2019 Aryn rated it liked it

Shelves: 1900s, 1910s, 20s, 30s, 40s, netgalley, history, biography, non-fiction, wwii

Eugene Bullard was a boxer, pilot, club impresario, and spy in the early to mid-twentieth century. With a life story ripe for a biopic, racism has long kept his story in the shadows. Bullard was the first African American fighter pilot, flying in World War I for France. A decorated war veteran, Bullard owned and managed a Parisian nightclub between the world wars, welcoming greats of the Jazz Age to his stage and as his guests. As the shadow of the Third Reich loomed, Bullard spied for France, ...more

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Nov 19, 2019 Kristen Cook - A Book Ninja rated it really liked it

Shelves: 2019, netgalley

Eugene Bullard lived an extraordinary life. I found the story about Bullard to be fascinating and for his time, amazing. To think that a boy from a small Southern town riddled with prejudice, he accomplished great things.

The writing felt a bit unpolished and rough this might have been intentional to match the story, I am not sure.

If nothing else, I would recommend this book to anyone to learn more about this great American.

I received an ARC of this book. All thoughts & opinions are my own.

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Dec 05, 2019 Melanie rated it really liked it

Incredible story of an incredible life.

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Nov 15, 2019 Leia rated it it was amazing

I’m so thankful for the work of researchers who have done the due diligence of honoring people like Eugene Bullard. One of the more entertaining and moving books I’ve read this year. Makes me equally proud and ashamed of our country.

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Oct 01, 2019 Victoria rated it really liked it

i enjoyed this book very much like others who reviewed this book i had never heard of this ma.n it was as well researched as can be expected but there was a little bit of padding with unneeded backstories at times and other times not enough sometimes you have to read footnotes to learn what happened to people in the book which irked me r.eceived for free on goodreads

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Aug 18, 2019 June rated it it was amazing

Shelves: bhm, biography, ng, 2019

I had never even heard of Eugene Bullard before I read this book. His bravery and determination is truly inspiring, especially in the face of the many hardships he faced. It's amazing to consider that one person's life could take so many drastic turns, from poverty and prejudice in the American South to the itinerant life of a sailor, boxer, soldier, pilot, and even a spy. Moreover, his story sheds light on the African-American experience during this important time. So often our Black History ...more

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Aug 30, 2019 Donna rated it liked it

Shelves: non-fiction, american-history, arc

Perfect for readers interested in American History, especially topics that have previously not received much or any attention. Written for the layman, this book was very interesting. I found myself captivated by the life story of Eugene Bullard, a person that was never mentioned in any history classes that I took.

Thank you to the publisher for providing me with an advanced reading copy.

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Nov 26, 2019 Mich rated it really liked it

Shelves: biography, history, non-fiction-adventure

The biography of Eugene Bullard, the grandson of a slave, recounts his life as a boxer, pilot in WWI, jazz drummer, nightclub owner in Paris, and spy for the Resistance. The first African American pilot, born in Columbus, Ga with only a second grade education was a stowaway on a ship to Europe. Starting with boxing as a welterweight he eventually became associated with fast movers in the Paris scene. At times he knew all the famous writers such as Hemingway, Langston Hughes, and F. Scott ...more

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Nov 10, 2019 Chris Carlisle rated it it was amazing

A well written and engaging accoint of a man I had heard of numerous times in multiple black history and boxing books, but whom, for some reason has never recieved his own in-depth biography until now. This man truly did it all as a Black man in both Europe and America. I enjoyed the writing style as it has a level of pizzazz to it that makes you not want to put the book down. I even found the back stories on background characters intriguing. The accounts of WWI and the battles Mr. Bullard took ...more

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Sep 29, 2019 Nancy Mijangos rated it really liked it

I received an ARC of this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

This book details the life of Eugene Bullard, the first African American pilot. He lived a fascinating and eventful life.

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Nov 15, 2019 Peter L rated it really liked it · review of another edition

All Blood Runs Red relates a most unusual life story.

Eugene Ballard runaway to France because he hoped he could be free. He arrived in time to serve in the France Foreign Legion before becoming a fighter pilot. And that was his early life.

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