In the Service of the Red Cross: Walt Disney's Early Adventures: 1918-1919

I don't feel very comfortable doing book reviews. I have no expertise or education to do so. But I appreciate this author and the incredible amount of work he did to produce this wonderful book. I am a fan of all things Disney; fascinated by the man himself. I have read numerous biographies and other remembrances over many years, some good - some not so good. But David has produced a work which captures a glimpse of Walt Disney at a very formative time - his WWI experiences. The chronology of events, along with photos I have never seen before make this book a welcome addition to my collection. Walt's later correspondence with Alice Howell, as documented in the book, illustrate the kind of man Walt was and shed light on their friendly relationship. If you are a fan of Walt Disney and enjoy learning about his life - this is a book for you!

There are quite a few great books about Walt Disney and his studio either already published or soon to be. I must say In The Service Of The Red Cross is a unique one . . . a MUST HAVE.Walt's time with the Red Cross at the end of World War I has often been glossed over in other books, but is a very crucial chapter in the formation of the man who would become the Walt Disney we know and love. Author David Lesjak has done meticulous research and uncovered letters and back story previously unknown to this Disney reader. And, it doesn't end there, we also get to see photos never before published showing Walt actually there, along with drawings he had sent home. This material only adds to the story placing the reader on the scene with Walt on his first trip away from home.

Full of Walt's letters from the time period and never before seen photos. A real joy to read

This author has uncovered some amazing facts on Walt Disney. This is a great book and I highly recommend.

This book is fascinating. It covers Walt's time as a Red Cross volunteer in the same amount of details as Tim Susanin's book (Walt Before Mickey) had done with Walt's early professional years. For many this is a book that is almost too detailed. Not for Disney history geeks, of course. A "must have" from my standpoint. And the never-seen-before photos the book contains are priceless.

This is an outstanding book. I've read a number of biographies about Walt Disney, and most tend to gloss over the time Walt spent as an ambulance driver for the Red Cross in France during WWI. From the first page, the author pulls you in with an in-depth narrative that is extremely well-documented, all written in a captivating and entertaining manner, complete with rare photos, as he describes Walt's many different experiences during this period in his life. David Lesjak is obviously serious and passionate about the subject, and I appreciate how he generously shares that with his readers. If you have Neal Gabler's biography of Walt, then you must have this book, as well, as the two go hand in hand. A "must have" for your Disney reading collection.

David Lesjak has made a huge contribution to our understanding of what made Walt Disney tick by devoting an entire, superbly documented book to Walt's experience in France at the end of World War I. That experience, which has yet to receive anything remotely like the scholarly attention it has received here, had an incalculable effect on Disney's transition from his late teens into manhood and his career as a cartoonist, maker of animated cartoons, and entertainment impresario.

David Lesjak is becoming a premier historian on less-recognized facets of Walt Disney's life. His first two books illumined Disney's role during World War II. His latest is far more of a glimpse of Walt himself. As good a researcher as Lesjak is, I wondered how he could sustain a narrative on the subject when not a lot of detail exists. But Lesjak unearthed all sorts of written and photographic material heretofore unreleased, or, at best, released minimally. I also wondered that when Lesjak reached the end of WWI halfway through his book, how he'd fill the second half. Thanks to H. Alice Howell, that turned out not to be a problem. Instead, it further displayed Walt's gift not to forget his friends while running the world's most successful entertainment company. Of Lesjak's books, this is the best in my view.

Ce livre est écrit à partir de correspondances ou de témoignages de WD et de son entourage. Quelques photos de documents inédites, mais trop peu d'informations véritablement nouvelles. Elles sont simplement plus détaillées, d'où l'étoile en moins.