{"product_id":"the-dream-of-civilized-warfare-linda-r-robertson-9780816642717","title":"The Dream of Civilized Warfare: World War I Flying Aces and the American Imagination","description":"\u003cb\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cp\u003e Analyzes the link between \"civilized warfare\" and the American self-image \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e Linda R. Robertson argues that the development of the United States as a global military power arose from the influence of an image of air combat carefully constructed during World War I to mask the sordid realities of modern ground warfare. \u003ci\u003eThe Dream of Civilized Warfare \u003c\/i\u003ecarries this trajectory to its logical end, tracing the long history of the American desire to exert the nation's will throughout the world without having to risk the lives of ground soldiers--a theme that continues to reverberate in public discussions, media portrayals, and policy decisions today. \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003eHistories of American air power usually focus on World War II, when the air force became the foundation for the military strength of the United States. The equally fascinating story of World War I air combat is often relegated to a footnote, but it was the earlier war that first inspired the vision of the United States attaining dominance in world affairs through a massive air force. In \u003ci\u003eThe Dream of Civilized Warfare, \u003c\/i\u003eRobertson presents the compelling story of the creation of the first American air force--and how, through the propaganda of the flying ace, a vision of \"clean\" or civilized combat was sold to politicians and the public. \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003eDuring World War I, air combat came to epitomize American ingenuity, technological superiority, adventure, leadership, and teamwork. Robertson reveals how the romantic and chivalric imagery associated with flying aces was a product of intentional propaganda and popular culture. Examining aviation history, military battles, films, literature, and political events, she looks at how the American public's imagination was shaped--how flying aces offered not only a symbol of warfare in stark contrast to the muddy, brutal world of the trenches, but also a distraction to an American public resistant to both intervention in a European conflict and the new practice of conscription. \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eAuthor:\u003c\/b\u003e Linda R. Robertson\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eISBN-10:\u003c\/b\u003e 0816642710\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eISBN-13:\u003c\/b\u003e 9780816642717\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePublisher:\u003c\/b\u003e University of Minnesota Press\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eLanguage:\u003c\/b\u003e English\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePublished:\u003c\/b\u003e 11\/01\/2005\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePages:\u003c\/b\u003e 504\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eFormat:\u003c\/b\u003e Paperback\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eWeight:\u003c\/b\u003e 1.39lbs\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eSize:\u003c\/b\u003e 8.84h x 5.84w x 1.01d","brand":"Linda R. Robertson","offers":[{"title":"Paperback","offer_id":44078123155711,"sku":"9780816642717","price":22.95,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0662\/2982\/9887\/files\/img_b8d7abe8-9403-41fe-b7e6-756f2e5a41bf.jpg?v=1685473669","url":"https:\/\/www.whiterainbookhouse.com\/products\/the-dream-of-civilized-warfare-linda-r-robertson-9780816642717","provider":"WR Book House","version":"1.0","type":"link"}