Leclerc – The making of a French legend.
William Mortimer Moore prepares to publish first english-language biography of one of France's greatest generals
Other than de Gaulle, General Philippe Leclerc de Hauteclocque (1902-1947) was the greatest French hero of the Second World War.
But for his early death, many Frenchmen believe Leclerc would have been greater than de Gaulle. De Gaulle himself admitted to his son in law that he gave up smoking when Leclerc died in order to retain his health in case France needed him, because Leclerc was no longer there.
Surprisingly, Leclerc has never yet been the subject of a thorough biography in English - until now.
William Mortimer Moore's biography will be published by Casemate later in the year.
'William Mortimer Moore has written a fine biography of Leclerc, who played almost as important a part as De Gaulle himself in restoring French pride in the Second World War'. – Antony Beevor
'Superb. General Leclerc is one of the few authentic French heroes of theSecond World War, and in this exhaustively researched and fast-moving account of his extraordinary life, Mortimer Moore does him full justice.' – Professor Saul David