Goodreads Review: Biggest Brother: The Life of Major Dick Winters, The Man Who Led the Band of Brothers

 

Biggest Brother: The Life of Major Dick Winters, The Man Who Lead the Band of Brothers by Larry Alexander

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Decorated WWII veteran and former paratrooper from the 101st Airborne, Major Richard "Dick" Winters was brought from his quiet life in Pennsylvania to absolute stardom with the creation of HBO's mini-series, Band of Brothers. 10 years before the release of the film, Dick had recounted his life in the military for Stephen Ambrose's book that the mini-series was based on. However, the show brought Dick to the front stage making him an absolute icon and legend.

Biggest Brother, while considered an autobiography, was a collaboration between Dick Winters and Larry Alexander. Dick didn't like writing in 1st person and preferred the narrative form instead. Yet, his words are entirely his. Biggest Brother starts with the history of the Winter's family and their settling in Pennsylvania, Dick's upbringing in the strict reformed Mennonite lifestyle from his mother and living through the Great Depression.

When the war started Dick was really unsure of where he wanted to be, but he certainly did not want to be fighting. Joining the paratroopers changed that. Dick worked his way up the ranks, starting as the beloved platoon leader to Easy Company in Taccoa, Georgia, Lieutenant and then Captain to the same company that he would lead from D-Day to the end of the war, where he was finally given the rank as Major.

Biggest Brother also recounts Dick's life in from the conception of the book, Band of Brothers, which led to the mini-series. And while he was satisfied with the series (even though he couldn't understand at first why they cast a red headed, English actor to play him), he certainly had his own opinions about what he did and did not like about the content that was used.

This book was very enjoyable. As an avid biography reader, I loved delving deeper in the life of Dick Winters, a humble man who simply did his job and did it well. I hold a great deal of admiration for Dick Winters and his life before, during and after the war. A life that can never be forgotten.