Dreams of Glory

In this sequel to "Star Spangled Summer," which introduced the Parrishes, the military family is transferred to West Point, where oldest son, David, has started his Plebe year. The writing vividly describes the fashions, activities, and manners of pre-WWII life in a military officer's family. Maj. Dave and Margery Parrish make Ward and June Cleaver look like a couple of old grouches. When I read this 60 years ago, I was mesmerized by the glamour and excitement of West Point social life. However, in rereading it in adulthood, I see the shadow over this idyllic lifestyle. Their "colored servants" as they were described, although much loved, had as much personhood as Scarlett's "Mammy." The cook/housekeeper moved with them to their new assignments, with no reference to any family, or friends of her own. The orderly was an enlisted man from the regiment, so different at each post. This still stuns me that was his job in the Army. I am thankful things have changed for the better in that respect. However, so has the innocent, carefree life of the time. The characters are endearing and the story line around the vivacious Penny and her friends is never dull. A teenager of today should enjoy it as much as my daughter and I did, each in our own day.

I read this book over 50 years ago when I was a teenager and after reading it, longed to to to West Point! My first year at college I was invited to Plebe Christmas where I spend a week with a young man from Ft Worth Texas...This whole event led me to ditch my high school sweetheart! He was heartbroken but I had a great time at the point! 45 years later I married the high school sweetheart while the West Point PLebe was kicked out in the cheating scandle of 1952!!I am sure in terms of todays teens, they would think this hokey but it is a book I read, loved and remembered all through the years. I bought it for my great-neice for Christmas.