I saw mention of the book, 'The Jeep: A Story of the Virginia Military Institute' on the Op-For website, ordered the book and thoroughly enjoyed it (as did my husband and son is reading it now). Since my son will attend VMI in the Fall, I have searched for as much info as possible so I can better understand his decision and his future. I'm glad that Conroy and the Citadel have reconciled in the last few years- but I wouldn't recommend this book. The fact that someone titled this post ('Lords of Disclipline (re: Citadel, VMI) demonstrates exactly why I don't like it- you may know it's fiction and I may know it's fiction but clearly plenty of people out there are taking this as slightly retooled reality. I don't like the 'Lords of Discipline' for exactly those reasons- it gives a very skewed perspective of life at a barely fictional southern military college and Conroy meant it to be that way which was why he was a reviled figure for years at the Citadel. For example- plenty of fictional movie and literary accounts of Vietnam that have eventually become part of the popular memories of the war.

Funny thing about fiction though- it has a funny way of influencing the perceptions and the debate whether they are actually true or not (which is of course exactly why they force you to read and analyze fiction in your english classes).

The Lords of Discipline by Pat Conroy