This monumental narrative clarifies, analyzes, and demystifies the tragic ordeal of the Vietnam war. Free of ideological bias, profound in its understanding, and compassionate in its human portrayals, it is filled with fresh revelations drawn from secret documents and from exclusive interviews with participants--French, American, Vietnamese, Chinese: diplomats, military commanders, high government officials, journalists, nurses, workers, and soldiers. Originally published as a companion to the Emmy-winning PBS series, Karnow's defining book is a precursor to Ken Burns's ten-part forthcoming documentary series, The Vietnam War. Vietnam: A History puts events and decisions into such sharp focus that we come to understand, and make peace with, a convulsive epoch of our recent history.
Editorial Reviews
"A landmark work...The most complete account to date of the Vietnam tragedy." -The Washington Post Book World
"This is history writing at its best." -Chicago Sun-Times
"Even those of us who think we know something about it will read with fascination." -The New York Times
"Stanley Karnow is the foreign affairs experts' expert on foreign affairs." -Theodore H. White
"I have always been impressed by the breadth of Stanley Karnow's understanding of the forces at work in today's world, his practical experience, the depth of his reporting, and his use of words to communicate." -J.W. Fulbright
About the Author
Stanley Karnow (1925-2013) is the author of, among other books, the bestselling Vietnam: A History and the Pulitzer Prize-winning In Our Image: America and the Philippines.
