Sheehan, who covered the vietnam war for the new york times, won the pulitzer prize for chronicling the unusual story of john paul vann. To provide a short history of vietnam, i went to the u. The vietnam war stands as one of the pivotal moments in recent u. In 1959, ho commenced a guerilla campaign in south vietnam, led by viet cong units, with the goal of reuniting the country under a communist. This is relatively short book in terms of text but incredibly well though out and a deep analysis of the war. What is the best book providing a comprehensive history of. Early history, part 1 how vietnam developed as an independant country. Discover delightful childrens books with prime book box, a subscription that delivers new. A short, narrative history of the origins, course, and outcome of americas military involvement in vietnam by an experienced guide to the causes and conduct of war, larry h. In the short history of vietnam war literature, publishers would hardly touch a book on the war until the late 1970s and early 1980sa part of the selfinduced. If you want to read one book about vietnam, read this one.
On 8 march, 1965, 3,500 united states marines of the 9th marine expeditionary brigade made an amphibious landing at da nang on the south central coast of south vietnam, marking the beginning of a conflict that would haunt american politics. As the author himself shows, the events leading to, during and and resulting from the vietnam war are complex, involved and about as convoluted as possible. Author biography gordon kerr is the author of a short history of africa, a short history of brazil, a short history of china, a short history of europe, and a short history of the first world war. The best histories of the vietnam war council on foreign.
It resulted in nearly 60,000 american deaths and in an estimated 2 million vietnamese deaths. This book is almost like reading a comic book that explains the history of vietnam from after the surrender of the japanese through the involvement of american troops. In the early 1900s, nationalist movements emerged in vietnam, demanding more selfgovernance and less french influence. A short summary of the disastrous and bloody vietnam war. A short history of the vietnam war by gordon kerr waterstones. Philip caputo was a marine who later became a very wellknown journalist. Halfway around the world, another cold war conflict was escalating.
A short history of the vietnam war gordon kerr 55 my major problem with this work is the titleit is an impossibility. The vietnam war was the prolonged struggle between nationalist forces attempting to unify the country of vietnam under a communist government and the united states with the aid of the south vietnamese attempting to prevent the spread of communism. Discover the best vietnam war history in best sellers. Vietnam war short stories vietnam veterans of america. After sufficient time had elapsed to ease some of the wars psychic wounds, we saw a mini explosion of important books. Unfortunately they had to fight another war against the french to achieve this. The vietnam war has roots in vietnams centuries of domination by imperial and colonial powersfirst china, which ruled ancient vietnam, and then france, which took control of vietnam in the late 1800s and established french indochina. Tell us about a book you would like to see published by osprey.
North vietnam was battling for ownership of south vietnam, so that they would be a unified communist nation. Authored by journalist frances fitzgerald, this account of vietnam, its history, and the effects of its war with the united states was on the bestseller list for more than ten weeks. Find the top 100 most popular items in amazon books best sellers. Gordon kerr a short history of the vietnam war explains how the united states became involved in its longest war, a conflict that, from the outset, many claimed it could never win. The ultimate 2020 list of best vietnam books to read.
The events of the book are set in hong kong during the vietnam war. Vann retired from the army in 1963 after failing to. Our books experts recommends 10 authors to read on the conflict. A short history of the vietnam war gordon kerr pocket essentials. The vietnam war was the longest military battle in the history of the united states. In my mind its one of the first really wellwritten books that describe the moral ambiguities and difficulties faced by a young marine officer in this particular war.
Filled with more than 500 photographs, the vietnam war tells the story of vietnam through powerful images. Within a short time, with the support of several southeast asian countries and. The start of the book about the vietnam war covers the history of vietnam. The vietnam war is also referred to as the second indochina war, due to the involvement of all three countries previously constituting the french territory of indochina. Learn about what caused world war i, life in the trenches and major battles.
Readers weighed in on the best books about the vietnam war. The vietnam war in american stories, songs, and poems by h. Bruce franklin the first college anthology of american literature about the vietnam war brings together 16 stories, 5 songs, and 63 poems in an affordable text for literature and history courses. It starts with some excellent historical background that explains how indo china fought in. Vietnam had been divided into two, with a communist regime in the north under ho chi minh and a democratic government in the south under ngo dinh diem. The best vietnam war books five books expert recommendations. The book also explores the relationship of the vietnam war to the cold war politics of the time.
The first world war showcased new technologies that would change the nature of warfare in the century to come. Ive read a couple of other books about the vietnam war, but, this short book explains the vietnam war simply and in a format that should make learning easy. Marines of the 9th marine expeditionary brigade made an amphibious landing at da nang on the south central coast of south vietnam, marking the beginning of a conflict that would haunt american politics and society for many years, even after the withdrawal of u. Winner of the 2016 pulitzer prize for fiction, this debut novel could fit into half a dozen genres of vietnam war books from war narrative to immigrant story, from mystery to political, from metafiction to historical and even dark comedy. The necessary war, michael lind if you only read one book on the vietnam war, this is it. Tell me about the first book on your list, a rumor of war 1977. Vietnam war summaryoverview of the conflict history. North and south vietnam were divided at the 17th parallel. Active military action was carried out for almost 20 years, from 1 november 1955 to 30 april 1975. The best histories of the vietnam war council on foreign relations. In the vietnam war, mark atwood lawrence draws upon the latest research in archives around the world to offer readers a superb account of a key moment in u. A short history of the vietnam war explains how the united states became involved in its longest war, a conflict that, from the outset, many claimed it could never win.
To prevent the domino effect and the further spread of communism. Short stories about what i did and what i saw while. The vietnam war in history chapter 1 the vietnam war. Even today, many americans still ask whether the american effort in vietnam was a sin, a. The vietnam war lasted about 40 years and involved several countries. While focusing on american involvement between 1965 and 1975, lawrence offers an unprecedentedly complete picture of all sides of the war, notably by examining.
The book is about le ly, a courageous woman who experienced the true horror of the vietnam warand survived to tell her unforgettable story. Kiernans dispassionate recording of the behaviour of the regional powerschampa, cambodia, china, indiashould help to make viet nam. The making of postcolonial vietnam, 19191950, and coediting credit for making sense of the vietnam war. A concise, accessible history of one of the most important and fascinating conflicts of the 20th century. The top 30 vietnam war books to read this winter historynet. A professor at the university of chicago, bradley already has an impressive list of prior works on the history of vietnam, including imagining vietnam and america. Pdf a short history of the vietnam war download full. Indiana university press, 1978 ocolc570065442 online version. The vietnam war was a long, costly and divisive conflict that pitted the communist government of north vietnam against south vietnam and its principal ally, the united states. Learn about vietnam war protests, the tet offensive, the my lai massacre, the pentagon papers and more. Marines of the 9th marine expeditionary brigade made an amphibious landing at da nang on the south central coast of south vietnam, marking the beginning of a conflict that would haunt american politics and society for many years, even after. Book depository books with free delivery worldwide. In the short history of vietnam war literature, publishers would hardly touch a book on the war until the late 1970s and early 1980sa part of the selfinduced national amnesia about that conflict and its outcome. Vietnam war at amazon vietnam war on dvd at amazon vietnam war kindle books.
Choose from used and new textbooks or get instant access with etextbooks and digital materials. Brief hystory a quick history of vietnam, great for school reports. The book is a book of contrasts, with scenes of a joyous reunion, but with the history and emotions of the brutal war years. Gift ideas in vietnam war history any department books. The book describes the expatriate life and relations with the local chinese population. A short history of the vietnam war by gordon kerr goodreads. It went on to win a number of prestigious awards, including the pulitzer prize for nonfiction, national book award, and the bancroft prize. The author was a government engineer and became involved in the corruption common at that time. Short summary of vietnam vietnam was a struggle which, in all honesty, the united states should never have been involved in. It details the escalation of american involvement from the provision of military advisors and equipment to the threatened south vietnamese, to an allout shooting war involving. An oral history of the vietnam war by black veterans, by wallace terry. The vietnam war first began in 1959, five years after the division of the country by the geneva accords. Select period the eastern front 16th century 17th century 18th century 19th century american civil war ancient warfare aviation eastern warfare medieval warfare. At the beginning of every month we will post the 5 best suggestions and give you the chance to vote for your favourite.
Also be sure to visit our photo section for some amazing pictures of vietnam. This is a wikipedia book, a collection of wikipedia articles that can be easily saved, imported by an external electronic rendering service. The viet cong were vietnamese rebels in the south who fought against the southern vietnam government and the united states. Sophie quinnjudge, times literary supplement in viet nam, ben kiernan synthesises three millennia of history in a beautiful book that aids the reader with numerous maps and over a dozen photographs. Overview of the vietnam war digital history id 2925. A rumor of war, philip caputo to call it the best book about vietnam is to trivialise it. Military academy history department to learn what book it uses to teach cadets about the war. After sufficient time had elapsed to ease some of the war s psychic wounds, we saw a mini explosion of important books. Mark atwood lawrence is associate professor of history at the university of texas at austin. This site is for vietnam veterans to tell their stories and shares pictures.
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