Heres an admittedly subjective list, posted on the military history now website, put together by mark masse, a ball state university literary journalism professor. Opinion the great vietnam war novel was not written by an. A noble cause america and the vietnam war modern wars in. The conflict inspired an avalanche of volumes and they all claim to be the last word. I will be marking the fiftieth anniversary of those marines going ashore at da nang by posting my favorite vietnam war books, memoirs, novels, movies. Caputos troubled, searching meditations on the love and hate of war, on fear, and the ambivalent discord warfare can create in the hearts of decent men, are among the most eloquent i have read in modern literature, novelist william styron wrote. A communist, ho chi minh waged a guerrilla war against the japanese with the support of the united states. Oct 08, 2015 perhaps the only decent thing to emerge from the vietnam war is a body of literature unsurpassed by the writing thats come out of any other war.
The 40th anniversary of the withdrawal of american troops from the vietnam war was recently commemorated, but ignored was the 50th anniversary of an incident that led to u. Online shopping for vietnam war history books in the books store. To order any of these titles, contact the library by email, mail or phone. Wehrle page images at hathitrust personalities of the liberation movement of south vietnam 1965, by u. The causes of the vietnam war revolve around the simple belief held by america that communism was threatening to expand all over southeast asia. Willbanks, a retired army colonel, who has written widely about the war, in which the author recommends ten essential books that should be on every historians bookshelf. Vietnam war the 1960s in america research guides at. The conflict inspired an avalanche of volumes and they all claim to be. President eisenhower pledged his support and prevent the spread of communism to ngo dinh diem.
When the french left, the americans fought the war alone. Vietnam war, 19611975teen nonfiction, vietnam history. In 1941, a vietnamese nationalist movement, the viet minh, was formed by their leader ho chi minh 18901969 to resist the occupiers. The causes of the vietnam war trace their roots back to the end of world war ii. Dec, 2017 find below a collection of the best books on the vietnam war. I will be marking the fiftieth anniversary of those marines going ashore at da nang by posting my favorite vietnam war. Vietnam war, 19611975 mass media and the war vietnam war, 19611975 press coverage.
This is one of the vietnam war books that covers the basics in great detail, like the fact that black soldiers made up nearly onequarter of the fatalities in the first few years of the war, and the discrimination they faced in decorations, duty assignments, and promotions. Excellent study of the vietnam war looking at a far wider range of topics than in most books on this war, and with contributions from american, north vietnamese and south vietnamese authors and participants in the war. The ultimate 2020 list of best vietnam books to read. Vietnam war, 19611975 personal narratives, american. The vietnam war started in the 1950s, according to most historians, though the conflict in southeast asia had its roots in the french colonial period of the 1800s. The best vietnam war books five books expert recommendations.
Find the top 100 most popular items in amazon books best sellers. Literature and the vietnam war literature and the vietnam war judith b. Vietnam war in literature a vast body of literature has been dedicated to the vietnam war 195475, including scientific research volumes, fiction stories, autobiographical accounts and poetry. The spark that ignited the vietnam war consortiumnews. Discover the best vietnam war history in best sellers. Feb 05, 2008 books blog publishing catch of the day. Vietnam war books l z books on the war in vietnam including the tet offensive, helicopter warfare, viet cong tactics, ho chi min trail and veterans affairs. The war began soon after the geneva conference provisionally divided 1954 vietnam at 17 n lat. The best histories of the vietnam war council on foreign. This literature, although dealing mostly with the participation of the united states in the war and the consequences of this, is not solely of american. You may also request these titles online through our opac. The causes of the vietnam war were derived from the symptoms, components and consequences of the cold war.
It is only now, fifteen years after its end, that the full impact of the vietnam war on the united states can begin to be measured. United states forces entered the conflict in support of the french in order to fight communism. The great vietnam war novel was not written by an american. List of books and articles about vietnam war online. There is catch22, and slaughterhouse five, and these are classics to be sure.
Ten vietnam war books worth owning i began collecting vietnam war books before the united states bugged out in 1973 two years before the war ended, a fact always unmentioned by those who claim we were defeated there. Some of these are fiction books about vietnam war based on factual information, whilst others include some of the best books on vietnam history of the war. Whilst some of these books are a bit older, they are still brilliant to read and give you great insight into the war. A history of americas involvement in and extrication from the vietnam war henry a. To find relevant books and other materials in the library catalog search the subject terms.
Ten vietnam war novels to read council on foreign relations. Beyond that, on the fiction front, we quickly traipse into forgettable territory. United states news media and the vietnam war wikipedia. It escalated from a vietnamese civil war into a limited international conflict in which the united states was deeply involved, and did not end. After we posted this article, times readers weighed in with their favorite books on the vietnam war. Buy a noble cause america and the vietnam war modern wars in perspective 01 by degroot, gerard j. The news then reflected communism and the cold war. Marciano sets out to debunk this noble cause myth which serves not only as the justification for the american war in vietnam, and the crimes committed in. Political posters from the united states, cuba, and vietnam 19651975. Webb, as you probably know, went on to write a few other books and still find the time to become a u.
Few wars have had such a deep impact on the american people than the vietnam war. List of books and articles about vietnam war in literature. A french colony, indochina made up of vietnam, laos, and cambodia had been occupied by the japanese during the war. May 02, 2017 the great vietnam war novel was not written by an american.
Choose from used and new textbooks or get instant access with etextbooks and digital materials. Essential vietnam war reading vietnam veterans of america. In asking how the united states got into vietnam, attention must be paid to the enormous strength of the cold war consensus in the early 1960s shared by journalists and policymakers alike and due to the great power of the administration to control the agenda and the framing of foreign affairs reporting. While the list of books about this conflict includes hundreds of enlightening works, we pick ten of the best texts offering illuminating perspectives on the war, its context and the effects it had on vietnam. He chooses the best books on the vietnam war, exploring its moral ambiguities, the warrior mentality, the humanity of the enemy, and more. Readers weighed in on the best books about the vietnam war. Nonfiction updated december 2006 a war story is good, but sometimes nonfiction can be more interesting, as in these true vietnam war stories, compiled by reader advisor paul mathews. An impressive piece of work that gives a good overview of the vietnam war and the wider issues that surrounded the conflict.
May 16, 2016 we dishonor the memory of 50,000 young americans who died in that cause when we give way to feelings of guilt as if we were doing something shameful. These 10 books, in addition to the ones below, were recommended multiple times. The struggle between french colonial forces and native vietnamese citizens supported by chinese communists was one of the root causes of the vietnam war. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. Vietnam war nonfiction missouri secretary of state. Exhibit held at track 16 gallery, january 19march 9, 1996. He was a strong anticommunist leader and was the head of south vietnam.
In this work, anthony campagna focuses on one aspect of the war s consequences. Vietnam war summaryoverview of the conflict history. Matterhorn by karl marlantes, the things they carried by tim obrien, the th valley by john m. Committee to aid the national liberation front of south vietnam multiple formats at. The th valley by john del vecchio there have been a number of excellent books about vietnam.
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