A documentary history from american and vietnamese perspectives as want to read. Aug 14, 20 accounts of the vietnam war from the perspective of vietnamese are often overlooked, and books by south vietnamese soldiers in particular are relatively rare. Readers weighed in on the best books about the vietnam war. Vietnamese and american perspectives jayne werner, luu doan huynh on. A vietnam reader is a fantastic collection of primary documents on the vietnam war. The history of the vietnam war has rarely been told from the vietnamese perspective and never by a leader of that country. An epic tale of family and vietnamese history, the. Renny christopher, the viet nam warthe american war. The vietnamese communist party banned the book because of its unflattering recitation of the wars brutality. These include winners of national book awards and pulitzer prizes, both fiction and nonfiction. A history is an extraordinary study of exceptional scholarship and unreservedly recommended for both community and academic library vietnam war collections and supplemental studies lists. In buddhas child, nguyen cao ky reveals the remarkable story of his tumultuous tenure as premier of south vietnam, and offers unprecedented insight into the war s beginning, escalation, and heartbreaking end.
Literature about the war and its aftermath by vietnamese and vietnameseamericans is plentiful and good. There is catch22, and slaughterhouse five, and these are classics to be sure. In the fall of 1990 jayne werner organized a conference on the vietnam war at columbia university. 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. Huynh, luu doan and a great selection of similar new, used and collectible books available now at great prices. The texts are drawn evenly from both sides of the conflict, and include speeches, letters, official documents, diplomatic cables, diary entries, interviews, and passages from novels. This movie did what no other vietnam war movie did, in the beginning, it provided the reasoning of the north vietnamese army, as well as feature south vietnamese forces fighting with the us and throughout the movie, it switches back and forth on both sides to get a full perspective of the entire fight. As the war continued and more young men were drafted, it became. Teaching the vietnam war from the vietnamese perspective tlhe vietnamese struggle for independence began with the french colonization of indochina in the late nineteenth century and gained steam with the rapid development of nationalist movements from the 1920s onward. What is the best book about vietnam war written from vietnams. Enough books novels and nonfiction have been published about the vietnam war and its aftermath to fill a modestsized library. A north vietnamese perspective on the war bui tin on.
Apr 30, 2015 how young vietnamese view the vietnam war. At the seminar, leading western diplomatic and military historians and vietnam scholars met with prominent vietnamese communists to reflect on the vietnam war. The materials gathered here, from both the american and vietnamese sides, remind readers that the conflict touched the lives of many people in a wide range of social and political situations and. Trailer for heaven and earth part iii of oliver stone trilogy platoon born on the fourth of july heaven and earth s.
Dec, 2017 find below a collection of the best books on the vietnam war. Apr 11, 2015 viet thanh nguyen grew up in america with war movies like apocalypse now and platoon, which offer accounts of the war focusing on americans. What is the best book about vietnam war written from. Knowing nothing about the vietnamese or vietnam, african american soldiers interpreted their experiences in the vietnam war from a perspective shaped almost entirely by their experiences back in the united states. Teaching the vietnam war from the vietnamese perspective. Recently, i was invited by professor susan schnall to address her class at new york university studying what is referred to as the vietnam war by americans and the american war by the vietnamese i guess nomenclature is a matter of perspective. Americas wars have inspired some of the worlds best literature, and the vietnam war is no exception. Topics include south vietnamese nationalism, why american. In addition to jayne werner and luu doan huynh, the contributors are mark bradley, william duiker, david elliott, kristin pelzer, george vickers, james harrison, george herring, ronald spector, paul joseph, jeffrey clarke, ngo vinh long, benedict kiernan, marilyn young, david hung, keith taylor, and tran van tra.
While we might have made it our war, the vietnam war was about one group of people, the vietnamese. Offering a unique and impressively informed and informative perspective, vietnam s american war. A panel of scholars and authors looked at the vietnam war from the american, north and south vietnamese perspectives. The united states and vietnam, 19501975 george herring widely recognized as a major contribution to the study of american involvement in vietnam, this comprehensive and balanced account analyzes the ultimate failure of the war, and the impact of the war on us foreign policy. Feb 05, 2008 books blog publishing catch of the day. In this book, he generally does not praise the american soldier who fought in the. Its a shame, because although there are many excellent books written by american authors about the conflict, they dont give you an idea of how a vietnamese person saw the war. Vietnamese and american perspectives 9781563240577 by werner, jayne. Students in hanoi learn about the american war for the first time in elementary school, taking class trips. James zumwalt about his new book on the vietnam war, as seen. After we posted this article, times readers weighed in with their favorite books on the vietnam war. One popular interpretation is that american leaders feared direct chinese.
The materials gathered here, from both the american and vietnamese sides, remind readers that the conflict. An essential new resource for students and teachers of the vietnam war, this. The ultimate 2020 list of best vietnam books to read. Nguyens book draws on 54 oral history interviews with veterans of the republic of vietnam armed forces rvnaf and their relatives. Any good vietnam war movies with a north vietnam perspective. Usa today s bob minzesheimer recommends books by 10 authors. Many african american soldiers saw a close connection between the poverty that most blacks experienced in the united. The latest project from documentary filmmakers ken burns and lynn novick looks at the u.
Sorrow of war offers the north vietnamese perspective by tracing the. Months later, having served on the line in one of historys ugliest wars, he returned home. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. Among the most positive is an abundance of topnotch books, many written by veterans of the conflict. During this time marine lieutenant philip caputo landed at da nang with the first ground combat unit deployed to vietnam. Nov 08, 2012 enough books novels and nonfiction have been published about the vietnam war and its aftermath to fill a modestsized library. What is the best book about vietnam war written from vietnam. Opinion vietnam wasnt just an american war the new. A dark, funny and vietnamese look at the vietnam war. The vietnam war was a period of american involvement in southeast asia from 19611975 in which u.
Xiaoming zhang \1 thy did the united states lose the vietnam war. On april 30, 1975, the war came to an abrupt end when saigon transferred hands. Book examines vietnam war from viet congs point of view pbs. Most of the war literature in english had been written by veterans with the american perspective, and i thought. So i got my information from books like fire in the lake and films like the deer hunter. 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. A documentary history from american and vietnamese perspectives new edition by hunt, michael h. The conflict inspired an avalanche of volumes and they all claim to be the last word. Conference on naval war in vietnam includes american. Committee to aid the national liberation front of south vietnam multiple formats at. In a fight to reunify their divided country under communist rule, the north vietnamese rebelled against the anticommunist southwhich included their longtime enemies, the french. Please do not add books that feature vietnamese protagonists with no connection to the united states.
His new novel, the sympathizer, follows a vietnamese spy. By 1955, and after decades of resistance to french colonials, vietnam was partitioned into northern and southern territories. Children of the vietnam war travel smithsonian magazine. Whilst some of these books are a bit older, they are still brilliant to read and give you great insight into the war. Nov 23, 2015 50th anniversary of the vietnam war from a vietnamese american perspective by nancy bui most americans, including policy makers, and vietnam veterans have expressed their lack of knowledge of vietnams history and culture before uss involvement in vietnam to fight a war over ideology. These 10 books, in addition to the ones below, were recommended multiple times. The conference looked at the vietnam war as an example of a limited war in the shadow of the cold war a topic of renewed interest in. American views on the vietnam war historical society of. Memories of the vietnam war and after, is a contribution to this process. This volume derives from an unprecedented seminar held at columbia universitys school of international and public affairs in november 1990. A vietnamese soldiers perspective of the vietnam war. Ive read several books by american authors about the vietnam war, and now id like to read something from the vietnamese perspective. American and vietnamese perspectives by hunt, michael isbn.
This effort became a war in august 1945 when the viet minh overthrew french. Much of the war was fought in a nontraditional guerilla style, and there were many casualties on both sides. Naval war college gathered military scholars and historians from the american and vietnamese perspectives for a feb. Apr 16, 2015 how the north vietnamese remember the conflict 40 years after the fall of saigon. This book, based on extensive original research, including vietnamese, chinese and former soviet sources, tells the story of the war from t. American and vietnamese perspectives by hunt, michael and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at. One key reason, say doug bradley and craig werner, authors of the book we gotta get out of this place. Stewart onans the vietnam reader is perfect for the indecisive as it highlights the best texts from an american perspective, including fiction, nonfiction, poetry. An essential new resource for students and teachers of the vietnam war, this concise collection of primary sources opens a valuable window on an extraordinarily complex conflict. Accounts of the vietnam war from the perspective of vietnamese are often overlooked, and books by south vietnamese soldiers in particular are.
The photographs bellow are often excluded from our textbooks. Vietnams american war by pierre asselin cambridge core. The vietnam war has scarred, transformed and inspired countless writers and art practitioners. As an american who has lived in the vietnamese capital for three years, i rarely hear the conflict discussed.
Many thought the united states involvement in vietnams affairs was a mistake, and the opposition to the war defined a generation. Existing studies of the vietnam war have been written mostly from an american perspective, using western sources, and viewing the conflict through western eyes. The vietnamese revolution and politicalmilitary strategy. Other vietnam movies were vehicles for american soul searching about involvement in the war. Children of the vietnam war born overseas to vietnamese mothers and u.
In an attempt to establish a new dialogue among vietnamese and americans and among specialists from different fields, she invited two scholars from vietnam, both of whom also participated in the war, and a number of u. Ready to read the most celebrated and best vietnam war books. The definitive collection of fiction and nonfiction on the war 1998 by stewart onan diving into a book about the vietnam war can be a daunting task. A documentary history from american and vietnamese perspectives. Look at the sources bellow and create an interpretation of the vietnamese perspective of the vietnam war. Born on the fourth of july depicts a soldiers transformation from gungho veteran to war. The best books about vietnam as a country, not just the vietnam war. A vietnam war reader american and vietnamese perspectives. Before the sympathizer won the 2016 pulitzer prize for fiction, many readers didnt know any authors or books written from the vietnamese perspective. All our physical stores and our online store are temporarily closed. Last week we asked readers for their favorite books on vietnam and the vietnam war.
In addition to jayne werner and luu doan huynh, the contributors are mark bradley, william duiker, david elliott, kristin pelzer, george vickers, james harrison, george herring, ronald spector, paul joseph, jeffrey clarke, ngo vinh long, benedict kiernan, marilyn. 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. A vietnamese perspective on the wars war is boring. Pages in category vietnam war books the following 42 pages are in this category, out of 42 total.
Wehrle page images at hathitrust personalities of the liberation movement of south vietnam 1965, by u. Apr 19, 2011 the vietnam war, as we americans call it, looms large in american history. A good and balanced presentation of how americans and vietnamese view the vietnam war, which is also called the war against american aggression by vietnamese. Here are two very different accounts of that same extraordinary day. 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.
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. Do not list books with non vietnamese american protagonists or only secondary characters who are vietnamese american. Vietnamese army shares his insights into many aspects of the vietnam war. A vietnam war reader, edited by michael hunt, is a unique collection of shocking lived experiences, directly from the mouths and the pens of those soldiers, politicians and citizens who lived through the days of the vietnam war and its bloody aftermath. Much of the war was fought in a nontraditional guerilla style, and there were many casualties on. A vietnamese soldiers perspective of the vietnam war misspiggy338. Nathalie huynh chau nguyens new book, south vietnamese soldiers. American and vietnamese perspectives 2010 michael h. How young vietnamese view the vietnam war the atlantic. Beyond that, on the fiction front, we quickly traipse into forgettable territory. Score a books total score is based on multiple factors, including the number of people who have voted for it and how highly those voters ranked the book. Thousands and thousands died in the war on all sides. Are there any vietnam war movies from the vietnamese point of. Try searching on jstor for other items related to this book.
The vietnam war, as seen by the victors the atlantic. The vietnam war is an outstanding collection of primary documents related to america s conflict in vietnam which includes a balance of original american and vietnamese perspectives, providing a uniquely varied range of insights into both american and vietnamese experiences. Diving into a book about the vietnam war can be a daunting task. They believed that the united states, which in their view had failed in korea and taiwan in the 1950s, was now expanding the war against china into vietnam. Ten vietnam war novels to read council on foreign relations. Vietnamese perspectives on the war in vietnam digital commons. Memoirs of a victim turned soldier accounts of the vietnam war from the perspective of vietnamese are often overlooked, and books by south vietnamese soldiers in particular are relatively rare. A vietnamese perspective on the wars war is boring medium. But most vietnamese are too young to remember the day in 1975 when saigon fell, celebrated in hanoi.
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