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. Why a major war developed in 1965, with the us and south vietnam on one side and the national liberation front and north vietnam, backed by china and the soviet union on the other. Written with the style of a great novelist and the intrigue of a cold war thriller, embers of war is a landmark work that will forever change your understanding of how and why america went to war in vietnam. Fredrik logevall harvard university history department. Fredrik logevall is an awardwinning, renowned historian, accomplished educator, and prolific writer on the vietnam war and its legacy. Derived of the authors vietnam war experience, the thirtyseven stories in this sometimes harrowing, sometimes hilarious collection look back at the vietnam war from a distance of forty or more years, nearly a halfcentury, and via the perspectives of not only the soldiers themselves, but also their children, spouses, siblings, parents, friends. The origins of the vietnam war by logevall, fredrik ebook. The war had a profound and lasting impact on the politics and society of vietnam and the united states, and it also had a major impact on international relations. This book is the 881st greatest nonfiction book of all time as determined by. The origins of the vietnam war seminar studies in history. Knight professor of international studies and professor of history at cornell university, where he serves as director of the. John prados, author of the hidden history of the vietnam war. Why did the us make a commitment to an independent so. The fall of an empire and the making of americas vietnam by fredrik logevall.
The origins of the vietnam war by fredrik logevall, 20. Discussionquestion suggestions for vietnam war nonfiction books. We personally assess every books quality and offer rare, outofprint treasures. The struggle for vietnam occupies a central place in the history of the twentieth century. This book provides a short, accessible introduction to the origins of the vietnam war.
Fredrik logevall, winner the 20 pulitzer prize for his book, embers of war. Webb, as you probably know, went on to write a few other books and still find the time to become a u. For france, the defeat marked the effective end of her. We deliver the joy of reading in 100% recycled packaging with free standard shipping on u.
But we know now that vision of north vietnam is simplistic and false. The fall of an empire and the making of americas vietnam won both the 20 pulitzer prize in history and the prestigious parkman prize, which deemed it an extraordinary work of modern history. Search for library items search for lists search for. The fall of an empire and the making of americas vietnam by fredrik logevall published in 2012. Nguyen, hanois road to the vietnam war, 19541965 pierre asselin and the penguin history of modern vietnam by christopher goscha. The origins of the vietnam war by fredrik logevall goodreads. Logevall used a lot of repetition of the same themes, ideas, arguments and words to argue his point, was that effective. Kennedy school of government and professor of history in the harvard faculty of arts and sciences. Buy a cheap copy of secrets of the vietnam war book by phillip b. Ten vietnam war novels to read council on foreign relations. The fall of an empire and the making of americas vietnam reprint by frederik logevall isbn.
Taken together, the essays enable us to understand the origins of the later american war in indochina by positioning vietnam at the center of. Logevall is the author or editor of nine books, most recently embers of war. The book sets the context to the conflict from the end of the indochina war in 1954 to the eruption of full scale war in 1965. Sep 09, 2012 logevall begins with the efforts of ho chi minh, who spent his life trying to bring independence to his country. Fought over a period of three decades, the conflict drew in all the worlds powers and saw two of themfirst france, then the united statesattempt to subdue the revolutionary vietnamese forces. Tapping newly accessible diplomatic archives in several nations, fredrik logevall traces the path that led two western nations to. The fall of an empire and the making of americas war in vietnam is an outstanding piece of scholarship on the subject of frances war in indochina and how it became americas war in vietnam. Drawing on the vast and largely complete documentary record of the escalating u.
Kennedy, johnson, and the origins of the vietnam war. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. The origins of the vietnam war by fredrik logevall, 97818129979, available at book depository with free delivery worldwide. Logevall won the 20 pulitzer prize for history for his book embers of war. Marine corps lieutenant who landed on the beach near da nang on march 8. Logevall traces the path that led two western nations to. Knight professor of international studies and professor of history at cornell university, where he serves as director of the mario einaudi center for international studies. It did so incrementally, over a period of several months in the first half of the year. With embers of war, he has written an even more impressive book about the french conflict in vietnam and the beginning of the american.
The lost chance for peace and the escalation of war in vietnam by logevall, fredrik and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at. The lost chance for peace and the escalation of war in vietnam ebook. The ten best memoirs of the vietnam war council on. The vietnam war has scarred, transformed and inspired countless writers and art practitioners. This volume provides an authoritative and accessible introduction to the origins of the war. Buy the origins of the vietnam war seminar studies in history 1 by logevall, fredrik isbn. Cornell historian fredrik logevall steps back from the edge andparting from most vietnam war studies that focus on the kennedy and johnson administrationsreaches back to world war ii to give a fresh picture of america imagining itself into the vietnam war. Webb, as you probably know, went on to write a few other books and. Young historians sometimes make their reputations by attacking their elders and offering bold new interpretations of the past. In this pathbreaking account of the making of americas vietnam, fredrik logevall places the indochina war, the crumbling of the french empire, and american intervention in vietnam at the center of his analysis. The eisenhower, kennedy, johnson and nixon administrations chose to define the survival of south vietnam as being of vital strategic interest in the containment of soviet and chinese power. A cornell university historian who wrote the wellreceived choosing war. Thriftbooks sells millions of used books at the lowest everyday prices. Belfer professor of international affairs at the harvard kennedy school and professor of history.
Here are my picks for the ten best memoirs of the vietnam war. Winner of the pulitzer prize written with the style of a great novelist and the intrigue of a cold war thriller, embers of war is a landmark work that will forever change your understanding of how and why america went to war in vietnam. Over time, the antiwar movement limited the options available to johnson and nixon. Fredrik logevall the meaning of the vietnam war 1109. Embers of war, by fredrik logevall the new york times. Introduction mark atwood lawrence and fredrik logevall. Marlantes presents the conflict and its effect on the psyche by reaching deep into the subjective. Ward, including jazz, the war and, most recently, the roosevelts, it stands in its own right as a richly illustrated work which utilises evocative primary sources to the full within a strong narrative. This page contains details about the nonfiction book embers of war. The vietnam war is the companion volume to the 10part, 18hour ken burns pbs documentary series of that name but like other books coauthored by him and geoffrey c. Jun 10, 20 logevalls grave conclusion is that the vietnam war has a special resonance today, because a similar permissive context allowed wars in iraq and afghanistan. A novel of the vietnam war1 sarah boyce2 in matterhorn, karl marlantes, a vietnam combat veteran and rhodes scholar,3 has created what may be the finest novel yet written on the vietnam war. The conflict had a profound and lasting impact on the politics and society of vietnam and the united states, but also shaped the larger international system in critical ways.
How history dealt with lbj and his vietnam war in three. For insight into north vietnam i would suggest the books hanois war. The lost chance for peace and the escalation of war in vietnam by logevall, fredrik and a great selection of related books, art and. Fredrik logevall is associate professor of history, university of california, santa barbara.
Nov 02, 2012 fredrik logevall s embers of war stands as the definitive history of the critical formative period from 1940 to 1960. Hardback book with dust jacket titled secrets of the vietnam war. The origins of the vietnam war edition 1 by fredrik. Fredrik logevall born 1963 is a swedishamerican historian and educator at harvard university, where he is the laurence d. A short introduction to the origins of the vietnam war. It is also an exceedingly wellwritten piece of literature. Im glad the book was written as eventually the vietnam war will, like others, fade from living memory and this book gives insight into the motives and mindsets of people involved which might otherwise be lost. Dec 15, 2017 fredrik logevall, winner the 20 pulitzer prize for his book, embers of war. The lost chance for peace and the escalation of war in vietnam fredrik logevall. Fredrik logevall confidently asserts that the prevailing h. Readers interested in the history of southeast asia, or the vietnam war.
The united states and the vietnam war introduction bibliographies, indexes, and other reference aids background and the decision to intervene the congressional role. The contingency planning for war, however, went back considerably further. Sep 28, 2012 fredrik logevall examines the french colonial experience in indochina and the roots of the vietnam war. Fredrik logevall, author of the 20 lionel gelber prize longlisted book embers of war. The fall of an empire and the making of americas vietnam random house, 2012, which won the 20 pulitzer prize for history and the 20 francis parkman prize, as well as the 20 american library in paris book award and the 20 arthur ross book. Why did the us make a commitment to an independent south vietnam. Pages in category vietnam war books the following 42 pages are in this category, out of 42 total. Fredrik logevalls embers of war stands as the definitive history of the critical formative period from 1940 to 1960. The fall of an empire and the making of americas vietnam ebook written by fredrik logevall. He fought alongside americans in the battle against japan during world war ii, and. While the list of books about this conflict includes hundreds of enlightening works, we pick ten of the best texts offering illuminating perspectives on.
Ward introduction by ken burns and lynn novick illustrated. The war in vietnam was a seminal event in post1945 world affairs. Fredrik logevall provides a concise, comprehensive and accessible introduction to the origins of the vietnam war from the end of the indochina war in 1954 to the eruption of fullscale war in 1965, and places events against their full international background. Sep 14, 2017 the vietnam war an intimate history by geoffrey c. The lost chance for peace and the escalation of war in vietnam.
Jean kemble the eccles centre for american studies. The th valley by john del vecchio there have been a number of excellent books about vietnam. Logevall begins with the efforts of ho chi minh, who spent his life trying to bring independence to his country. The fall of an empire and the making of americas vietnam, speaks with robert steiner, director, fellowships in global journalism at the munk school of global affairs. Among these is linds book, which says the liberal cold warriors like lyndon johnson, mcgeorge bundy, and dean rusk were right about vietnam. A history modern library chronicles series book 33. Logevalls grave conclusion is that the vietnam war has a special resonance today, because a similar permissive context allowed wars in iraq and afghanistan. Belfer professor of international affairs at the john f. Containing a guide to characters, chronology and detailed bibliography, the origins of the vietnam war provides an indispensable introduction to one of the most important events in recent history. The fall of an empire and the making of americas vietnam.
A wave of new books on the vietnam war, based on fresh archival evidence, is beginning to break. Fredrik logevall the meaning of the vietnam war 110917. However, logevall said, this permissive context is not inevitable. Tapping newly accessible diplomatic archives in several nations, fredrik logevall traces the path that led two western nations to tragically lose. Download for offline reading, highlight, bookmark or take notes while you read embers of war. Fredrik logevall examines the french colonial experience in indochina and the roots of the vietnam war. In the rush to get to americas war in vietnam, scholars have given remarkably short shrift to the first one.
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