Vietnam A History [Paperback]

A landmark work...The most complete account to date of the Vietnam tragedy. -The Washington Post Book World

This monumental narrative clarifies, analyzes, and demystifies the tragic ordeal of the Vietnam war. Free of ideological bias, profound in its undertsanding, and compassionate in its human portrayls , 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 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 Historyputs events and decisions into such sharp focus that we come to understand - and make peace with - a convulsive epoch of our recent history.

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 TimesPreface
1. The War Nobody Won
2. Piety and Power
3. The Heritage of Vietnamese Nationalism
4. The War with the French
5. The Light that Failed
6. America's Mandarin
7. Vietnam Is the Place
8. The End of Diem
9. The Commitments Deepen
10. Disorder and Decision
11. LBJ Goes to War
12. Escalation
13. Debate, Diplomacy, Doubt
14. Tet
15. Nixon's War
16. The Peace that Never Was

Chronology
Cast of Principal Characters
Notes on Sources
Acknowledgments
Photo Credits
Index

Photographs appear at the opening of each chapter.Maps appear on pages 114, 123, 219, 349, 537, 677.

The most comprehensive, up-to-date, and balanced account we have. -Boston Globe

This is history writing at its best.  -Chicago Sun-Times

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