PORTRAIT OF A TRAGEDY: America and the Vietnam War

by James A. Warren ‧ RELEASE DATE: March 21, 1990

Stressing the complexity of America's longest war, a competent history of its 25 years. From early US involvement in ""French Indochina"" (Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia) to Nixon's attempts to secure ""peace with honor,"" Warren tries (with some measure of success) to untangle the many complicated strands of the war. Readers will get the sense that its events and influences are still being debated, and that there may never be a single view of its beginnings, justifications, or end; but, unfortunately, this is not a book to inspire minds or hearts to learn more. Moreover, Warren's enthusiasms at times interfere with his objectivity--e.g., when he calls one presidential adviser ""brilliant"" and another ""insightful."" His praise for Col. Harry G. Summers, Jr.--who heartily endorses the book in a foreword--is profuse. A handsome jacket gives way to a dull interior, and--although this was the most-documented war--the many b&w photos used are humdrum more often than not. A useful tool, nonetheless, for reports. Glossary; selected chronology; notes; further reading; maps; index.

Pub Date: March 21, 1990

ISBN: N/A

Page Count: 208

Publisher: Lothrop, Lee & Shepard

Review Posted Online: N/A

Kirkus Reviews Issue: Feb. 15, 1990

Categories: CHILDREN'S