VIET NAM: Land of Many Dragons

by Hal Buell ‧ RELEASE DATE: Nov. 18, 1968

Two-thirds photos of rice paddies, lined faces, fishing villages, of French and American and Vietnamese troops; one-third simplified summary of Vietnamese history and the course of the war. The photos are redundant and largely dependent on the captions; the soldiers especially could be any soldiers almost anywhere patrolling or ""entertaining the village youngsters."" (Needless to say there's no napalm, no defoliation, no destruction except that inflicted by the Viet Cong.) Similarly, the text fails to explain the Viet Mih or Viet Cong position in theory or practice; it also ignores the failure of the present government to make substantive reforms as a cause of continuing dissatisfaction. Granted that no treatment will please everyone, this is still a gauzy substitute for reality and insubstantial as a reference source.

Pub Date: Nov. 18, 1968

ISBN: N/A

Page Count: -

Publisher: Dodd, Mead

Review Posted Online: N/A

Kirkus Reviews Issue: Nov. 1, 1968

Categories: NONFICTION