Vietnam a History [the first complete account of Vietnam at war]

Viking, New York, 1983. First Edition. Hardcover. Very Good Condition/Very Good. Illustrator: maps & photographs. text illustrated with numerous black-and-white photographs, chapter notes, index. "The wars that ravaged Vietnam were a human tragedy of appalling proportions. As a reporter, I witnessed the suffering of the soldiers and civilians, whatever their allegiance, and I have sought to convey their ordeal in these pages. I have also endeavoured to narrate events as they unfolded in an attempt to give them a fresh, kinetic quality. At the same time I have attempted to paint a broader canvas that recalls and explains the motives and debates that went into the formulation of Vietnam policies by both sides. It was difficult during the war to scale the wall of secrecy behind which decisions were made. But within recent years, piles of confidential documents have been released, divulging hitherto unknown details. Many American and South Vietnamese officials who participated in the war have been increasingly more open in interviews, perhaps present no longer feel compelled to defend their positions. The Communist leaders and others, whom I saw on trips back to Vietnam since the conflict ended, were surprisingly candid, and they, too, have furnished me with valuable information and insights -- as have Soviet and Chinese sources. Nevertheless, memories are selective and I have treated all recollections with caution." -- from the preface page XII second-hand copy, no damage to the book, the dust jacket has a 1 inch tear at the top right of the rear panel, and the spine section is slightly faded. No annotations, no underlining. Size: 8vo - over 7¾" - 9¾" tall. XIV, 750, [2] pages. Please refer to accompanying picture (s). Illustrator: maps & photographs. Quantity Available: 1. Shipped Weight: 1-2 kilos. Category: Military & Warfare; Vietnam; ISBN: 071265965X. ISBN/EAN: 9780712659659. Inventory No: 0279908. . 9780712659659