| A Bright Shining Lie - John Paul Vann and America in Vietnam
(1988)
|
| Front Cover |
Book Details |
|
| Genre |
Non-Fiction |
| Subject |
Soldiers - United States - Biography; United States. Army - Officers - Biography; Vann, John Paul; Vietnam War, 1961-1975 - United States |
| Publication Date |
9/12/1988 |
| Format |
Hardcover (9.4
x
6.6
mm)
|
| Publisher |
Random House Inc (T) |
| Language |
English |
| Extras |
Dust Jacket; Dust Jacket Cover |
|
| Description |
| Sheehan's tragic biography of John Paul Vann is also a sweeping history of America's seduction, entrapment and disillusionment in Vietnam. |
| Personal Details |
| Store |
Black & Read |
| Purchase Price |
$5.00 |
| Acquire Date |
10/3/2011 |
| Condition |
Very Good/Very Good |
| Rating |
0 |
| Links |
Library of Congress
|
|
| Product Details |
| LoC Classification |
DS558 .S47 1988 |
| Dewey |
959.7043373 |
| ISBN |
9780394484471 |
| Cover Price |
$24.95 |
| No. of Pages |
861 |
| First Edition |
No |
| Rare |
No |
|
| Notes/Review |
The book starts with the end - Vann's funeral. After that, it is broken down into seven "books". Each could, more or less, stand on its own as a separate book. The first is about Vann's first tour in Vietnam. The second is the history of Vietnam for the two decades starting at the end of WWII. Book three is about a single battle - Ap Bac. Book four is Vann's struggle to have the war fought his way. Book five is Vann's story, and books six and seven are his return to Vietnam.
The writing is vivid and the pacing is good. It's a long book, nearly 800pp of fairly fine print and I was concerned that it might take over a month for me to finish. But it's quite readable. One of the best books I've yet read of this war. |
|