First published 1973
FitzGerald dissects the American war in Vietnam through cultural and political analysis. She examines how American officials misunderstood Vietnamese society and history. The book explores the clash between American assumptions and Vietnamese reality. FitzGerald traces how cultural blindness shaped military strategy and diplomatic failures. She analyzes the impact on both American soldiers and Vietnamese civilians. The author draws on extensive research and firsthand accounts from the conflict. Her investigation reveals how two vastly different civilizations collided during the war years. The book offers readers a comprehensive look at the forces that drove one of America's most controversial conflicts.
Genres: history, 20th-century, political-science, non-fiction, academic, american-history
Vibes: intimate, suspenseful, thought-provoking
Tropes: fish-out-of-water
Setting: Vietnam, United States
Period: 20th Century
663 pages · Mass Market Paperback · Vintage