First published 2014
LIFE magazine documented the Vietnam conflict through revolutionary color photography when most war coverage remained black and white. Larry Burrows pioneered battlefield color photography in Southeast Asia before his death during the war. This commemorative collection presents LIFE's complete visual record of the era, from combat zones to campus demonstrations to political conventions. The volume features new veteran interviews and explores iconic images that shaped public perception, including Eddie Adams's execution photograph and Nick Ut's "Napalm Girl" image. A special essay traces the Vietnam Memorial's creation in Washington, while contemporary photography shows unified Vietnam today. The book examines how LIFE's editorial stance evolved throughout the conflict and pays tribute to photographers like Burrows and Robert Capa who lost their lives covering the war. Russell Burrows and Bobbi Baker Burrows contribute personal remembrances of Larry Burrows's legacy. Joe McNally's exclusive interview with the grown woman from the famous napalm photograph adds contemporary perspective to historical imagery.
Genres: history, 20th-century, war, non-fiction, photography, american-history
Vibes: emotional, intimate, thought-provoking
Tropes: historical-non-fiction
Setting: Southeast Asia, Vietnam, Washington
Period: Vietnam Conflict, Vietnam War
176 pages · Hardcover · TI Inc. Books
Content warnings: war