Graham Parcell

This is an astonishing book in all respects. It blends political, military, social and personal aspects superbly. The amount of research is staggering and yet it doesn't feel like a text book. Having just visited Vietnam, I am so pleased to have read its measured tones which were crucial in my appreciation of all sides of the story - something that is not always evident up close. The reports of the cruelties of war never make easy reading and one can only hope that we continue to learn. Thank you, Max Hastings, for shedding this light on the inadequacies of political leaders, the tenacity of soldiers on both sides, the horrors that man should never inflict on fellow man, and above all the stoicism and belief of Vietnamese from all sides. Let us hope that we all learn, and in particular that the Vietnamese can now live in peace in their serene country.