This powerful narrative is an endearing piece of warrior's nostalgia; written with the accustomed skill by a seasoned writer.---Publishers Weekly"Graceful; even elegant; and always eloquent tribute to men at arms in a war that; in a way; never ended."---Kirkus Reviews"James Brady has done it again. A riveting and illuminating insight into a dark corner of the world."---Tim Russert; NBC's Meet the PressHalf a century after he fought there as a young lieutenant of Marines; James Brady returns to the brooding Korean ridgelines and mountains to sound taps for a generation. It's been fifteen years since Brady first wrote of Korea in The Coldest War; drawing raves from Walter Cronkite and The New York Times; which called it "a superb personal memoir of the way it was." In the spring of 2003; Brady and Pulitzer Prize–winning combat photographer Eddie Adams flew in Black Hawk choppers and trekked the Demilitarized Zone where it meanders into North Korea; interviewing four-star generals and bunking in with tough U.S. recon troops; in Brady's words; "raw meat on the point of a sharpened stick." Brady recalls that first time on bloody Hill 749; the men who died there; what happened to the Marines who lived to make it home; and experiences yet again the emotional pull of a lifelong love affair with the Corps in which they all served.Brady summons up the past and illuminates the present; be it the Korea of "the forgotten war;" the Yanks who fought there long ago; or today's soldiers standing wary sentinel over "the scariest place in the world." The result is uplifting; inspiring; often heartbreaking; and this new Brady memoir proves as powerful as his first.
#833780 in Books 1999-10-15 1999-10-15Original language:EnglishPDF # 1 233.93 x 23.37 x 6.12l; .85 #File Name: 0312227302336 pages
Review
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful. An amazing portrait of Joan of Arc-girl;military genius; soldier; saintBy Shannon BroermanThis is about the 7th or 8th book I've read about St. Joan; my patron saint; and I must say it did not disappoint. Regine Pernoud is a renowned French historian who has done other books about St. Joan; each a little different than the other. She does not exhaust the reader with a detailed account of her entire life; but condenses major events so that it doesn't bore you with endless details. There's plenty of other books about St. Joan if that's what you're looking for. Every book I've read has painted a clearer and clearer picture of this fascinating young lady; and the more details I discover; the more real she becomes to me. This is one of few books that I believe gives a whole picture of St. Joan; and doesn't just focus on one aspect of her life or another. You read about Joan the girl; Joan the military genius; Joan the soldier; Joan the saint. All of this gives the reader a very human; realistic image. One of my favorite things in this book was reading the "extras" that take up roughly half of the book. The author doesn't give the details of certain people and events in St. Joan's life when telling her story in the first half; but provides details-sometimes abundant depending on the person/subject-in the second half. A rather interesting article is written in this part of the book on the particular form of French she spoke and even how she pronounced certain words. Amazing! I loved reading the little things about her: about how she clapped Gobert Thibault; a royal esquire; on the shoulder; how she had a very sharp and witty sense of humor; how she "hung out" with her fellow soldiers before and after battle; and even shielded them with her own body when riding in to an assault; and one of my personal favorites-how she talked with a certain accent particular to the Lorraine region of France where she was from. I found this last fact particularly fascinating as I'd never read anything about it before.Just an amazing book. I highly recommend.1 of 1 people found the following review helpful. If You Are Looking for One Book to Learn About Joan of Arc; This is the One for You!By William D ThompsonI bought this book based on the many positive reviews and completely agree. It is an excellent read: well documented; well written; and an excellent translation from the original French. In addition to a completed telling of the life story of Joan; including the context of her achievements in European history; this book includes sections with complete translations of her existing letters; separate discussions of the key players in the story; discussions of her impact in film and the theaters; passion plays; etc.; etc. Basically; it is an excellent starting place to learn about Joan of Arc and her impact on history. Highly recommended!0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. Accessible; Comprehensive; Well WrittenBy KatinkaVery nice historical text on Joan of Arc and the cultural context in which she emerged as a popular religious and patriotic figure in Medieval France. Covers what is known of her childhood and her family; mysteries and theories; military and diplomatic achievements; imprisonment and torture; trials; adversaries and allies; her tragic and untimely death; and her impact on French and international pop culture. Many passages include Joan's own words from her letters and trial transcripts; and her letters are reprinted in their original French in the back of the book; which I loved. Illustrative maps help the reader retrace Joan's steps and gain a new perspective of the geological implications of Joan's journey and her impact on France. The typeset in the back of the book is extremely small; which caused this volume to lose one start because it took forever to trundle through the tiny type and make my eyes hurt. Overall; a great book on Joan of Arc and I recommend it to anyone who is interested in her history.
