In a grand gesture of reclamation and remembrance; Mr. Halberstam has brought the war back home.---The New York Times David Halberstam's magisterial and thrilling The Best and the Brightest was the defining book about the Vietnam conflict. More than three decades later; Halberstam used his unrivaled research and formidable journalistic skills to shed light on another pivotal moment in our history: the Korean War. Halberstam considered The Coldest Winter his most accomplished work; the culmination of forty-five years of writing about America's postwar foreign policy. Halberstam gives us a masterful narrative of the political decisions and miscalculations on both sides. He charts the disastrous path that led to the massive entry of Chinese forces near the Yalu River and that caught Douglas MacArthur and his soldiers by surprise. He provides astonishingly vivid and nuanced portraits of all the major figures--Eisenhower; Truman; Acheson; Kim; and Mao; and Generals MacArthur; Almond; and Ridgway. At the same time; Halberstam provides us with his trademark highly evocative narrative journalism; chronicling the crucial battles with reportage of the highest order. As ever; Halberstam was concerned with the extraordinary courage and resolve of people asked to bear an extraordinary burden. The Coldest Winter is contemporary history in its most literary and luminescent form; providing crucial perspective on every war America has been involved in since. It is a book that Halberstam first decided to write more than thirty years ago and that took him nearly ten years to complete. It stands as a lasting testament to one of the greatest journalists and historians of our time; and to the fighting men whose heroism it chronicles.
#3107235 in Books Carroll n Graf Publishers 1996-10-17Original language:EnglishPDF # 1 1.31 x 5.52 x 8.23l; #File Name: 0786703822442 pages
Review
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful. The Definitive EditionBy M GuirySome of the negative reviews seem to be about another edition of Scott's Last Expedition (SLE). If you want to read this book; I would highly recommend this edition. Yes; when SLE was first published; there was a committee of people who had a hand in the editing (including Scott's conniving widow). Many of these people had agendas of their own. However; this edition has an entire appendix that restores all significant changes made to Scott's diaries. So to call this the "politically correct" version is completely wrong.I was actually surprised by how few changes were made to Scott's original diary. It was common practice when publishing these expedition journals to edit out any parts that speak critically of others; especially anyone else on the expedition (Cherry-Garrard did the exact same thing when he had his publisher type up his expedition diary for him-he excised the parts where he wrote critically of others.). So it's no surprise that SLE's editors chose to do just that. But really; all things considered; there was not much edited out in the original publication. The appendix with the changes shown and restored is surprisingly short; and really doesn't throw Scott in much of a different light at all. However short; it is good to be able to read the changes and decide for oneself.In addition to the appendix on the changes; there are other wonderful additions in this edition. There's a lengthy appendix full of interesting notes; on everything from when Amundsen's Framhein finally broke into the ocean (1980's) to what was known and not known about scurvy at the time of the expedition. There's another appendix of biographical sketches of all the men; including what happened to them in later years.I almost read another edition of this book for free on my kindle; but I'm glad I bought this instead. It is well worth it.10 of 11 people found the following review helpful. Extraordinary experience with an explorer of the AntarcticBy Dolores W. GeislerWe had taken a trip to Antarctica on which lecturers referred often to Robert Scott. When we returned and I got this book; it became a reading experience like no other. Since everyone knows he and his men die at the end; that was not a surprise. The surprise was learning through the pages what would be the deciding factors that would ultimately cause their return to fail. Since I read thirty minutes a day; the unfolding drama read like a postcard from Scott to a sister or aunt telling events as they happened. Because it is a diary and includes the thoughts of a person; I came to know him like a friend. The book taught me how difficult it is to endure the challenges of Antarctica on a long term basis. It was an extraordinary experience with a book which I will always remember. May many others read this book and marvel at the character; motivation; determination and greatness of an amazing man.0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. Five StarsBy Lorine Blouinvery intense; and well written with many references to actual logs.
