Well worth it

I have read a great deal of military history over the years, but despite the fact that my father fought for a year in Korea, I knew little of the overall situation.
The author does a very nice job - well paced - of moving thru the three years of the war (aka conflict). Near the end there are good detailed parts dealing with prisoners for example.
A very effective summary of a miserable conflict from all parties perspectives.

19 people found this helpful

Inspiring and Hard Hitting

I begin listening to this book while on the plane from California to Seoul on my first trip to the Land of the Morning Calm. The book gave me such a detailed overview of the entire war that I was able to discuss the events with locals and feel like an informed person.

Without question, The Korean War defines South Korea to this day and Max Hastings work will give you a clear and objective picture – from the view point of both America and China. (In the forward Hastings points out that while objective data and interviews with Americans and Chinese are possible, such an exercise with the North Koreas would be a waste of time.) The scenes he depicts are vivid and graphic without being sensational. The opening firefight between Task Force Smith and the North Korean regulars was particularly gut wrenching. There are some phrases he uses to describe later events that haunt me a bit, yet I believe Hastings did this for clarity. One of the darkest chapters – the story of the POWs during the war - also contains some moments of extreme levity when Hastings describes the pranks GI’s pulled on their captors. Some of them had me laughing out loud.

I highly recommend this book to anyone who wants to know more about South Korea, and a large, yet nearly forgotten war and the heroes who sacrificed their lives in a noble struggle.

18 people found this helpful

British view of the war

I selected this book because I wanted to know more about the Korean War. I found the book to be well written and informative but I think the synopsis should warn us that this is, essentially, the British view of the war.

As an ex-pat Briton myself, I was looking forward to the story of the American involvement and was disappointed with how often British opinon and tales had been substituted instead.

--Morton

16 people found this helpful

Fantastic - Good Balance!

I really loved this book! The author did a great job of being balanced in his presentation, not from the political side, but in giving just the right amount of detail, but not too much to overwhelm you.

Before reading this, I only knew that the two Koreas had a "civil" war in the 50's. I had no idea of what precipated this or how the war progressed.

This book really filled in the blanks for me and was a real pleasure to read.

Well done!

8 people found this helpful

Satisfactory read, abominible READER

Fred has the narrowest voice characterization of any author I have ever heard. ALL of his American voices sound like a farcical British sketch show parody of a stereotypical "Yankee" politician and presidents and journalists and generals are all furnished with precisely the same obnoxious accent. His Korean-accented English speakers are no better.

It is interesting to learn about the quite substantial British and Commonwealth contribution to this war. It would be nice if the book was LONGER and went into more detail.

4 people found this helpful

Forgotten WAR, One Seed of Vietnam

Massive detail that explains the haunting nature Of the Korean War Monument in Washington, DC. The reason I picked up this book was to familiarize myself with a gap in my recent political history. By saying political history, I mean a transition point that moved The Government of the United States from International Participant in world affairs to its current role (rightly or wrongly perceived) as international peacekeeper in world politics.

There are many details about General Douglas MacArthur that biographers of the man have paid greater attention to but are here used to indicate the transition between WWII thinking and the concept of "Limited War" (an idea he never appreciated).

Even though this book is written from a British perspective, it amply points out the Eastern versus Western social sensitivities. War is war, but the reasons for war and the method by which war is undertaken, sustained and justified very with the culture. If the fear of China was to be surrounded by US political outposts (Japan, Taiwan, a unified Korea and Vietnam), the political fear of Western nations was that Korea represented a "Creeping Red Menace". Much has changed, but history is history and the precursor events of the modern world continue to resonate in the attitudes reflected in current events. From the attitude that Korea would be a "pushover war", to the current condition of stalemate and desire for reconciliation, Korea (North and South) continues to be an active shaper of history whose history needs to be appreciated to validate its relevance.

5 people found this helpful

the narration hasn't aged well...

while I appreciate that the narrator tried to do different voices for the different people being quoted, doing "Asian" accents for the Koreans and Chinese wasn't necessary and really was a huge distraction/annoyance. If this is going to offend you, skip this audiobook.

1 person found this helpful

An almost even handed account.

It is very difficult to provide even handed and culturally sensitive account to Korean war, I think Hasting did an admirable job, the narrative has clarity, but I think if the book was shorter, the book would have been more compelling. The narrator is very good, he definitely enhanced the experience with mimmicking accents. Recommended for undergraduates level.

1 person found this helpful

Excellent overview of the Korean War

The author provides a thorough account of the Korean War both on the battlefield and the political fronts. It's a great overview of the miscues and successes of the war and has great insight into the leadership and personalities that provoked and served this conflict. The author provides plenty of personal recollections of men who served on both sides of the conflict.
The narration is the weakest element, read with an over-the-top English high brow diffidence. The numerous audio edits don't match the audio quality of the material around it which can be distracting. However, don't allow the audio to take away from the rich history of the conflict to shine through.

1 person found this helpful

From A British Perspective

As it was largely an American war, paid for and fought largely by the U.S. it should have been told from an American. That being said Max Hastings did a pretty good job of capturing the bios of the major commanders and leaders; while getting across the observations and stories of the common soldiery. Max Hastings has become the military historian of the mid to late twentieth century now that John Keegan has passed.