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Synopsis
Outspoken, professional and fearless, Lt Colonel John Paul Vann went to Vietnam in 1962, full of confidence in America's might and right to prevail. He was soon appalled by the South Vietnamese troops' unwillingness to fight, by their random slaughter of civilians, and by the arrogance and corruption of the US military. He flouted his supervisors, and leaked his sharply pessimistic assessment to the US press corps in Saigon. Among them was Neil Sheehan, who became fascinated by the angry Vann, befriended him, and followed his tragic and reckless career. Blunt, idealistic, patronizing to the Vietnamese, Vann was haunted by a shameful secret - the fact that he was the illegitimate son of a "white trash" prostitute. Gambling away his career, Vann left the army that he loved and returned to Vietnam as a civilian in the pacification programme. He rose to become the first American civilian to wield a general's command in war. When he was killed in 1972, he was mourned at Arlington cemetery by leading political figures of the day.
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Review
This passionate, epic account of the Vietnam War centers on Lt. Col. John Paul Vann, whose story illuminates America's failures and disillusionment in Southeast Asia. Vann was a field adviser to the army when American involvement was just beginning. He quickly became appalled at the corruption of the South Vietnamese regime, their incompetence in fighting the Communists, and their brutal alienation of their own people. Finding his superiors too blinded by political lies to understand that the war was being thrown away, he secretly briefed reporters on what was really happening. One of those reporters was Neil Sheehan. This definitive expose on why America lost the war won the Pulitzer Prize for nonfiction in 1989.
From the Publisher
"If there is one book that captures the Vietnam war in the sheer Homeric scale of its passion and folly, this is it."--The New York Times Book Review
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- PublisherPimlico
- Publication date1998
- ISBN 10 0712666567
- ISBN 13 9780712666565
- BindingPaperback
- LanguageEnglish
- Number of pages880
- Rating
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A Bright Shining Lie: John Paul Vann and America in Vietnam
Seller: WorldofBooks, Goring-By-Sea, WS, United Kingdom
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Paperback. Condition: Fair. A readable copy of the book which may include some defects such as highlighting and notes. Cover and pages may be creased and show discolouration. Seller Inventory # GOR003692647
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A Bright Shining Lie: John Paul Vann and America in Vietnam
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Paperback. Condition: Very Good. The book has been read, but is in excellent condition. Pages are intact and not marred by notes or highlighting. The spine remains undamaged. Seller Inventory # GOR001290669
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A Bright Shining Lie : John Paul Vann and America in Vietnam
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A Bright Shining Lie: John Paul Vann and America in Vietnam
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Paperback. Condition: Good. No Jacket. Pages can have notes/highlighting. Spine may show signs of wear. ~ ThriftBooks: Read More, Spend Less 2.25. Seller Inventory # G0712666567I3N00
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A Bright Shining Lie: John Paul Vann and America in Vietnam
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Paperback. Condition: Very Good. No Jacket. May have limited writing in cover pages. Pages are unmarked. ~ ThriftBooks: Read More, Spend Less 2.25. Seller Inventory # G0712666567I4N00
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A Bright Shining Lie: John Paul Vann and America in Vietnam
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Condition: Good. Most items will be dispatched the same or the next working day. A copy that has been read but remains in clean condition. All of the pages are intact and the cover is intact and the spine may show signs of wear. The book may have minor markings which are not specifically mentioned. Seller Inventory # wbs7419316894
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A Bright Shining Lie John Paul Vann and America in Vietnam
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Soft cover. Condition: Very Good. very good softcover, only minor wear. Seller Inventory # 226593
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A Bright Shining Lie (Paperback)
Seller: Grand Eagle Retail, Fairfield, OH, U.S.A.
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Paperback. Condition: new. Paperback. 'Superb. If you ever read just one history of the Vietnam war, read and admire and celebrate this one ' John le Carre'Superb. If you ever read just one history of the Vietnam war, read and admire and celebrate this one ' John le CarreWINNER OF THE NATIONAL BOOK AWARD AND THE PULITZER PRIZE FOR NON-FICTIONOutspoken, professional and fearless, Lt. Col. John Paul Vann went to Vietnam in 1962, full of confidence in America's might and right to prevail. He was soon appalled by the South Vietnamese troops' unwillingness to fight, by their random slaughter of civilians and by the arrogance and corruption of the US military. He flouted his supervisors and leaked his sharply pessimistic - and, as it turned out, accurate - assessments to the US press corps in Saigon. Among them was Sheehan, who became fascinated by the angry Vann, befriended him and followed his tragic and reckless career.Sixteen years in the making, A Bright Shining Lie is an eloquent and disturbing portrait of a man who in many ways personified the US war effort in Vietnam, of a solider cast in the heroic mould, an American Lawrence of Arabia. Blunt, idealistic, patronising to the Vietnamese, Vann was haunted by a shameful secret - the fact that he was the illegitimate son of a 'white trash' prostitute. Gambling away his career, Vann left the army that he loved and returned to Vietnam as a civilian in the pacification programme. He rose to become the first American civilian to wield a general's command in war. When he was killed in 1972, he was mourned at Arlington cemetery by leading political figures of the day. Sheehan recounts his astonishing story in this intimate and intense meditation on a conflict that scarred the conscience of a nation. Lt Colonel John Paul Vann went to Vietnam in 1962, but soon became appalled by the slaughter, leaking his pessimistic assessments to the US press corps in Saigon. Neil Sheehan was among them, and became fascinated by the angry Vann, befriended him, and followed his tragic and reckless career. Shipping may be from multiple locations in the US or from the UK, depending on stock availability. Seller Inventory # 9780712666565
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A Bright Shining Lie
Seller: Majestic Books, Hounslow, United Kingdom
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Condition: New. pp. 880. Seller Inventory # 3660572
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A Bright Shining Lie: John Paul Vann and America in Vietnam
Seller: Wisbech Community Hub, Wisbech, United Kingdom
Seller rating 4 out of 5 stars
Soft cover. Condition: Very Good. No Jacket. 1st Edition. This copy of 'A Bright Shining Star' is a definitive account of the Vietnam War and Lt. Col. Paul Vann. Illustrated with b/w photos. Complete, firm and tight. Contents pages and page edges lightly toned; cover corners tiny bit bumped. 861 pages. Dimensions: 23 1/2 x 15 cm. Seller Inventory # 2794D
Quantity: 1 available