“After the whole history of Vietnam is written, it’ll just be our photos.” —Eddie Adams to Nick Ut (author of the 1973 Pulitzer Prize–winning photo of the napalmed girl running)
The first book by one of the world’s legendary photojournalists, Eddie Adams: Vietnam is a long-awaited landmark. Adams’ 1968 Pulitzer Prize–winning photograph cemented his reputation in the public eye and stands forever as an icon for the brutality of our last century: the image of Nguyen Ngoc Loan, police chief of Saigon, firing a bullet at the head of a Vietcong prisoner. Adams’ image fueled antiwar sentiment that ultimately changed the course of history.
Adams’ life in the headlines took him to the remotest corners of this troubled, beautiful planet compiling a historic record of the days of our lives. His forty-five-year career covered thirteen wars and amassed some five hundred photojournalism awards. He was a man to whom Clint Eastwood said, “Good shot;” Fidel Castro said, “Let’s go duck hunting;” and the Pope said, “You’ve got three minutes.” This is the man behind the Pulitzer Prize–winning picture that changed the world in 1968.
Through astonishing never-before-seen pictures, articles written by Adams, pages from journals, and other artifacts, one great journalist’s experience of the war is told in gripping detail.
Edited by Alyssa Adams, with an essay by AP Bureau Chief Hal Buell, and contributions by Peter Arnett, Tom Brokaw, David Halberstam, George Esper, David Kennerly, Dirck Halstead, Tom Curley, Kerry Kennedy, and more, this is a classic of modern history and photography.
Adams joined A.P. in 1962. He then worked for Time from 1972-1976, and returned to The A.P. as a special correspondent, covering the Vietnamese boat people. Those pictures, influenced the government decide to admit 200,000 South Vietnamese refugees to the United States.His 45-year career covered thirteen wars and amassed some 500 photojournalism awards.
