An Intimate History of Killing
Face to Face Killing in Twentieth Century Warfare
by Joanna Bourke
Should I read this?
appears in Vietnam War.
The characteristic act of men at war is not dying, but killing. Politicians and military historians may gloss over human slaughter, emphasizing the defense of national honor, but for men in active service, warfare means being or becoming efficient killers. In An Intimate History of Killing, historian Joanna Bourke asks: What are the social and ...
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Why recommended
appears in Vietnam War.
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Appears In
Not sure if this is the right fit?
Consider The Sympathizer by Viet Thanh Nguyen. Recommended by 4 sources.
“First-person voice is razor-sharp, talkative, and darkly funny; the narrator juggles confession, political critique, and spy-thriller beats, so reading feels intimate and restless. Most useful is the way scenes of exile and war reframe allegiance and identity through mordant irony and vivid set pieces. Limitation: the prose sometimes piles historical exposition and ideological debate onto long, winding paragraphs, which can slow momentum for readers who prefer lean plotting. Also, the narrator's moral ambivalence and repeated rhetorical asides can feel wearing.”
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An Intimate History of Killing
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