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The Korean War

By: Max Hastings
Narrated by: Cameron Stewart
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Publisher's Summary

On 25 June, 1950, the invasion of South Korea by the Communist North launched one of the bloodiest conflicts of the last century. The seemingly limitless power of the Chinese-backed North was thrown against the ferocious firepower of the UN-backed South in a war that can be seen today as the stark prelude to Vietnam.

Max Hastings drew on first-hand accounts of those who fought on both sides to produce this vivid and incisive reassessment of the Korean War, bringing the military and human dimensions into sharp focus. Critically acclaimed on publication, The Korean War remains the best narrative history of this conflict.

©1987 Max Hastings (P)2014 Audible Studios
  • Unabridged Audiobook
  • Categories: History

What listeners say about The Korean War

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Impressive detail and sensitivity

Hastings is a great wartime storyteller. He shows admirable balance and qualifies his opinions with cautions, and as far as I can tell, full disclosure of his preconceptions and assumptions.

The narrator is very good, with the sad exception of his Australians who all sound like intoxicated cockneys - including the diplomats.

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4 people found this helpful

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Korea

A military historian at the top of his game supplimented by the right narrator for the task .Bravo

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1 person found this helpful

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The pinnacle of Korean war storytelling

Max finds a way of making a historical tragedy, just the most interesting thing you can imagine. The definitive retelling of the korean war, would recomment to anyone who's searching for more on this part of the cold war.

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    3 out of 5 stars

A nationalist fight viewed as a ideological war

Great expose of a not well remembered conflict of the twentieth century. Max Hastings has captured the fox hole to the presidency and back again aspects of the combat and challenges of the Korean War. His discussion on MacArthurs brilliance and foibles is one of the more interesting components of the book, especially in light of Samuel Huntington’s view on the role of the soldier in politics written around the time of the war.
However the most poignant theme throughout the book is the view that Korea was a war against communism rather a war for national unity between two authoritarian states. One strong with reluctant backers the other extremely weak with the full backing of the world’s capitalist power, America. This thread throughout the book speaks to the most telling narrative of the war from the fox hole to the White House unmistakable tone of good versus subtle political evil is ever present.
It is through this thematic lens that readers/listeners should consider the war’s enduring lessons as the twenty first century shapes up for a similar ideological show down. A showdown that may mask the underlying reasons for tension and possibly conflict.

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Tells a Story Largely Ignored

Although this book is not new, itstill tells a very relevant story about world politics and the situation the United States found itself in during the vacuum that followed WW2. It explains a complicated and uncertain terms without indictement or bias. I found it excellent.

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Amazing

One of the best and most comprehensive historical warfare accounts ever written. Fantastically written and a beautiful listen.

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A War that we shall Not Forget

Mr Hastings brought us to the almost forgotten world of Korean conflict, one of the few times that the West took Communism head on.

Having migrated from China to Australia, my grandfather, a PLA officer had told me stories of his fighting in Korea. This book told true stories from the other side of the trench.

As the South Korean economy continues to thrive, and North Korean people mire in hunger and misery, one cannot help but feel a deep sense of respect for those who fought valiantly against Communism in this war, not only for democracy in Korea, but in Asia and around the world.

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  • BW
  • 12-11-2023

Excellent narration

A highly engaged 2/3rds that seems to run out of steam towards the end of the book.

Hastings has a way of blending the stories into a cohesive narrative that is easier to grasp, so I gained a lot of insight into the “forgotten” conflict of Korea.

Beautifully narrated.

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  • Ben
  • 23-07-2023

Brilliant

I absolutely loved this book. If you don't much about the Korean war, you will be an expert by the end of it. Brilliantly read and expertly researched, it is a very detailed account of a War which isn't often spoken about. In my opinion, this is a better book then Max Hastings other book "Overlord", although that is very good too.

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    3 out of 5 stars
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Good but could have been better

I thought there was too much overview and not enough detail. Dan Carlin would have done it better.

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