War Letters: Extraordinary Correspondence from American Wars
8 journalers for this copy...
From the back cover:
" 'Quite simply, this is one of the greatest, most riveting books of war letters I have ever read.' Stephen E. Ambrose
"In 1998, Andrew Carroll founded the Legacy Project, with the goal of remembering Americans who have served their nation and preserving their letters for posterity. Since then. over 50,000 letters have poured in from around the country. Nearly two hundred of them comprise this amazing collection -- including never-before-published letters that appear in the new afterward.
"Here are letters from the Civil War, World War I, World War II, Korea, the Cold War, Vietnam, the Persian Gulf War (I), Somalia, and Bosnia -- dramatic eyewitness accounts from the front lines, poingnant expressions of love for family and country, insightful reflections on the nature of warfare. Amid the voices of the common solidiers, marines, airmen, sailors, nurses, journalists, spies, and chaplains are letters by such legendary figures as Gen. William T. Sherma, Clara Barton, Theadore Roosevelt, Ernie Pyle, Gen. Douglas MacArthur, Julia Child, Gen. Norman Schwarzkopf, and Gen Benjamin O. Davis Sr. Collected in War Letters, they are an atonishing historical record, a powerful tribute to those who fought, and a celebration of the enduring power of letters."
Personally, I find this an amazing look at one of the most important and horrible things people and countries ever do. To see it from the inside, to get as close as possible without actually being in danger myself, gives me a perspective I don't get from CNN, or Band of Brothers, or Saving Private Ryan, or Gettysburg, or even Black Hawk Down.
It made me think twice about why countries send their young men and women into war, and i started reading it again a few weeks ago in the midst of what is going on in Iraq, right as two local boys were brough home in coffins. Political views aside, it lent me a perspective and the beginnings of an empathy (and worry for my friends in the military), and i want to share.
" 'Quite simply, this is one of the greatest, most riveting books of war letters I have ever read.' Stephen E. Ambrose
"In 1998, Andrew Carroll founded the Legacy Project, with the goal of remembering Americans who have served their nation and preserving their letters for posterity. Since then. over 50,000 letters have poured in from around the country. Nearly two hundred of them comprise this amazing collection -- including never-before-published letters that appear in the new afterward.
"Here are letters from the Civil War, World War I, World War II, Korea, the Cold War, Vietnam, the Persian Gulf War (I), Somalia, and Bosnia -- dramatic eyewitness accounts from the front lines, poingnant expressions of love for family and country, insightful reflections on the nature of warfare. Amid the voices of the common solidiers, marines, airmen, sailors, nurses, journalists, spies, and chaplains are letters by such legendary figures as Gen. William T. Sherma, Clara Barton, Theadore Roosevelt, Ernie Pyle, Gen. Douglas MacArthur, Julia Child, Gen. Norman Schwarzkopf, and Gen Benjamin O. Davis Sr. Collected in War Letters, they are an atonishing historical record, a powerful tribute to those who fought, and a celebration of the enduring power of letters."
Personally, I find this an amazing look at one of the most important and horrible things people and countries ever do. To see it from the inside, to get as close as possible without actually being in danger myself, gives me a perspective I don't get from CNN, or Band of Brothers, or Saving Private Ryan, or Gettysburg, or even Black Hawk Down.
It made me think twice about why countries send their young men and women into war, and i started reading it again a few weeks ago in the midst of what is going on in Iraq, right as two local boys were brough home in coffins. Political views aside, it lent me a perspective and the beginnings of an empathy (and worry for my friends in the military), and i want to share.
so i realized i posted in the forum about the bookring for this book, and forgot to write a journal entry.
here's why i loved this book (and read it twice). it shows that whole cliche of ordinary people in extraordinary circumstances. that in the midst of being shot at, or shooting at people, fighting for your life, or wondering why you are where you are, you're wondering about your girlfriend, your mom your family, what your kids are doing. how your favorite team is doing. that these normal people from normal existences just like those we know ourselves can rise to the occasion and handle some of the most gruesome experiences that anyone can imagine. and still retain their humanity, compassion, concern and love.
these letters are amazing. some of them are not easy to read, because of the language (not because they are gory or profane or anything like that) but because people write the way they talk, or had trouble writing. some of them are funny. some are sad and funny at the same time.
And Andrew Carroll does a wonderful job of setting up the circumstances surrounding the letters, giving the reader just another snippet of the history of the writer, organizing them so they flow. They are my favorite kind of history, the personal, unadulterated kind.
and without further ado, the bookring list:
1] StarryStarry
2] thescreaming
3] TexasWren
4] illinicheme
5] AmberLee17
6] djf1968
7] maddymonkey
8] Hawkette
9] Gilli, then back to
10]elizz273
here's why i loved this book (and read it twice). it shows that whole cliche of ordinary people in extraordinary circumstances. that in the midst of being shot at, or shooting at people, fighting for your life, or wondering why you are where you are, you're wondering about your girlfriend, your mom your family, what your kids are doing. how your favorite team is doing. that these normal people from normal existences just like those we know ourselves can rise to the occasion and handle some of the most gruesome experiences that anyone can imagine. and still retain their humanity, compassion, concern and love.
these letters are amazing. some of them are not easy to read, because of the language (not because they are gory or profane or anything like that) but because people write the way they talk, or had trouble writing. some of them are funny. some are sad and funny at the same time.
And Andrew Carroll does a wonderful job of setting up the circumstances surrounding the letters, giving the reader just another snippet of the history of the writer, organizing them so they flow. They are my favorite kind of history, the personal, unadulterated kind.
and without further ado, the bookring list:
1] StarryStarry
2] thescreaming
3] TexasWren
4] illinicheme
5] AmberLee17
6] djf1968
7] maddymonkey
8] Hawkette
9] Gilli, then back to
10]elizz273
Journal Entry 3 by Starry-Starry from Llandrindod Wells, Wales United Kingdom on Saturday, November 22, 2003
Phew! I was starting to get worried about this one, but it arrived safe and sound in the UK this morning. Thanks Elizz273, I'll start reading this weekend.
Journal Entry 4 by Starry-Starry from Llandrindod Wells, Wales United Kingdom on Saturday, January 10, 2004
I'm so sorry this has had such a long stop here. And I'm afraid I still haven't finished it. I think this is the kind of book that I have to be in the right mood to read and the run-up to Christmas and Christmas itself wasn't the right time. I did read some of the letters and they were interesting and poignant, but other things in my life kept drawing me away.
I'll get thescreaming's address as soon as possible and pass this on within the week.
I'll get thescreaming's address as soon as possible and pass this on within the week.
Just picked this up from the post office today. I've had the note to pick it up since Thursday, but I got married Friday, mini honeymooned Friday night/Saturday, and then was snowed it. It couldn't have come at a better time because I just finished another book. Can't wait to start reading it.
I want to apologize for having this book for so long, the past month has been really hectic for me and I didn't have much free time.
This is a wonderful collection of letters. I've read so much about these wars, but reading about the personal experiences of various soldiers gives you a better understanding of what it was like. Thank you so much for sharing this book, elizz273.
I just PMed TexasWren for her address so that I can get this out as soon as possible.
This is a wonderful collection of letters. I've read so much about these wars, but reading about the personal experiences of various soldiers gives you a better understanding of what it was like. Thank you so much for sharing this book, elizz273.
I just PMed TexasWren for her address so that I can get this out as soon as possible.
The book arrived safely, and I think Johnnie and I will have to fight this evening to see who gets to start it first. I have some of my grandfather's letters, written to his mom from France during WWI, so this book has special meaning to me. I am looking forward to it.
Thank you for sharing it.
Thank you for sharing it.
Arrived safely in CA the other day, along with a wonderful bookcrossing notepad. Thanks for the wonderful surprise TexasWren! I should get to this book soon, and I will journal again when I'm finished.
This book is an incredible piece of history. I think many more Americans would "like" history as a subject in school if more of an effort was made to include texts such as this into the curricula. Andrew Carroll provided excellent context and history snippets to set up the letters. I was most amazed by how so many soldiers managed to maintain humor in the face of hell.
Thank you elizz273 for sharing this treasure. I apologize for holding on to it longer than I usually do for bookrings, but life got in the way a bit (as it is wont to do), and I also needed to take some breaks from the intensity of this nonfiction via forays into lighter-hearted fiction. This book will be on its way to AmberLee17 tomorrow. Thanks again!
Thank you elizz273 for sharing this treasure. I apologize for holding on to it longer than I usually do for bookrings, but life got in the way a bit (as it is wont to do), and I also needed to take some breaks from the intensity of this nonfiction via forays into lighter-hearted fiction. This book will be on its way to AmberLee17 tomorrow. Thanks again!
Arrived today. I am ALMOST done with a pair of bookring books that are traveling together, so this is near the top of Mt. TBR... Hope to start it soon.
Ouch. I didn't realize how long I've taken with this book. It's taught me so much ... Now I'm on the prowl for my own copy to share with others.
Thank you. This should be off in the mail later this week.
Thank you. This should be off in the mail later this week.
This arrived safe and sound in today's mail -- thanks to all ahead of me for sharing! I'll dig into it and be back with my thoughts after I finish my current read.
As I prepare to send this on to its next reader, I wanted to take the time to come back and thank each of you before me for sharing this unique slice of history -- and your thoughts on it. Regardless of how one feels about the current conflict we're involved in -- or any of those which preceeded it, this book gives us a powerful reminder -- and a wonderful tribute -- to the men and women (boys and girls) on the frontlines. Thank you for sharing it; I'm off in search of a copy for my personal collection as I sense it is something I will want to come back to.
Journal Entry 14 by Hawkette from Sydney CBD, New South Wales Australia on Thursday, October 28, 2004
Has arrived with me, here in Australia. The journal entries are glowing for this, has touched people on it's travels - seems books that are well traveled lately are collecting a great string of journals with them - the beauty of BookCrossing!
Wow! This is an amazing read. To hear the voices, and thoughts and stories from those at war, as they were there...so amazing.
I have actually learnt so much about the background to the wars that went on! I knew so little about what the US Civil War was actually about, and still struggle to understand had WWI got started - war is not something I understand, nor hope I ever do.
So many of these letters were so lovely and heartfelt, and made you glow thinking of the intended person reading it - and then you read what happened to that solider. So many heart breaks, so many young lives lost, wasted....
I particularly was interested in the telling of the happenings in Japan, after a recent trip to Hiroshima myself (http://jouljet.blogspot.com/2005/02/shinkansen-shinkansen-and-hiroshima.html), and also WWI given that I am planning of attending the ANZAC Service at Gallipoli this year, to honour the Australian and New Zealand fallen.
I will be sending this on tomorrow, at last.
I have actually learnt so much about the background to the wars that went on! I knew so little about what the US Civil War was actually about, and still struggle to understand had WWI got started - war is not something I understand, nor hope I ever do.
So many of these letters were so lovely and heartfelt, and made you glow thinking of the intended person reading it - and then you read what happened to that solider. So many heart breaks, so many young lives lost, wasted....
I particularly was interested in the telling of the happenings in Japan, after a recent trip to Hiroshima myself (http://jouljet.blogspot.com/2005/02/shinkansen-shinkansen-and-hiroshima.html), and also WWI given that I am planning of attending the ANZAC Service at Gallipoli this year, to honour the Australian and New Zealand fallen.
I will be sending this on tomorrow, at last.
