A Country Such As This

by James Webb

The innocence the 1950s and turbulence of the 1960s and 70s--years when America reached out and touched the heavens, only to be torn apart by internal conflict and a war in Southeast Asia--provide a dramatic setting for this unforgettable story of three men and the women they love carving a place for themselves in a society where the rules keep changing. Written by bestselling novelist James Webb, it has been hailed as a major work of our time and a stunning commentary of political and social life in America over nearly three decades. From the wars in Korea and Vietnam to antiwar protests in Washington and POW camps in Hanoi, from young love and parenthood to divorce and reconciliation, Webb's eye for detail, provocative insights, and subtle revelations have earned him the highest literary accolades. His convincing characters and gripping scenes fully engage the reader as the three Naval Academy graduates reevaluate their lives, their country, and the cost of success.

Genres: Historical Fiction, Fiction, American History, Politics, Military Fiction

558 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published January 1, 1983

About the author

James Henry "Jim" Webb, Jr. is an American politician and author. He has served as a United States Senator from Virginia, Secretary of the Navy, Assistant Secretary of Defense for Reserve Affairs, Counsel for the United States House Committee on Veterans' Affairs and is a decorated Marine Corps officer.

Outside of working in government, Webb is also an Emmy Award winning journalist, filmmaker, and author of ten books. He taught literature at the United States Naval Academy and was a Fellow at the Harvard Institute of Politics. As a member of the Democratic Party, Webb announced on November 19, 2014, that he was forming an exploratory committee to evaluate a run for President of the United States in 2016. On July 2, 2015, he announced that he would be joining the race for the Democratic nomination for president, but stepped down from running in the primaries on October 20, 2015, stating that he was "not comfortable" with many political positions from the party's leadership.

In 2020, Webb was named the first distinguished fellow of University of Notre Dame's International Security Center.

Senator Webb is also an author of many books, stating that "I've written for a living all my life, so writing is as much a part of me as working out."

Reviews

[Karl Flynn · Rating 5 out of 5]

The scope of this book is too far reaching to attempt to summarize here, so I won't. I'll just say that this is among the best written novels I have read. It's subject is among the most difficult of times the United States has endured: the Vietnam War and its associated societal turmoil. Told primarily through the perspectives of three military officers across decades of their lives, this novel becomes most compelling when those perspectives clash. If you want to read a book about grand ideas, tradition, hope, loss, fear, love, sacrifice, duty, honor, loyalty, family, betrayal, failure, triumph, rejuvenation, and suffering, look no further.

[Chuck · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a post WWII historical novel. It covers the years 1951 through the early 1970s. We have three protagonists who are members of the 1951 graduating class of the U.S. Naval Academy. It is a slice of their lives as they deal with all the events of that period including the Korean war, the civil rights battle, the assassinations of three of our iconic leaders, the Viet Nam conflict, etc. Mr. Webb is an outstanding story teller and he made these events come alive. Even though he occasionally got caught up in his descriptive prose I enjoyed it very much.

[Adam Sikes · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book touched me as few books do. It's an epic that follows three main characters and their families, and spans the US' national security and social landscape from WWII to the 1970s. Significantly, the social, national, and geopolitical turbulence that Webb illustrates in this book is troubling in how it tracks with the current events of today in 2022.

I would put this book alongside the writings of Tim O'Brien, Elliot Ackerman, Phil Klay, even Hemingway--writers who have attempted to illustrate the impact of war on the individuals who experienced it and the societies they go back to.

[Joel · Rating 2 out of 5]

I didn’t really enjoy it. I found it tried too hard.

[Jeanne · Rating 4 out of 5]

i pick up older books at our library sales and keep them for 'emergencies'. i recently read this one and really liked it. its about 3 men and their families from the end of WWII to the end of vietnam. it revolves around the airforce and politics and only gets technical a little bit toward the end. an interesting perspective written in 1983

[Jim · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read this a long time ago, before Webb became Secretary of the Navy; and really do not recall anything about the book.

Looking at other people's reviews, maybe I should read it again.

[Jack · Rating 5 out of 5]

A historical epic taking place during a turbulent time in America, centered around three military men. I love the way Webb uses historical events to develop his characters and the story.