Sacred War: Nationalism and Revolution In A Divided Vietnam

by William J. Duiker

This supplementary book provides a history of the Vietnam War from the perspective of North Vietnam. Professor Duiker is one of the English speaking world's foremost authorities on this period of Vietnamese history and is a former foreign service officer posted in Vietnam. Based on recent scholarship and evidence, this book includes Vietnamese documents and research available to very few scholars. Quotes are sprinkled throughout the book to show how the Vietnamese felt about the events that were taking place around them, and why they decided to behave the way they did. Written for the general reader, this lively account of "the other side" includes distinctive photographs and sources.

Genres: History, Nonfiction, School, Academic

289 pages, Paperback

First published August 1, 1994

About the author

William J. Duiker is a former United States Foreign Service officer and Professor of History at Penn State University. His area of expertise is East Asia; while in the Foreign Service he spent several years in Vietnam, where an injury left him with partial hearing in one ear. Duiker is the author of Ho Chi Minh: A Life, published in 2000, which was the first comprehensive biography of Ho Chi Minh using sources from Vietnam. He recently retired from teaching.

Reviews

[Stella ☆Paper Wings☆ · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 stars
For some reason (well, I can guess why) histories of the Vietnam War seem very focused on narratives to do with American soldiers or American strategy. This book instead focuses on the politics and strategy of North Vietnam, particularly Ho Chi Minh and his right hand, Vo Nguyen Giap, who is practically an icon of modern military strategy.

I had to read this book for a course I took on revolutions and guerilla warfare, but I honestly recommend it for anyone interested in the Vietnam War. It's very readable for the subject matter, and it puts a lot into perspective.

[Virginia · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book was required reading for a class I took on the history of the Vietnam War. It provides a "less-American" depiction of the war; the book investigates the motivations of the Vietnamese people and how their history and culture contributed to their understanding of the conflict (and ultimately, their actions). Great introduction to the ancient and broad geo-political forces that resulted in the Vietnam War.

[Suresh · Rating 2 out of 5]

I didn't like this book as much as Ho's biography. I think mainly I didn't find it very interesting because it's a history that is very much a "great man" version of history. It focuses on high level meetings and policy decisions of the politburo. It's certainly not a people's history. It's an informative read to get the overview of the official history of 20th century Vietnam.

[Thomas · Rating 3 out of 5]

A great look at the history of Vietnam from the early 20th century until 1975. A very detailed, thorough history of the Viet Cong, and North and South Vietnamese governments are included here, and this book was very helpful in writing a paper on the Diem regime.

[Hunter Marston · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great place to start for a 250+ intro. to the Viet Nam War.

[Chad Lamb · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good textbook for my Vietnam War class. I didn't read the entire thing but a good chunk of it.

[Viet Phuong · Rating 4 out of 5]

A succinct but excellent account of the history of Vietnam since the dawn of the previous century up to the painful decade of 1980s. Albeit short for such a complex period, the book still presents a balanced and comprehensive look at the major events in Vietnam's contemporary history, from both sides (North/South, capitalism/communism, external forces/domestic resistance), alongside with a detailed guidance on which books should be consulted for further insight of specific events. If any book is to be used as "official book" to teach and to learn about the difficult 20th century of Vietnam, this should be the one. Published in the early 1990s, of course this book did not contain new findings that may "shock" the readers, but its comprehensiveness and balance are really commendable.