Tract of Time

by Smith Hempstone

A Tract of Time is an antiwar novel from 1966 by Smith Hempstone, that covers the time period about 1960, when there was an attempted coup of South Vietnamese President Ngo Dinh Diem. Even as the United States backed Diem's government during the war, its American advisers worked with the Montagnard people who opposed Diem, to help them fight the Viet Cong, whom they also opposed. The book follows one CIA operative, Harry Coltart, as he works with the Montagnard mountain tribesmen in the Central Highlands. Harry is initially successful in getting the Montagnards to fight against the Viet Cong, but then the Montagnards are betrayed and South Vietnamese troops are sent in. Harry has to be rescued as the Montagnards join the Viet Cong.
The book has been considered to be an important novel from the time, and has been cited in at least one history book. It was listed in Firsts: The Book Collector's Magazine in a list of the top 51 Vietnam War novels

271 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1966

About the author

Smith Hempstone was a journalist, author, United States Marine Corp Korean War veteran and the United States ambassador to Kenya in 1989–93. He was a vocal proponent of democracy, aggressively advocating free elections for Kenya.

Mr. Hempstone worked as a foreign correspondent in Africa, Latin America, and Europe.  He held several editorial positions at Washington newspapers before becoming the Editor-in-Chief of the Washington Times.  In 1989 Mr. Hempstone was appointed ambassador to Kenya by President George H.W. Bush.  While ambassador he advocated vocally for a free vote at a time when all political parties but the one in power were banned in Kenya.  He did this despite significant pushback from the Kenyan government, criticism and mockery in the press and, at times, threats to his life.  Kenya hosted a multiparty election in 1992, shortly before the end of his tenure as ambassador.  He went on to be the diplomat in residence at his alma mater, The University of the South, and at the Virginia Military Institute.  He is the author of several books including Africa, Angry Young Giant (1961), Rebels, Mercenaries and Dividends (1962), A Tract of Time (1966), In the Midst of Lions (1968), Rogue Ambassador: An African Memoir (1997) .


Mr. Hempstone passed away due to complications stemming from Diabetes. He was 77.

Reviews

[Michael Wernig · Rating 2 out of 5]

Good message, but weird way of getting there

[Lysergius · Rating 3 out of 5]

A very different take in the Vietnam war.

[Keith · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book deals with the Viet Nam War in about 1963 through the character of Harry Colbert.

[Catherine Lienhard]

Vietnam during the overthrow of Ngo Dinh Diem. The impossible situation there. Very sad.

(read 6/30/67)