It is the year 1969, and young men are becoming soldiers for different reasons. Webb s book is from the james jones school of realism. The story is told from many different vantage points, ranks within the military, different races, economic classes, pacifists. Download for offline reading, highlight, bookmark or take notes while you read fields of fire. In 1938, englishman bluey arrives in the north queensland town of silkwood. Nightfire demo, clifford fire, critical strike shoot fire battlefield mission, and many more programs. Jim webb was born on february 9, 1946 in saint joseph, missouri, usa as james henry webb jr. 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 former marine corps officer. Author of fields of fire, born fighting, the emperors general, a country such as this, the occult establishment, a sense of honor, lost soldiers, a sense of honour james webb.
Webb uses a thirdperson point of view that moves from character to character throughout the novel. Webb served honorably in the united states marine corps during vietnam as a rifle platoon commander. The book has the stinging ring of authenticity and no wonder, webb was a marine officer in vietnam himself and won the navy cross, a silver star and two bronze. An hoa, vietnam the american presence in this valley has all but vanished, reclaimed by nature and the vietnamese people. When james webb approached the pentagon to ask for assistance making his vietnam war drama fields of fire he had every right to expect. James webbs intense novel about vietnam, fields of fire was mentioned in rachel maddows. It is a good, earnest effort, much like a superior exercise in a creative writing class, but it is not even close to being one of the great books to come from what has become a very literary war. But it still does that effectively unsettling thing without which a war novel totally wilts. James webb author of lost soldiers fields of fire in his. Aug 28, 2001 when it was first published, james webb s fields of fire was hailed as a great vietnam novel. The vietnam war became a physical and mental part of the men who fought side by side every day in the bush. Fields of fire by james webb in doc, fb2, fb3 download ebook. James webb s intense novel about vietnam, fields of fire was mentioned in rachel maddows drift and it was this recommendation that made me want to read it.
Fields of fire by james webb overview written by an exmarine who served in the conflict, this celebrated novel of the vietnam war follows a platoon of battleweary soldiers through the jungles of southeast asia in 1969. See all books authored by james webb, including fields of fire, and born fighting. When it was first published, james webb s fields of fire was hailed as a great vietnam novel. Fields of fire book by james webb 8 available editions. Snake got the tattoo death before dishonor before he. Lumpy, often sentimental, and cast like a hollywood movie the ghetto black, the harvard dropout, the southern white lieutenant webb s first novel lacks the shapely sophistication of more literary vietnam novels or the verbal spinerattlingness of michael herrs dispatches. Other readers will always be interested in your opinion of the books youve read. Snake no full name given, a squad leader in hodges platoon, a tough kid from the streets. Fields of fire 1978 fields of fire is james webbs classic, searing novel of the vietnam war, a novel of poetic power, razorsharp observation, and agonizing human truths seen through the prism of nonstop combat. Aug 28, 2001 fields of fire is james webbs classic novel of the vietnam war, a novel of poetic power, razorsharp observation, and agonizing human truths seen through the prism of nonstop combat.
The flow of the book is a little off putting at first but once you start turning pages it gets you hooked. James webb books list of books by author james webb. Fields of fire by james webb im about half way through and this is easily one of the most violent, disturbing, and fantastic books ive read. Hello select your address todays deals best sellers gift ideas best sellers gift ideas. Fields of fire is james webbs classic novel of the vietnam war, a novel of poetic power, razorsharp observation, and agonizing human truths seen through the prism of nonstop combat. James edwin webb october 7, 1906 march 27, 1992 was an american government official who served as the second appointed administrator of nasa from february 14, 1961, to october 7, 1968. This study guide consists of approximately 67 pages of chapter summaries, quotes, character analysis, themes, and more everything you need to sharpen your knowledge of fields of fire. Snake no full name given, a squad leader in hodges platoon, a tough kid. Fields of fire is one of the greatest movies that was never made. I know where to place my men when we stop and form a perimeter. Fields of fire is james webbs classic, searing novel of the vietnam war, a novel of poetic power, razorsharp observation, and agonizing human truths seen.
Released in 1978, the book is loosely based on webb s experiences as a marine during the vietnam war. The plot is made to create situations of great drama in which the charaters fully demonstrate their human nature. He could understand, condone the massive use of force, but the terrors of its particularizations horrified him. If they didnt want to know, they shouldnt have asked. Lee hodges, who comes from a long line of soldiers. The writing style that james webb uses is a significant factor in the experience of reading the novel. James webb fields of fire in his classic, searing novel of the vietnam war, james webb follows three soldiers as they undertake a battle of a lifetime. And who are the young men we are asking to go into action against such solid odds. Nov 11, 2018 fields of fire launched the very successful literary career of its author, james webb, who has gone on to write a number of other bestsellers. He is a writer and producer, known for rules of engagement 2000, whiskey river and prepared to serve. Fields of fire by james webb overdrive rakuten overdrive.
Dont know where the hell he got off, maybe right there in the movie room. The vietnam war was something hard to understand for most people. Tom wolfe they each had their reasons for joining the marines. All content included on our site, such as text, images, digital downloads and other, is the property of its content suppliers and protected by us and international laws. Use features like bookmarks, note taking and highlighting while reading fields of fire. Fields of fire a realistic vietnam war book by james webb, in the perspective of james webbs experiences in vietnam as a foot soldier in the bush. Webb, a former officer of marines who earned multiple purple hearts and the navy cross while serving with the infantry during the vietnam war, is undoubtedly a badass who has walked the walk, and it shows in his critically acclaimed debut novel, fields of fire. Written by marine corps veteran james webb, who later served as. Snake got the tattoo death before dishonor before he got the uniform. I heard my country calling 2014 james webb, author of fields of fire, the classic novel of the vietnam war former u. Weaving together a cast of vivid characters, fields of fire captures the journey of unformed men through a manmade hell until each man finds his fate. Editions of fields of fire by james webb goodreads. Fields of fire is a 1987 australian mini series about cane cutters in queensland just prior to and during world war two. Fields of fire is james webb s classic, searing novel of the vietnam war, a novel of poetic power, razorsharp observation, and agonizing human truths seen through the prism of nonstop combat.
Whether youve loved the book or not, if you give your honest and detailed thoughts then people will find new books that are right for them. The main themes of fields of fire are embodied and portrayed through these three main characters. Published in 1978, the novel made webb a hero at the naval academy, and he was invited back to spend a year as a writerinresidence and english teacher. Download it once and read it on your kindle device, pc, phones or tablets. He has been married to hong le webb since october 2006. Fields of fire by james webb 2001 after reading a feature article in parade magazine about senator james webb of virginia, i purchased his book with the idea of reading it on vacation. Weaving together a cast of vivid characters, fields of fire captures the journey of unformed men through a manmade hell until each man. Buy fields of fire by james webb online at alibris. Buy a cheap copy of fields of fire book by james webb. It follows the lives of several marines serving in the vietnam war. The book, fields of fire, was a brutal and impassioned vietnam chronicle that won webb admiration among military men shaken by the debacle. Ironically, despite more than a dozen vietnam films made since the late 70s, fields of fire, webbs first novel, never has gotten. Although the book was good and was probably a very definitive book about the viet nam war, it does not compare in anyway to band of brothers.
Feb 28, 1988 james webb s new fields of fire by john h. He now recites it in a slow cadence, like a soliloquy. Fields of fire is a historical novel by former virginia senator james webb, who ran for president in the 2016 presidential election. Read an excerpt of james webbs fields of fire this. Lumpy, often sentimental, and cast like a hollywood movie the ghetto black, the harvard dropout, the southern white lieutenantwebbs first novel lacks the shapely sophistication of more literary vietnam novels or the verbal spinerattlingness of michael herrs dispatches. Webb used the quote at the outset of fields of fire. The evolution of the characters are felt and one actually misses them once the series is over. Fields of fire fields of fire by james webb fields of fire. And in the heat and horror of battle they took on new identities, took on each other, and were each reborn in fields of fire. Originally published in 1978, webbs classic novel of the vietnam war follows three soldiers from different worl. My stepfather dead almost 10 years now due to a heart attack survived 3 tours in nam, but remained a racist sob after his return. Fields of fire, was a brutal and impassioned vietnam chronicle that won webb admiration among military men shaken by the debacle. Read an excerpt of james webbs fields of fire this veterans day.
Fields of fire is james webbs classic, searing novel of the vietnam war, a novel of poetic power, razorsharp observation, and agonizing human truths seen through the prism of nonstop combat. Fields of fire launched the very successful literary career of its author, james webb, who has gone on to write a number of other bestsellers. This book was recommended to me and it was compared to band of brothers. James webb they each had their reasons for being a soldier. Fields of fire by james webb pdf free download ebook. Read an exclusive excerpt of james webb s fields of fire, a classic novel of the vietnam war, to provide yourself with some insight on the life of men at war this veterans day. When the book arrived i was excited to learn it was written about events in a specific place in vietnam. The book, fields of fire, was a brutal and impassioned vietnam chronicle that won webb admiration among military men shaken by the.
Fields of fire by james webb 2001, paperback for sale. Start reading james webbs fields of fire, a classic novel of the vietnam war, this. In 1946 franco becomes a black marketeer and marries gina. Fields of fire is james webb s classic novel of the vietnam war, a novel of poetic power, razorsharp observation, and agonizing human truths seen through the prism of nonstop combat. Fields of fire ii is a 1988 sequel set in the late 1940s. This detailed literature summary also contains topics for discussion and a free quiz on fields of fire by james webb. Fields of fire 1978 fields of fire is james webb s classic, searing novel of the vietnam war, a novel of poetic power, razorsharp observation, and agonizing human truths seen through the prism of nonstop combat. It is told mainly from the viewpoints of three marines. Newsweek james webb has rehabilitated the idea of the american heronot john wayne, to be sure, but every man, caught up in circumstances beyond his control, surviving the blood, dreck, and absurdity with dignity and even a certain elan. James webb has a new mission in vietnam to make a film out. Webb 1978, hardcover at the best online prices at ebay. Publication date 1979 topics vietnamese conflict, 19611975 fiction. He is also an author and a former secretary of the navy under president ronald reagan.