The Korean War

By: Max Hastings

Narrated by: Frederick Davidson

Length: 17 hrs and 35 mins

Publisher's summary

It was the first war we could not win. At no other time since World War II have two superpowers met in battle. Max Hastings, preeminent military historian, takes us back to the bloody, bitter struggle to restore South Korean independence after the Communist invasion of June 1950.

Using personal accounts from interviews with more than 200 vets, including the Chinese, Hastings follows real officers and soldiers through the battles. He brilliantly captures the Cold War crisis at home, the strategies and politics of Truman, Acheson, Marshall, MacArthur, Ridgway, and Bradley, and shows what we should have learned in the war that was the prelude to Vietnam.

©1987 Roma Data (P)1997 Blackstone Audiobooks

Critic reviews

"Must reading for any American who wants to understand one of the watershed events of the post-World War II period." (Richard M. Nixon)
"Rings true and will surely stand the test of time....Max Hastings has no peer as a writer of battlefield history." (Stephen E. Ambrose)

Fantastic - Good Balance!

I really loved this book! The author did a great job of being balanced in his presentation, not from the political side, but in giving just the right amount of detail, but not too much to overwhelm you.

Before reading this, I only knew that the two Koreas had a "civil" war in the 50's. I had no idea of what precipated this or how the war progressed.

This book really filled in the blanks for me and was a real pleasure to read.

Well done!

Those who don't learn from their experience are doomed to repeat it

Excellent book. Well told. Interesting because of the lessons that we did not learn and also the narrative which includes personal statements by those involved. What ever criticisms we may have had all of the handling of the war, looking back now it was one of whom is great accomplishments only clouded by his inability to rain inMacArthur ." Our mission was to stop communist aggression and not to do the same by proceeding to the Yalu river. This was done at great cost to the lives of many soldiers and civilians. But on balance. A good varmint of war which is not always rational, if ever.

the narration hasn't aged well...

while I appreciate that the narrator tried to do different voices for the different people being quoted, doing "Asian" accents for the Koreans and Chinese wasn't necessary and really was a huge distraction/annoyance. If this is going to offend you, skip this audiobook.

A good account but not my cup of tea

I should have known… I’ve read a couple other Hasting books and for whatever reason, his writings don’t resonate with me. I was hoping this time would be different, but no. The Korean War isn’t one of the conflicts I knew a lot about and sadly, after listening to this.. my ignorance continues.

Excellent book, inconsistent sound

Loved the story and writing style. Unfortunately the reader's voice would suddenly change volume or sound quality a great many times throughout the audio book, and it was a bit jarring each time.

A Poignant Journey Through History and Heroism

Step back in time and immerse yourself in the riveting historical journey of "The Korean War" by Max Hastings. This poignant book transports you to the heart of the Korean peninsula, where brave men fought and sacrificed during one of the most pivotal conflicts of the 20th century. "The Korean War" is not just a tale of battles and strategies; it's an ode to the unwavering spirit of the soldiers who endured unimaginable hardships and emerged as heroes.
Hastings' meticulous research and attention to detail bring to life the vast panorama of the Korean War. In these pages you'll witness the resilience of the human spirit in the face of adversity. The narrative effortlessly weaves together personal accounts, strategic maneuvers, and historical context, creating a comprehensive and engrossing read.
As you accompany these forgotten heroes on their harrowing journey, you'll gain a profound appreciation for their sacrifices. "The Korean War" is a testament to their bravery, their unwavering commitment to freedom, and the enduring impact of their service.

British view of the war

I selected this book because I wanted to know more about the Korean War. I found the book to be well written and informative but I think the synopsis should warn us that this is, essentially, the British view of the war.

As an ex-pat Briton myself, I was looking forward to the story of the American involvement and was disappointed with how often British opinon and tales had been substituted instead.

--Morton

Seemed less focused than other Hastings’

First: narration and production was really bad. The reader has a triggering accent that you have to get over to enjoy this book. Additionally his artificial accents for Chinese or Korean subjects were really not great.

Having said all that, i know a lot more about this period of time than i did before and found the story telling compelling, albeit a bit less focused than, say, Bomber Command or Abyss.

posh accent ruins it

can't stand hearing Korea pronounced "kreuh" over and over. fifteen word minimum so I can review

Book Great, Narration Atrocious

The book is well written and does a great job of telling the story of this forgotten war. Hastings doesn't pull any punches with either the Americans or North Koreans.

The narrator, though, is appalling. It took me some time and a second opinion to decide if it's a man or woman reading. His accent is the worst preening combination of public school English and East Coast prep school lock-jaw. He could hold an American accent for about one phrase before falling back into his own accent. His attempts to impersonate Koreans speaking English sound like Grade B Hollywood Gestapo agents rather than any Korean's I know.

Buy it for the book, not the narration.