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The Korean War  By  cover art

The Korean War

By: Max Hastings
Narrated by: Cameron Stewart
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Publisher's summary

On 25 June, 1950, the invasion of South Korea by the Communist North launched one of the bloodiest conflicts of the last century. The seemingly limitless power of the Chinese-backed North was thrown against the ferocious firepower of the UN-backed South in a war that can be seen today as the stark prelude to Vietnam.

Max Hastings drew on first-hand accounts of those who fought on both sides to produce this vivid and incisive reassessment of the Korean War, bringing the military and human dimensions into sharp focus. Critically acclaimed on publication, The Korean War remains the best narrative history of this conflict.

©1987 Max Hastings (P)2014 Audible Studios
  • Unabridged Audiobook
  • Categories: History

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What listeners say about The Korean War

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  • Overall
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Brings a true history to a war that is often over looked

Brings a true history to an otherwise forgotten war. The story keeps you engaged as it brings you through the years and battles that politics dictated instead of a goal to win the war.

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8 people found this helpful

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    2 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars

did the Brits win this war?????

Hour after hour of British pride being expressed by Mr hastings! You would have thought they the british single handed won this war and the Americans are an after thought who blundered around the country making foolish mistakes which they then committed again in viet nam. this book was a major disappointment, I have read most of Max Hastings books and can honestly say were great histories well written and very informative. Don't know what happened here. Forget this one

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7 people found this helpful

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    5 out of 5 stars
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    2 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

An excellent historical work - but....

This is an excellent historical work focused on little known aspects of the Korean War.

unfortunately the reader's terrible attempts to affect an American accent while reading quotations, amusing at first, become extremely annoying by the end. I would much rather he read solely in his native British accent, preferring to imagine that I was being told the story by the author, himself from the UK.

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4 people found this helpful

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    5 out of 5 stars
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The Korean War - Hasting's Take

Story: Overall, the book is very good and covers elements not covered in most books on Korea such as the UK contributions to the UNC. I recommend this book.

Narrator: it is always a pleasure to listen to Cameron Stewart. There is usual bias of an American listening to a British voice.

Production: Excellent.

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4 people found this helpful

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    4 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars

Mostly a high level view

I had hoped, that the book would be more like Stephen Ambrose's books from World War 2. That is not the case. It's taking a higher level approach, with less focus on the combat and experience of the men.

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4 people found this helpful

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    3 out of 5 stars
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British interpretation of the war

Would you try another book from Max Hastings and/or Cameron Stewart?

Nope

What do you think your next listen will be?

Another history

What three words best describe Cameron Stewart’s performance?

Over the top politics from a British view point

Did The Korean War inspire you to do anything?

Get a better history with more about the people that fought and less British politics

Any additional comments?

Want to swap as I will never try to get through this boring book again/

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4 people found this helpful

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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Strong mil-focused history of Korean War

Deft handling of military and political aspects, but a little weak on politics and lacks post-ussr fall docs. Aside from that doesn't feel all that dated and he takes advantage of when he wrote it to conduct interviews with lots of different voices. could have gone a bit deeper militarily. Pow chapter of Koreans held in the aouth fascinating. Good job weaving in different non-elite voices and from multiple sides. Would've loved to learn more about Turkish fighters. Worthy war in the end, particularly given how ROK has been able to thrive, important to see relative morality when defending flawed regime that's better than alternative. But enough with the Uk analysis can do no wrong.
Not a brilliant work, but good research and interviews went into it. Mac portrait good and concise, not much on us high politics. Good on characterizing how societies were responding to the war, perspective from everyday Americans and uk. Odd to think that uk in 1950 saw itself a first rate power, empire would last for awhile was operating assumption. Have to always be contextualizj get, imagining what is the recent history of the subjects, get a sense of their historical and political frame of references.

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3 people found this helpful

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    3 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

Interesting History

An interesting interpretation and story. But the author's dislike for America was obvious and reinforced by his biased examples and interviews with non-Americans.

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2 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    2 out of 5 stars

Disappointing and boring

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2 people found this helpful

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simply the best chronology and

simply the best chronology and analysis o the Korean War ...heavy on facts and reflection

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2 people found this helpful