Matterhorn

A Novel of the Vietnam War

By: Karl Marlantes

Narrated by: Bronson Pinchot

Length: 21 hrs and 11 mins

Publisher's summary

An incredible publishing story—written over the course of thirty years by a highly decorated Vietnam veteran, a New York Times bestseller for sixteen weeks, a National Indie Next, and a USA Today bestseller—Matterhorn has been hailed as a "brilliant account of war" (New York Times Book Review).

Matterhorn is an epic war novel in the tradition of Norman Mailer's The Naked and the Dead and James Jones' The Thin Red Line. It is the timeless story of a young marine lieutenant, Waino Mellas, and his comrades in Bravo Company, who are dropped into the mountain jungle of Vietnam as boys and forced to fight their way into manhood. Standing in their way are not merely the North Vietnamese but also monsoon rain and mud, leeches and tigers, disease and malnutrition. Almost as daunting, it turns out, are the obstacles they discover between each other: racial tension, competing ambitions, and duplicitous superior officers. But when the company finds itself surrounded and outnumbered by a massive enemy regiment, the marines are thrust into the raw and all-consuming terror of combat. The experience will change them forever.

Matterhorn is a visceral and spellbinding novel about what it is like to be a young man at war. It is an unforgettable story that transforms the tragedy of Vietnam into a powerful and universal story of courage, camaraderie, and sacrifice—a parable not only of the war in Vietnam but of all war, and a testament to the redemptive power of literature.

A bonus PDF is included, with maps, a Chain of Command hierarchy, a glossary, and other interesting facts and information.

PLEASE NOTE: When you purchase this title, the accompanying PDF will be available in your Audible Library along with the audio.

Download the accompanying reference guide.

©2010 Karl Marlantes (P)2010 Blackstone Audio, Inc.

Critic reviews

“ Matterhorn is one of the most powerful and moving novels about combat, the Vietnam War, and war in general that I have ever read.” (Dan Rather)

“Brings a long, torturous war back to life with realistic characters and authentic, thrilling combat sequences.” ( Publishers Weekly)

“Unforgettable.… A beautifully crafted novel of unrivaled authenticity and power, filled with jungle heroism, crackerjack inventiveness, mud, blood, brotherhood, hatred, healing, terror, bureaucracy, politics, unfathomable waste, and unfathomable love." (Christina Robb, Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist)

Soldiers are just shadows

A great book about war. About death. About the meaning of life or lack thereof. Why fight the war? Just bomb the Commies in Hanoi. Read this book and you will hate war. And you will hate death. But you will love your friends.

Excellent

If you could sum up Matterhorn in three words, what would they be?

Tragic, powerful, detailed

What did you like best about this story?

You were immersed in the story and the characters unfolded in a very organic way.

Which character – as performed by Bronson Pinchot – was your favorite?

Ted "Jay" Hawke

Any additional comments?

Download this book!

Bronson Pinchot does an outstanding job.

Excellent story based on real life believeable eve

Would you consider the audio edition of Matterhorn to be better than the print version?

Not sure I didn't read the book, but the narrator was great and I could visualize being "In the Bush"

What was one of the most memorable moments of Matterhorn?

The fire fights were so real and the idea that they did this despite being scared because of the code of honor of the4 Marines

Which character – as performed by Bronson Pinchot – was your favorite?

Jay Hawk

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

There were so many

Any additional comments?

Great Book... Read it ...you will not be disappointed

Speechless

For a fiction novel, all too realistic. And that performance was extraordinary. I will revisit this novel frequently now.

too good.

loved it.
I have listened/read several books about the Vietnam war experience as well as just about every movie but I dont think any of them can hold a candle to the harsh realities as portrayed in this book.
truly a master piece

This MUST be made into a movie

An essential read for anyone remotely interested in what war is like on the ground. This is my third time hearing this audiobook in its entirety and won't be the last. There it is!

My first review

Having listened to well over one hundred books on Audible, this is the first time I have been sufficiently moved to write a review. No hyperbole- a terrific story masterfully read with profound consideration of humanity, justice, race, and integrity.

Great novel!

This is a fantastic novel about the Vietnam war. I think it is based on a large part on the author's own experiences. He is on of the contributors to Ken Burns' documentary on the Vietnam war. Definitely nuanced and while there's no doubt the author is critical of the US involvement in the war, I think the novel is well-balanced.
The narrator is great.
Lots of profanity, so don't listen if that is doing to bug you.
Really good book. Stick with it and eventually you'll be able to keep track of the characters.

A fantastic book read by a even better narrator

Loved the book even though it was a little long a drawn out at times. Most of the time though I was always glued the book. The narrator made this book for me. His many different voices and tones for each character and scene made it feel like I was actually experiencing war itself and helped me comprehend the book on another level.

10/10 5 stars

Exceptional read

This book provides a real and authentic characterization of what it was like to serve in Vietnam. Thanks and praise to everyone who served.