Ghost Flames

Life and Death in a Hidden War, Korea 1950-1953

By: Charles J. Hanley

Narrated by: Dan Woren

A powerful, character-driven narrative of the Korean War from the Pulitzer Prize-winning writer who helped uncover some of its longest-held and darkest secrets.
The war that broke out in Korea on a Sunday morning seventy years ago has come to be recognized as a critical turning point in modern history -- as the first great clash of arms of the Cold War, the last conflict between superpowers, the root of a nuclear crisis that grips the world to this day.
In this vivid, emotionally compelling, and highly original account, Charles J. Hanley tells the story of the Korean War through the eyes of twenty individuals who lived through it--from a North Korean refugee girl to an American nun, a Chinese general to a black American prisoner of war, a British journalist to a U.S. Marine hero.
This is an intimate, deeper kind of history, whose meticulous research and rich detail, drawing on recently unearthed materials and eyewitness accounts, bring the true face of the Korean War, and the vastness of its human tragedy, into a sharper focus than ever before. The "forgotten war" becomes unforgettable.

Critic reviews

"A masterly new history...the accretion of astounding detail makes for a vivid, multilayered look at a deeply complicated war in which few emerged as heroic. A top-notch addition to the literature on the Korean War."—Kirkus Reviews (starred)

"An extraordinary kaleidoscope of human experiences in a catastrophic forgotten war."—Library Journal Starred Review

"Hanley paints an extraordinary portrait of the war's complexity and devastation. This is an essential account of America's "forgotten war."—Publishers Weekly Starred Review

"In unforgettable fashion, Hanley, a Pulitzer Prize winner, tells the story of the Korean War, one of the most savage conflicts in history."—The New York Times Book Review

"Mr. Hanley's granular approach, which makes such compelling reading."—The Wall Street Journal

"Ghost Flames is a masterful, often brutal representation of the Korean War. Readers with a limited knowledge of the conflict will gain a deeper understanding of the complexities cast upon ordinary people, from the soldiers who fought to the civilians trying to escape. This historical account revitalizes old memories and provides an outlet for healing from the traumatic events suffered by the victims. It leaves the reader with the unmistakable realization that this unpopular war should not be forgotten."—Coffee or Die

"Hanley's genius is to tell this remarkable story from the perspective of twenty very different participants--ranging from a general to a grunt, from a refugee to a p.o.w. By deep reportorial digging and gripping in-the-moment narration, he has woven together the saga--sometimes heroic, often disturbing--of an enigmatic war as it really was."—Evan Thomas, author of Sea of Thunder and Ike's Bluff

"The stories of twenty people who lived through the Korean War are told with such skill that I grew to care about every one of them. Ghost Flames is an unforgettable depiction of the effect of war on ordinary people, and a stunning achievement."—Linda Sue Park, NYTimes bestselling author and Newbery Medalist

"Charles Hanley has written a people's history of the Korean War, a fascinating, illuminating and highly readable work that opens a new window on the experiences of ordinary people in a critically important, but mostly unknown, war. His narrative is unflinching in recounting the war's horrors, the crimes by all sides. Readers will learn much that is entirely new."—Bruce Cumings, Swift Distinguished Service Professor of History, University of Chicago, author of The Korean War: A History

It’s dark perspective of the American activities.

It was not written from the American point of view which is fine, but even the good events or the good deeds by the U.S. were down played by the author. It is still more of a human interest story involving people on both sides. It was a dark retelling of one aspect of the war, that being human suffering. It is not a history of the war.

Korean war stories

I was excited to hear some stories from the Korean war from lesser known, common people. This book has some of that... but Peng and Ridgway are very much central characters that one already familiar with the Korean war will know about. The book is a basic retelling of the whole war with stories spliced in. Again, anyone already familiar with the war will know all the major events already. If you are unfamiliar with the war I recommend starting with The Coldest Winter by David Halberstam. I think this book is best if you are already familiar with the war but looking for some personal stories from all sides. Great narration!

Excellent factual story about the Korean War

This book is a well researched factual account of what happened in Korea the degree of information I learned was incredible. It is a must read for anyone who is interested in the Korean conflict.

Memories lost

When I first found this audible book, it was several months from being released. Waiting for this publication was well worth the effort. The author, Charles J. Handley is a Pulitzer Prize & Polk Award winner who understands the individuals represented here so very well and his research is detailed, accurate and to the point. The narrator, Dan Woren, is especially talented in presenting the feelings of all shared in this book. Be prepared as it can easily bring tears to your eyes. I will never forget this story, it has set memories of a time past that should never be forgotten. I highly recommend this audible presentation for every rating is in my opinion 5 stars all the way. I hope, that like me, you too will look for eternal peace for the young souls of Koo-hee a two year old little girl and her 4 year old brother Koo-pil who lost their young lives during the Nogun-ri massacre in July of 1950. May their memories and that of their mother Park Sun-young incredible courage, and her husband, Eun-young live on in this story. After 3 years of fighting, Korea from 1950 through 1953 still remains under a truce in 2020, This war was not approved by Congress, it was a war that America entered into under the direct order of President Truman, and where in the Truman year extended all military commitments for additional time. May the memories of all soldiers never be memories lost.

Informative, thrilling, and engaging

This book tells the tragic truth about the Korean War through the eyes of those who lived it. The author keeps the reader engaged by telling survivor’s stories chronologically. The author examines the lives of people on all sides of the war both military and civilian. The authors bias shows in his sympathy for the North Koreans and Chinese. For example, he may discuss in great detail the atrocities committed by the US and ROK troops but glance over those of the North Koreans and Chinese. That being said, this book is one of the top three best books I’ve ever read. I didn’t want the book to end and wish more wars stories were told in this way. Ghost Flames is an unforgettable story about a war known as the forgotten war.