In Pharaoh's Army

Memories of the Lost War

By: Tobias Wolff

Narrated by: Michael Kramer

Whether he is evoking the blind carnage of the Tet offensive, the theatrics of his fellow Americans, or the unraveling of his own illusions, Wolff brings to this work the same uncanny eye for detail, pitiless candor and mordant wit that made This Boy's Life a modern classic.

Speaking the truth

Telling the truth is not easy. But this book speaks the truth easily, though the subject matter is far from it. I highly recommend this book.

The absurdity of war

I find the same truth in this book that I f found in my grandfather’s accounts of World War II. The war was punctuated by heroism to be sure. But the majority of the time was spent in the day to day things. Lulled into thinking that the mission is to get a better television set to watch the season finale of Gunsmoke? Bam. It’s the Tet Offensive.

My grandfather told me of hunting small deer in Europe with M1 rifles. Of course a bunch of guys from the South are going to deer hunt. But then the Army had to ban hunting altogether after a cook was shot in the back by a stray bullet.

When the young men are loaded into buses in California – past the point of no return, they will end up in Vietnam - I did find myself wishing their fathers would intervene. Block the road with their own bodies if they had to. When my own son was contemplating going to officer training school, we listened to this book overhead on a long road trip.  He ended up being a banker. Thank God.

The last chapter that Mr. Wolff devotes to the friend he lost in Vietnam is masterful. It is the height of honest writing.


And thank God for the men and women who served in Vietnam and may God bless the families who lost loved ones.

Another gem from master wolf

I listened this book twice in a row. This is the second autobiography I read/ listened by Wolf. I admire the economy of words, stoic attitude to adversity and accomplishment and the sense of humor, which in my opinion makes this book a modern classic

Word Candy

My veteran partner/ husband of forty-six years only has tears, few words. Thank you

Boring Waste of Time

This memoir should be called, “Mediocre, Self-Serving Officer Goes to Vietnam.” This is naval-gazing rubbish.