The Brides of War

A Vietnam War Novel

By: Steve Gladis

Narrated by: Virtual Voice

In 1968, as the Vietnam War raged overseas, the quiet campus of Mary Washington College—just twenty minutes from Quantico—became an unlikely crossroads of love, protest, and loss. Four young women, bound by friendship, are drawn into a conflict they never chose, their lives forever changed by the men sent to fight and the times that tore a nation apart. The Brides of War is a powerful story of love, courage, loyalty, and the unseen toll of war on those left behind—a tribute to the women who carried the weight of history in silence.

“Steve Gladis’ The Brides of War is a moving and ambitious novel—historically grounded, emotionally charged, and told through strong female voices that bring the Vietnam era’s private grief and public turmoil vividly to life.”
—Geoff Bennett, PBS NewsHour Co-Anchor & NBC News Contributor

A tribute to the women of UMW

While I didn’t love the AI reading of the narrative on the audiobook, I certainly enjoyed a glimpse into the campus environment at the then Mary Washington College in the late 1960s. A beautiful rendition of the close connects and friendships that are born from going to college.