Product Description

Product Description
The twelve chapters in this volume seek to overcome the nationalist paradigm of Japanese repression and exploitation versus Korean resistance that has dominated the study of Korea's colonial period (1910 - 1945) by adopting a more inclusive, pluralistic approach that stresses the complex relations among colonialism, modernity, and nationalism. By addressing such diverse subjects as the colonial legal system, radio, telecommunications, the rural economy, and industrialization and the formation of industrial labor, one group of essays analyzes how various aspects of modernity emerged in the colonial context and how they were mobilized by the Japanese for colonial domination, with often unexpected results. A second group examines the development of various forms of identity from nation to gender to class, particularly how aspects of colonial modernity facilitated their formation through negotiation, contestation, and redefinition. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Very progressive approach on the subject
I really like to recommend this anthology to all history and Korean studies interested people. The authors address to a very contentious and emotional topic of modern Korean history: the period of Japanese colonialism from 1910-1945.
However, this book doesn't cover this old and long well-known history what you maybe could expect. Deeply understanding the master narrative about political and cultural suppression or suffering what Koreans still maintain and the path to modernity from the Japanese side authors like Gi-Wook Shin, Michael Robinson or Clark Sorensen or Kenneth Wells turn to issues of Korean modernity and colonialism that are usually not covered by historians.
Indeed they attempt to initiate another kind of historiography: topics of everyday life, peasants, media (newspaper), human rights movement (Paeckchong), literature and the reflection of modernity, telecommunications network, policy of assimilation, significance of the Korean Nation after liberation and so on.
These historians break new grounds in Korean history in that they examine a history from below (!) concerning movements, everyday life during colonization or the quest for modernization, i.e. usual people's participation (instead of the aristocratic Yangban) on modernity. Nevertheless, they aspire to maintain the holistic claim. These authors try to relate the mentioned issues with the big political ones and concrete policy and thus underscore how various kinds of history (like political, social, media or literature) could be interwoven. ... Read more

Product Description
In 1952, overriding political objectives compelled UN forces to abandon the pursuit of decisive victory in Korea."The Outpost War" tells the story of the 1st Marine Division's move to western Korea, where these assault-trained troops were ordered to dig in and fight a defensive war.It describes their deadly learning curve and includes reports on such battles as Bunder Hill and The Hook.The use of previously unpublished archival material blended with first-person oral accounts places the reader on the battle line. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

A Spectacularly Accurate Account
I was a Marine inductee (draftee) who served in Korea from September 1952 till August 1953. This was the so-called "Stalemate" portion of the war. Just read this volume of Lee Ballinger's account of "The Outpost War" and you'll laugh at the use of the word.."Stalemate". Lee tells it like it was..a vicious, bloody conflict with crummy little pock marked hills being fought over every night and scores of Marines being killed and wounded for a few useless acres of ground. What a terrible waste of young Americans! Lee has also written another (follow up) book (The Final Crucible") which takes us through the final battles of 1953 to the armistice at Panmunjom.
I urge everybody who has the slightest interest in the last years of the Korean War to purchase these two wonderful books from Amazon.

This is the way it was ...
Lee Ballenger's book is a spot on account of the First Marine Division in action in Korea in 1952. As a 22-year-old artillery forward observer on line with the First Korean Marine Regiment at the Punchbowl in the East through March 1952 and Second Battalion, Fifth Marines, in the West through September 1952 I occupied many of the outposts he describes. The detail is accurate and the narrative is first-rate. This is the way it was.
For those who were there this is living history. For those who weren't it is the next best thing. Highly recommended! ... Read more

Product Description
Against the backdrop of modern Korea's violent and tumultuous history, To Kill A Tiger relates not only one woman's story, but also an ancient people's journey into the modern, globalized world.

Drawing on Korean legend and myth, as well as an Asian woman's unique perspective on the United States, Lee has written a searing portrait of a woman and a society in the midst of violent change. Lee weaves her compelling personal narrative with a collective and accessible history of modern Korea, from Japanese colonialism to war-era comfort women, from the genocide of the Korean War to the government persecution and silence of Cold War-era pogroms. The ritual of storytelling, which the author shares with the women of her family, serves as a window into a five-generation family saga, and it is through storytelling that Lee comes to appreciate the sacrifices of her ancestors and her own now American place in her family and society.

In To Kill a Tiger Lee provides a revelatory look at war and modernization in her native country, a story of personal growth, and a tribute to the culture that formed her. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (18)

Eye Opening
As an avid fan of history I found To Kill a Tiger to be an interesting and eye opening reminder of how little I know about the history of other countries.While I thought I knew about Korea, after reading this book, I discovered my familiarity was largely a sanitized media sound bite.

If you pick this book up be prepared to be fully immersed in the human story that rarely makes the news--issues of class, gender and how American and Japan's foreign policy all interacted to create a complex country--as explained by a talented story teller.Anyone who enjoys exploring the dynamics of customs, and social morays will be truly rived by this memoir.

Bakari

Great Book
In this memoire you can enjoy the vision of the protagonist Jid Lee; she reflects, in part, changes in the life of a Korean woman. Her passions and her determination to be free are the creative forces that produce her success and achievements in life.
The intensity of drama in To Kill a Tiger can be compared with the best operas in the world. Reading this book I learned how sweeping historical forces between North and South Korea shaped and directed everyday life on the Korean Peninsula. The author of To Kill a Tiger depicts vividly the poverty, humiliation and suffering experienced by the ordinary Korean citizen as a result of foreign empires attempts to conquer and control the lands of the Korean people.
This book captures the story of Korea through the memory of a child who grew up in a middle class family with values derived from Confucianism. She learns how her country heroically overcomes pain and loss set upon it by outside invaders. She is determined to be different, to be free and give testimony of what she knows about her country's history. Jid Lee learns to master the English language and records her painful yet triumphant journey in life.

Jid Lee is a Tiger
"Jid Lee's memoir seamlessly combines the personal with the political in describing the trials of her life with the history of a troubled peninsula. Lee also explains the Oriental/Occidental paradox of tradition vs. modernity and all the complications inherent in that dilemma. If you're open to looking at Korea in a more nuanced, holistic way through one woman's eyes, this is the book for you."

Glee and Melancholy
When Jid Lee's memoir appeared in my mailbox, what I knew of South Korea was a bit about the Korean War and that the people loved spicy pickled kimchee. Yet that country's politics and culture became compelling and real to me as I read this book. Lee places her harsh and impoverished childhood in a national context, writing to rescue herself from a damaging cycle of social and personal tyranny. In the process, her portrait of family and country grows more compassionate and complete. She begins by calling up early memories.

As a six-year-old, she was confined to bed for months by serious illness. Her grandmother, to teach and entertain her, regaled her many times with the story of Lee's six-times-great grandmother. A Buddhist monk told that devoted young mother how she could ensure great good fortune for her children and all their descendants. All she had to do, he said, was allow herself to be eaten alive by a tiger. Grandmother, with a mix of "glee and melancholy" reflected in Lee's own voice, told how her ancestor chose self-sacrifice, and a few months later was dragged away in the jaws of the great beast. Only bloody bits were found for burial in the clan cemetery. What her grandmother saw as an heroic act that led to two centuries of family success, little Jid Lee found a terrifying mandate. Would she, too, be called upon to sacrifice herself to a tiger's hunger in order to further her family? Family, after all, was paramount in Korea.

Lee was already struggling with being a girl in the ancient society. Tradition insisted a family's destiny was dependent on the men's strength and intelligence. Women were of little value. In her home, they were even given less to eat. Conversely, Grandmother also assured young Jid Lee that she could achieve greatness. In fact, all her family expected each child to improve the family's lot, and seemed to think a stick more effective than a carrot. The little girl had nightmares about tigers, was enraged by the unfairness she experienced daily, and confused by the mixed message of self-effacement and high achievement.

That same year, 1962, a coup d'etat brought Park Chung Hee to power in South Korea. Lee saw the U.S. actively support the right-wing dictator and turn a blind eye to his assaults on human rights. Her father had studied in the U.S. and found Americans to be caring and bright, yet to halt the spread of communism they assisted those who oppressed and killed many Koreans. As she matured, Lee was enchanted by the tolerance and wealth that made the U.S. seem magical, yet disturbed by its destructive military power.

Encouraged to study English as a means to success, at 25 Lee moved here to complete her education and gain her personal freedom. She became a citizen, and now has lived in the U.S. longer than she lived in Korea. From that dual perspective, she offers a well-written exploration of her life and family that provides insight into the contradictions in Korean culture as well as the role of the U.S. in its history, at least as many South Koreans see it.

From a childhood of injustice, poverty and emotional torment, Jid Lee built the life she longed for and became who she wanted to be. The details are intriguing, the history is important, but it is the tremendous achievement of breaking free that resonates most powerfully. Hers is a story to inspire and support all of us as we work to become more fully ourselves.

by Susan Schoch
for Story Circle Book Reviews
reviewing books by, for, and about women

My review of "To Kill a Tiger"
As an American woman born in the 1940s, I am interested in how a Korean woman/wife/mother was treated.Dr. Lee's book told me in detail what I could not believe.Not just the treatment of the grown women, but the girls who were born in Korea I found astounding.I did not want to think any children were cold in winter and hungry most of the time.I was so glad to follow Dr. Lee's journey from the childhood Korea to the journey in triumph for her to America.The history of the nation of Korea spelled out how the lives were formed.I had a hard time accepting how hard life was for females.But I liked the ending when the status of women had improved over the years.This book is an excellent way to gain the knowledge of the country, as well as, the knowledge of the Korean family. ... Read more

Product Description

Product Description
In 1987 Michael Harrold went to North Korea to work as English language adviser on translations of the speeches of the late President Kim Il Sung (the Great Leader) and his son and heir Kim Jong Il (then Dear Leader and now head of state). For seven years he lived in Pyongyang enjoying privileged access to the ruling classes and enjoying the confidence of the country’s young elite. In this fascinating insight into the culture of North Korea he describes the hospitality of his hosts, how they were shaken by the Velvet Revolution of 1989 and many of the fascinating characters he met from South Korean and American GI defectors to his Korean minder and socialite friends. After seven years and having been caught passing South Korean music tapes to friends and going out without his minder to places forbidden to foreigners, he was asked to leave the country.

Beware Foreigners describes the workings of a dictatorship and life in a society where secret police monitor everything and foreigners, forced to be accompanied by a minder, need to beware. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (15)

Compelling, unique story, though author comes across as self centered
This book was very easy to read, and the storyline fascinated me.It provides a unique perspective of a foreigner who had lived in North Korea for 7 years, and the author seems candid and forthright in his writing.I found it difficult to put this book down once I started reading it, this is why I give it 4 stars.

That said, there are aspects about the book which disturbed me quite a bit.The author worked as a editor of propaganda material for the NK regime. Considering the massive existence of political slave and death camps (as read through books such as The Aquariums of Pyongyang, The Eyes of the Tailess Animals, etc.), I suppose his job would be the equivalent of someone taking a job under Joseph Goebels during the regime of Nazi Germany.Though he doesn't seem malicious, I think he fails to grasp the nature of the true suffering which he was sheltered from.Also he seems to equate a certain degree of moral equivalences between the actions of the NK regime to the actions of the USA.While he does make some interesting and noteworthy points, I think his overall philosophy is deeply flawed.He was treated well by the regime (despite his adolescent complaining), so he thinks the regime will be forthright in political negotiations, etc.He is projecting his own experience and paradigm onto the world around him - when his own experienced was unique and not common amongst the people who live there.

Also, throughout the book, the author seems to look at everything from a completely self-centered and selfish point of view.When he criticizes others for their actions, such as when no one spoke up for him when he was being questioned by the police - he doesn't even consider the fact that if anyone did, they and their entire family would probably be sent to a gulag.Or when he takes offence as to why people won't answer the question "why", as if those people themselves formulate the policies of their government.I think this attitude, again, stemmed from his being sheltered from the reality that most people endure there.He was only exposed to the upper echelons of NK society, who wanted to put on their best face, and I don't think he had the desire to see the worst face of his employer.

I think he does do a good job, at articulating the personalities of the people that he met, as well as the thought process among many Koreans.I remember meeting in South Korea Korea a number of people who had deep seeded anti-American sentiments for the same reason the author writes among the North Koreans.Also, I know that many South Koreans share the same passionate desire to reunify with the North, and many blame the US for the conflict, etc.I felt some of the personalities the author was writing about from the North, could have easily been someone from the South. I thought the author did a good job at conveying the essense of this Korean thought process.

To sum up my observations from this book, the writer seems like some spoiled kid who went to NK from England to work as a propaganda editor for the NK regime.While the author is not a die hard communist, he has socialist tendancies and seems to conveniently overlook the true nature of his employer.In doing so, at times he seems to put the lives of others at risk, by projecting his own paradigm of the world onto others, without taking into consideration the full consequences they might have to endure as a result.

But I do admire the author for his candidness and honesty in his writing, and I am glad that he wrote this book and shared his experiences.

Friday Night in Pyongyang
When visiting a library at any prestigious academic institution abroad, go to the section devoted to East Asia and you will likely find them. The Complete Collection of Kim Il Sung's Works occupy an entire shelf with hefty volumes bound in royal blue, and they are available in the local language, be it French, German, Spanish or Arabic.

From 1987 to 1993, Michael Harrold's job was to make these volumes available in English. He was not a translator: even at the end of his stay, he knew very little Korean, and as a foreigner he couldn't be trusted with interpreting the thoughts of the statesman North Koreans designate as their Great Leader. Rather his task was to edit and polish the drafts provided by professional translators into flawless British English--his employers could not contemplate even the possibility of American English coming from the Great Leader's mouth or pen. Although a cog in the propaganda machine, his political role was limited: his task consisted largely of editing speeches and essays almost a decade out of date that were to be included in the latest volume of the Works. Other foreign language editors were working and living alongside him in a guest house under constant surveillance.

Harrold's extended stay began with a faux pas: asked upon arrival what he knew about North Korea, he confessed half-jokingly that he didn't even know where it was located, causing consternation among his hosts. His knowledge hadn't improve much upon his departure. As he recalls, "for seven years I was shielded from the North Korean reality. I learnt the language up to a point and I had friends, but still I barely scratched the surface of what North Korea was all about."

The reason for his ignorance was not lack of curiosity, but is to be found in the isolation in which the 'foreign friends' working as language editors were kept within this most isolated country. His was a life of immense boredom, punctuated by petty restrictions, the monitoring of his movements, official invasions of his privacy, and a ban on mixing with locals. His diplomatic skills were found wanting more than once, but overall he was obedient and respectful, and he tried to make the best of the situation.

As a self-respecting Briton, he couldn't contemplate a Friday or a Saturday evening without going for a drink at the local pub. Most places were off-limits to foreigners, and Pyongyang didn't have much of a nightlife anyway, but he found solace in the watering holes and restaurants of international hotels. There, he was able to socialize with and to befriend English-speaking barmaids, Korean translators, local businessmen, and the tiny foreign community that formed the cosmopolitan social scene in Pyongyang. He even contemplated the possibility of making a lifelong commitment in North Korea, before pulling out and pursuing an international career as a journalist, first in Beijing and then in Warsaw. He wrote these memoirs ten years after leaving Pyongyang.

At first I didn't think that I could find much interest in the reflections of a young man who believes that international problems could be best resolved by ordinary people over a pint or two of beer. But Comrades and Strangers proved a pleasant if somewhat lengthy read, and despite the obvious limitations Harrold was able to gather first-hand observations about a country the world knows so little about.

Interesting, but ...
This is a book by Michael Harrold about his life during his almost seven years in North Korea where he worked as a translations adviser.

First, let me say that a main reason that I bought this book was because of a few comments in the amazon.com product description:

"For seven years he lived in Pyongyang enjoying privileged access to the ruling classes and enjoying the confidence of the country's young elite. In this fascinating insight into the culture of North Korea he describes ... and many of the fascinating characters he met ... socialite friends. After seven years and having been caught passing South Korean music tapes to friends and going out without his minder to places forbidden to foreigners, he was asked to leave the country."

I think this description was a bit exaggerated and/or misleading. I was expecting to gain some insight into how the elite lived and thought; the author had little if any contact with the elite, and there was not much insight given there. He did drink a lot of beer while having some light chats with some North Koreans who could speak English, but no heavy weights from what I could see; even these people seemed to keep him at arms length most of the time, but then he was a foreigner and that is a problem there. On his being asked to leave, the music tape thing described happened a long time before he left it seems, and I am not at all sure that went to any forbidden places at all. That fight he got into in front of a hotel not long before he left seems to have had much more to do with his departure. BUT, then again, he was later asked to return to his old job.

In any case, I still liked the book. Harrold does relate many interesting anecdotes and also explains how the scene there and internationally was viewed from inside North Korea - or at least how he thought it was viewed there, as the North Koreans were not big on sharing their innermost thoughts I gathered. It is written with some attention to chronological order, but is also a little stream of consciousness (disorganized) at the same time, so be warned. I did think that he spent way too much time talking about his beer drinking and not enough on (other) local color and what it was really really like to live there on a day to day basis throughout the year(s).

Harrold has gotten some criticism for being too sympathetic to the North Korean viewpoint, but then to be fair, he is clear that things there are far from OK. It is true, as he points out, that things in South Korea are not all freedom and prosperity for all either. The Kim regime in the north has done some good things for the people, but then again, the bad has out-weighted the good for many many years at least. It is instructive to hear how the North Koreans themselves probably see things. But then, is their viewpoint based on less than complete information?

It was a little sad to see how much it appeared to have hurt Harrold when he apparently reached the conclusion that he had never really been accepted there after almost seven years.

The book is rather long (about 400 pages), but is pretty entertaining and should keep a reader interested. Is it the best one could have hoped for from someone who spent so long there? Well maybe not.

An excellent memoir
This is an excellent first-hand account of a foreigner living in the worlds most closed society.Hired by the government as a translator, Harrold describes how his initial trepidation and suspicion of his new hosts eventually gives way to admiration and respect for the North Korean people and their society.Perhaps the most interesting portions of this book are his descriptions of how he was able to circumvent the omnipotent internal security restrictions.A facinating book that is also easy to read.

Incorrigible
This book is only for those who can swallow something like this:

Seoul had refused to express condolences over the death of the greatest of Koreans. p. 400

He is referring to none other than Kim Il Sung. Not "one of the greatest." Just "the greatest."

I strongly recommend reading the article "Working through Korean unification blues" by Andrei Lankov, who is a great analyst of Korean affairs. You can find it on Asia Times Online site. Admitting that the reunification of the Korean peninsula appears almost impossibly difficult should be the start. ... Read more

Product Description
In the Korean War’s unique combat environment, significant battles took place that profoundly affected the future of air warfare. Crimson Sky examines in detail twenty of the most interesting and representative aerial actions of the war. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (8)

Mesmerizing...
This book reads like a novel, although the very nature of its subject is compelling: the Korean Air War is a largely untouched subject in history. Records are difficult to get, they are sketchy or poorly sorted or... have been destroyed since the war.
The book is written out of these long and numerous, although mostly and long forgotten aviators' personal archives and records, dug out from their rusty and dusty storage areas from 60 years ago and brought back to light with obvious talent by the author.
The merits I see in this book are numerous. First, the author traces the story of the air war in parallel with the story of the war itself, in a chronological fashion. It becomes very easy to follow the narrative, because it is put in context with the overall war itself. Second, all types of air operations are covered in the book: CAS & strafing, dive bombing, medium and heavy bombing, interception, air superiority, CAP, escort... you name it, the book has it! The specifics of these different types of operations are narrated from the standpoint of those who personally lived through them and testified afterwards. There is no cliché, no generalities, no waste of time. Third, with a rare insight into these specific air operations, the author skillfully managed to give crystal-clear depictions of these often complex operations. With dozens, or hundreds of aircraft sometimes up in the air at the same time, recalling this kind of operation requires a thorough understanding of timing, sequencing and air combat tactics...which very obviously this author does have. Also, last but not least, the author provides a few Communist pilot's testimonies, a rare feature considering the difficulty of coming across these, even today...
In short, this book is a must-have, a vivid testimony of these unique, uncommon and long-forgotten times, when pre-WW2, propeller-driven, soviet-made PO2's had to deal with the then top-notch F-86's, when Skyraiders had to drop torpedoes to blow-up water dams by flying below anti-air attack nets, when MiG-17s wiped the air clean of B-29's... Readers won't escape this feeling of pity for the doomed F-84, La-9, B-29 or Corsair pilots... all pilots of astounding WW2 machines... that were up against massively superior adversaries. And still, they soldiered on despite all odds. Absolutely mesmerizing...

Great overall converage of Air War
I really liked how this book covers the entire air war and not just a specific few units.I have read lots on specific units but this really helped me understand what was going on overall.This is a MUST read.

Great name
Ive got a copy of this book, havent gotten into it yet, should be fascinating enough on subject matter alone, which as some other reviewers note, gets scant attention except perhaps in highly specialised-and pretty expensive-pubs like "Squadron" profilebooks.
You know what really made a winning 1st impression with me? The Title, I think that is a simple but masterfully emotive title."Crimson Sky", that really flies like the swept wings of a MiG, imo..What does the Crimson refer to? Bloody ?? Communism? the Reddish brown and Red of the N.K. and PRC flags and insignia?
Works for me, and helps flag thebook as being about something less banal. Thank God he didnt call it "MiG Alley" or some cornball variation of that!!

Air Battles during the Korean War.
First, I commend the author for writing a book about a little explored topic.Many books tell of the land warfare in Korea, but few detail the air battles involving Mig 15s and Sabrejets F-86s.This book attempts to do this, and I think suceeds in showing the violence of the air war.The author breaks his book into chapters detailing the exploits of individuals waging this battle.Unfornatunately, it tries to cover too much in a very short book.One gets a good sense of the first year of the air battles, but nothing of the last two years.
This is a good, though average read.The material covered is unique.I just think the author tried to be too broad in his historical approach and personal stories, and didn't do either very well.An average read about a little written part of the Korean War.

Interesting, Good first hand accounts
The first person accounts of the action are riveting.Being new to studying the Korean War the book helped me get a better understanding of the conflict and what our pilots faced.If you like first person accounts, then this would be a good book for you.The only disappointment I had was not enough "big picture" information and I felt that at times the book skipped through the war, just focusing on a few random battles.It left me wanting more, which is both good and bad. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

Stunning bit of staggering research brings memories to life!
This is NOT a book for any but serious students of History, be they professional or serious Amateurs.It DEMANDS attention to; retention of and ability to recreate the profound complexities and the considerable ineptness of military and civilian leadership, (more likely the lack thereof), which accounts for the massive casualty counts in a War so much shorter than Viet Nam.Leaders who stuck their proverbial 'heads in the sand' rather than face facts, failing in leadership, resulting in loss of countless American lives, along with the enormous, unconscionable reluctance of Constituted Authorities to hold accountable, the hugh EGOS of McArthur and Almond! The denial of overwhelming evidence of the extent of Chinese Military intervention into North Korea, approaches no less than incompetence; it is staggeringly documented! McArthur's intrusion into U.S. Foreign Policy matters along with the REFUSAL to accept and comply with one of the virtual pillars of our very Constitution, namely, that THE PRESIDENT of The U.S. is the Commander-in-Chief of the Military which must remain UNDER Civilian control.It is almost impossible to believe how close AMERICAN involvement in Korea didn't end disasterously, so ill-prepared were we to engage, seriously, such formidable opposition!

This is a virtual 'SLEDGEHAMMER" of a 'blow-by-blow' reconstruction of what could well have been a debacle; one so much worse than the unprecedented ROUT of the entire 8th Army, as IT almost ran from the enemy, in what may well be the worst defeat, in American Military
History.Hard as it may be, this book MUST BE READ AND DONE SO WITH ABSOLUTE CONCENTRATION AND ATTENTION; I consider it that important an accounting of the Korean War!I shall be reading it yet again, very soon.It was almost painful to just read, so authoritively was this book written!IT PULLS NO PUNCHES!!!!

Jim Girzone

Book's Strength and Weakness Is in Its Details
Roy Appleman started working on this book when he was a combat historian in the US Army during the Korean War and continued into the 80s.By examining military records and interviewing many of the participants at all levels, he brings a great deal of detail to bear on a narrow focus:the experiences of the United States Eighth Army (with attached Turkish, British, and South Korean units) in the Korean War from November 24th, 1950 to December 26th,1950.

That detail can be mindnumbing at times, especially for a life-long civilian like me.A large portion of this book is taken up with such details as when x platoon detached from Company Y to occupy Hill Z.Appleman tries to be as clear as possible and substitutes organizing his history around units for a straight chronological telling of events.On occasion, he stops to remind us what is happening elsewhere simultaneous to the events he is covering or backtracks to place things in context.There are plenty of maps, many of them detailed, but the book could have used even more.

The book doesn't start to get really interesting until about half way through when Appleman takes up the harrowing retreat of the 2nd Infantry Division from Kunu-ri.This account, even more than the rest of the book, is drawn from post-combat interviews since most of the official records were lost.It tells of an approximately six mile retreat, done by some units at night in subzero temperatures, down a narrow road while under enemy fire from both sides.It is an example of confused command, bad coordination between units, and courage and cowardice.

After the retreat from Kunu-ri, we get the details of Operation Bug-Out, its unofficial title in some quarters, when the UN forces fled approximately 300 miles south of their most northernly positions in Korea.

All this detail, while boring at times, is sometimes quite informative to those unacquainted with the details of military logistics.I gleaned, in passing, some understanding of how advances and retreats are planned, the intricacies of the quartermaster's work, and the coordination of artillery support with the infantry.

As you would expect from the author of the US Army's offical history of the first five months of the Korean War, this book is also partially intended as a case study for professional military men.Appleman criticizes the actions of everyone from the Joint Chiefs of Staff and MacArthur to the behavior of privates.He restates the frequent criticism that MacArthur's notion of reunifying Korea was foolish.Korea's border with China was unpatrollable by the forces MacArthur had to say nothing of his misreading of Chinese intention and capabilities.The Joint Chiefs of Staff should have denied MacArthur permission to advance to the Chinese border.Appleman also notes a general lack of ground reconnaisance to scout out the disposition of Chinese forces before and after their second offensive.It was failure to maintain contact with the enemy which was partially responsible for the decision not to form a defensive line at the waist of Korea in December 1950 even though the Chinese did not, indeed could not, follow the retreating forces.

On the mid-levels of command, Appleman also notes problems.In the withdrawal from Kunu-ri, Colonel Freeman's controversial decision not to perform a rearguard action for the retreating column is covered.Appleman sees it as a breakdown in coordination and the chain of command.Appleman also notes how General Walker had units in reserve but did not use them in a northward attack to clear the Chinese roadblock between Sunchon and Kunu-ri.He mentions, but has no explanation for, the British Middlesex Battalion's failure to support the retreat as ordered.

On the lowest levels, Appleman notes a general lack of discipline, with some notable exceptions, about maintaining supplies and equipment and also armor units failing to support infantry in clearing Chinese from the sides of the Kunu-ri-Sunchon road.

Appleman also stresses that his account corrects two misconceptions in the history of the Korean War.Chinese General Lin Piao, a legendary figure from the Long March, did not lead troops in the second Chinese offensive of the war, and the Chinese did not exploit a gap between the Eighth Army and the X Corps.Rather, they punched a whole in the front and exploited it.

Military professionals and veterans of the events covered should find this book valueable.Casual readers of military history will find parts slow going, but the book should ultimately reward their attention.

Brings clarity to the chaotic retreat of the Eighth Army fro
The Eighth Army's retreat from Northwest Korea after the invasion of theChinese Army in 1950 is a difficult event to understand because of thesimultaneous occurrence of many interconnected battles.Appleman'streatment of these events brings clarity to the overall picture, and bringsinto sharp relief the command failures and inconsistencies whichexacerbated the defeat of U.S. forces.Unanswered in Appleman's detailedtreatment, however, is the question of why the Eighth Army failed to carryout its declared intention to establish a defensive line north ofPyongyang.Instead, the Army seemed to lose all coherence and fall back ina panicked rush until it was well below the 38th parallel, long after ithad lost contact with the advancing Chinese.Appleman's harsh evaluationof Col. Paul Freeman's decision to withdraw his regiment by the coast roadis also somewhat controversial, although I must say that after readingAppleman's account of the sequence of events it is hard to disagree withhis conclusion. ... Read more

Product Description
For many centuries the residents of the three northern provinces of Korea have long had cultural and linguistic characteristics that have marked them as distinct from their brethren in the central area near the capital and in the southern provinces.Contributors to this book address the problem of amnesia regarding the subjectivity of the northern region of Korea in contemporary, historical, and cultural discourses, which have largely been dominated by grand paradigms, such as modernization theory, the positivist perspective, and Marxism. Through the use of storytelling, linguistic analysis, and journal entries from turn-of-the-century missionaries and traveling Russians in addition to many varieties of unconventional primary sources, they creatively explore unfamiliar terrain while examining the culture, identity, and regional distinctiveness of the northern region and its people.

Sun Joo Kim is a professor of Korean history at Harvard University. She is the author of Marginality and Subversion in Korea. ... Read more

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Customer Reviews (18)

Excellent Analysis
Roy Appleman's book is a must for the Korean War buff.The level of detailed research outlining the aspects of leadership, logistics, and tactics specific to the Korean conflict make this an excellent addition to any historians' library.When reading East of Chosin; Entrapment and Breakout in Korea, 1950 it is easy to forget that the 23 chapters cover a disaster that takes place just over a 100 hour period.This story focuses on the disastrous results for 3000 Soldiers of the 7th Infantry Division sent to protect the eastern flank of the 1st Marine Division along the Chosin Reservoir in North Korea from 27 November to 01 December in Macarthur's push to end the Korean War by Christmas, 1950.The rushed and poorly planned operation was thwarted with the Chinese surprise assault over the Yalu.The chronological chapters outline the Chosin build-up, leading into a day-by-day account focusing on the major actions leading into the break-out from the Inlet perimeter to the final escape to Hagaru-ri.The book provides 11 maps and 24 pages of pictures spread throughout the book which help in keeping the reader oriented as the events unfold. This book addresses in extreme detail the good and bad of America's efforts to do the "right thing" but where we simply failed to meet the challenge.It outlines the failures, the successes and the bad luck experienced during this operation without searching for scapegoats.This is important history to capture for future audiences since it is easy to underestimate the potential for failure in any military endeavor.This book addresses the many failures that contributed to the tragedy, but focuses on the lessons learned from the event and how those lessons played out on the men who were at Chosin at that time.This story is reminiscent, at certain points, of the Battle of Little Bighorn and Vietnams' Ia Drang Valley with bad tactical decisions and poor intelligence sharing.As a career soldier, this book was difficult to read at times because of the many preventable failings experienced by the Soldiers of the 7th ID.Failings like the disastrous decision to send troops to Hagaru-ri in small groups instead of consolidating a regimental size unit before movement to the objective.The utter failure to pass intelligence forward that indicated up to eight Chinese divisions were in the vicinity of the Chosin Reservoir on 26 November 1950.While this information was known at levels above, it was not shared with the Soldiers and Marines on the ground that day.The 31st Regimental Combat Team (RCT) was virtually destroyed as a fighting unit by the Chinese Communist Forces (CCF) 80th Division, but if it is any consolation, the 80th Division was also destroyed in the process.The research points out little known facts such as the Army units sent to the area had a much larger percentage of their formation made up of the poorly trained South-Korean conscripts to fill vacancies, where the Marines had a much smaller portion and only used them as translators.This certainly played a role in the performance differences by the units on each side of the reservoir.Many tactical errors made in employing the roughly 30,000 American forces against the 100,000 Chinese forces at Chosin guaranteed the Americans would fail against the 10 to 1 odds they faced in the battle. The research is particularly impressive considering the fact that most of the 31st RCT records were destroyed in the battle.Other challenges included most of the leadership were dead and survivor's memories faded with age.Chapter 22 summarizes evidence that demonstrates that better tactical decisions regarding basic communications and ammunition re-supply could have resulted in a very different outcome to the Chosin Reservoir operation.

Korea's Little Big Horn
Anyone with even a smattering of knowledge about the Korean War feels a chill run up his spine when he hears the words "Frozen Chosin."The Chosin Reservoir in North Korea is less than 100 miles from the Yalu River, the boundary between China and North Korea.The reservoir stretches along a north-south axis for about fifteen miles.Chosin evokes images of precipitous mountain terrain and subzero temperatures in the winter.In the winter of 1950, the United Nations armed forces pursued a fleeing North Korean army north toward the Yalu.

It was a trap.It was like the old western movies where the cavalry chased a band of Indians into an apparently deserted canyon, only to find that an overwhelming number of Indians were hidden in the canyon, waiting to go on the offensive.In Korea, more than 100,000 Chinese soldiers had surreptitiously crossed the Yalu and were hidden in the mountains, waiting for the U.N. forces to continue their northward pursuit.

For all practical purposes, the U.N. forces consisted of the United States military, augmented by conscripts from South Korea and a small number of units from some member countries of the United Nations.The United States Eighth Army moved up the left side of the Korean Peninsula.The X Corps was on the right side.The main component of the X Corps was the First Division of the U.S. Marine Corps, about 25,000-men strong.Also, the X Corps included the 31st Regimental Combat Team of the U.S. Army, a unit that was comprised of about 3,000 men, supplemented by artillery and tanks.Within the X Corps' area of operations, the Marines were to move up west of the Chosin Reservoir, while the army RCT moved up east of Chosin.

This book is the story of the 31st RCT.It is a sad story.However, it is a story well-told by a military man who is familiar with the army units and the personalities involved.

The historical research for this story was exceptionally difficult.The records of the 31st RCT were destroyed in battle; the RCT leaders were dead.Survivors gave their recollections but their memories were imperfect.Records of the First Marine Division and the command staff of the X Corps often verified some of the facts.However, those corroborating records did not supply the reasons for the actions taken by the RCT commanders.One suspects that this lack of first-hand history is why the author goes to great lengths to identify the sources of the narrative, a practice that gives the story a sense of being overly-detailed.

In the telling of the story of the 31st RCT east of Chosin, it is inevitable that there would be a comparison with the First Marine Division west of Chosin.The author does a good job of minimizing such comparisons.After all, this is the story of the 31st RCT, not a story about the Marines.The author does comment at the end of the book about the different composition of the two organizations (a Marine Division is larger than the RCT; and the RCT had a much larger percentage of South Korean conscripts), and the lack of communication within the RCT.While these comments are helpful, they are necessarily vague.Given the inevitability of such comparison, I would have liked to see a short description of the things done by the Marines that could have been done by the RCT.

This is an excellent book that sheds light on an often-ignored part of an often-ignored war.

East of the Chosin
The book goes into extreme detail throughout its course.It tracks different platoons through companies, battalions and regiments.I found this very distracting and unless you're doing specific research on a very small group, not at all helpful. It's a good book, but there are far better books on the Korean war, that do not break things down by the hour and platoon and suddenly switch to an area 1 mile away to another platoon and such.

No Better Critic Then My Dad
Eager for anything new about the Korean War, I bought this book immeditely when it was published in 1987. An excellant read, I passed this on to my Dad who served in that war during the brutal early years of 1950-1951 with the 19th Infantry Regiment, 24th Infantry Division. Unless he had a few beers or had his Army buddies over, he rarely talked about his war experiences. This book brought it all out. I gave him Appleman's other works to include, "Disaster In Korea" and "Escaping the Trap". From these three books, my Dad learned for the first time the whole picture of what occured in that brutal winter of 1950. He was such an ardent supporter of General MacArthur that he would get into fist fights whenever someone bad mouthed the General.My Dad's opinion of MacArthur was never the same after reading these books.

Until I went to war, I never understood how someone could not know what was going on around them during a key moment of a war.But my dad lived for 40 years without knowing the truth of what happened during that winter of 1950 and why.Appleman's books painted the big picture for my father.

Unfairly maligned as a racist after his death, the history of the Korean war was greatly enhanced by the four books Appleman wrote in the 1980s and 1990s. But this book, especially, stands out in recording an almost forgotten and frequently misunderstood episode that has become an epic of courage by the American Soldier during that war.

Gripping and chilling account of a deadly spiral into near annihilation
I've been in the Army for a long time, with tours in Afghanistan and Iraq, and this really hit home in many ways.The utter disappearance of the regimental commander, LTC Faith shooting KATUSAs that wouldn't follow orders, men freezing to death, the endless waves of Chinese attackers crashing into the American lines.Truly an excellent account of an incredibly ugly tactical situation.A great companion about the Korean war to This Kind of War. ... Read more

Product Description
For more than half of the twentieth century, the Korean peninsula has been divided between two hostile and competitive nation-states, each claiming to be the sole legitimate expression of the Korean nation. The division remains an unsolved problem dating to the beginnings of the Cold War and now projects the politics of that period into the twenty-first century. Korea's Twentieth-Century Odyssey is designed to provide readers with the historical essentials upon which to unravel the complex politics and contemporary crises that currently exist in the East Asian region. Beginning with a description of late-nineteenth-century imperialism, Michael Robinson shows how traditional Korean political culture shaped the response of Koreans to multiple threats to their sovereignty after being opened to the world economy by Japan in the 1870s. He locates the origins of both modern nationalism and the economic and cultural modernization of Korea in the twenty years preceding the fall of the traditional state to Japanese colonialism in 1910.

Robinson breaks new ground with his analysis of the colonial period, tracing the ideological division of contemporary Korea to the struggle of different actors to mobilize a national independence movement at the time. More importantly, he locates the reason for successful Japanese hegemony in policies that included--and thus implicated--Koreans within the colonial system. He gives readers access as well to an understanding of the unique aspects of Japanese colonialism in Korea--in particular how the relatively intensive economic development of the colony in the mid-1930s laid the foundation for subsequent development of human resources as well as the economy of the postwar period. Robinson concludes with a discussion of the political and economic evolution of South and North Korea after 1948 that accounts for the valid legitimacy claims of both nation-states on the peninsula. He thus carefully analyzes the sources of authoritarianism in South Korea while detailing its relationship to stunning economic growth after 1960 and to the democracy movement through the 1970s and 1980s. He closes with a description of South Korean politics, noting that although procedural democracy triumphed after 1987, the development of a true pluralism representing all interest groups remains a work in progress.

Korea's Twentieth-Century Odyssey succinctly and deftly captures the key contours of the country's past. Its balanced analytical narrative of the historical forces that shaped the political, economic, and social dynamics of the two Koreas make it a first-rate introduction to modern Korea and an excellent companion to courses on modern Korean society, politics, and history. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

strong in politics, geopolitics, social issues
"Ironically, what was the Hermit Kingdom in the late 19th century is now where the major powers of the world are congregated, tied in a knot by their inability to find a new paradigm for stability in Northeast Asia." This brilliant sentence sums up the transformation and tragic history Korea went through in the 20th century. Michael Robinson does a very good job in reconstructing this transformation on less than 200 pages. The book is written in a very concise way, while covering many important issues related to politics, economics, geopolitics, international relations, social issues and culture. Given this wide range of issues, of course you can't expect much detail, but you'll still get a pretty good idea of most of the topics important in modern Korean history.

In the last few chapters, there is a strong focus on politics and geopolitics. Elections are described in some detail and nuclear crises are analyzed several times. The author also describes the Asian financial crisis and social issues, but neglects South Korea's recent economic transformation. While doing a pretty good job in explaining the developmental state under Park Chung-hee, Robinson almost completely misses the transformation of the developmental state in late 1980s and 1990s: The role of the state underwent a major transformation, responding to increasing domestic pressure from labor movements and students as well external pressure peaking during the Reagan administration and later democratization. Interventions in the economy became less strategic and more reactive, mitigating adverse effects of the market economy (as opposed to development planning). The South Korean state increasingly embraced free trade, free markets, reduced control over the chaebol, and reduced restrictions on labor movements, allowing employees to demand a larger share of the pie. Only the last point - increasing incomes and as a result consumption - and efforts to establish a welfare state are mentioned in the book. The author completely misses other important issues related to this transformation, such as the increasing and largely unchecked power of the chaebol.

If you're interested in politics and geopolitics, including relations between the Koreas and the USA, this book is perfect for you. If you're more interested in economic development (like me), I still recommend you to read it - It will give you great background on any aspect of modern South Korea you want to study.

essential
The wait for a succinct yet comprehensive history of modern Korea is over. This volume, deftly written by Michael Robinson (Indiana University), comes as a welcome alternative to histories of Korea too long or complex for the typical undergraduate. His book is divided into an introduction, eight chapters (none longer than twenty-five pages), and an epilogue, each of which may be profitably read or assigned on its own.The first chapter surveys traditional Korea, and argues that the seeds of Korean modernity were present even in the Choson dynasty. In Chapters Two through Four, Robinson -- a specialist in Korea's colonial period -- surveys the brutal decades of Japanese rule, elucidating the unique features of Japan's colonizing efforts from the 1910s to the 1940s.He also draws attention to the ideological divisions within Korean society during this period that led to the eventual bifurcation of the peninsula into two confrontational nation-states after WWII.The remaining chapters examine Korea's postwar split, devoting space to developments in both North and South Korea, while a thought-provoking epilogue explores the peninsula's role in East Asian geopolitics in the twenty-first century.Striking photographs throughout confirm this volume's status as the new standard in the field. ... Read more

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The Korean War was a significant turning point in the Cold War.This book explains how the conflict in a small peninsula in East Asia had a tremendous impact on the entire international system and the balance of power between the two superpowers, America and Russia. Through the conflict, the West demonstrated its resolve to thwart Communist aggression and the armed forces of China, the Soviet Union and the United States came into direct combat for the only time during the Cold War. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (5)

Remember the "Forgotten War"
Carter Malkasian succeeds in providing a complete-feeling overview of the Korean War within the very limited Essential Histories format.In only 96 pages, this book provides adequate background, chronology, and geopolitical implications of the Korean War.This includes discussions on why this war was fought on a limited basis, the importance of the war for each involved party, the often devastating effects of the war on Korea, and the War's contribution to the evolution of warfare.Paying more attention to the politics behind the war than on individual battles, Malkasian keeps the focus of this book on the broader picture of the conflict between ideologies, rather than the soldier's perspective of the war on the ground.That is not to say that important battles aren't discussed in a fair amount of detail here, just not to the same level that individual battles receive in some other Essential Histories I've read.Malkasian's approach works very well here, as the Korean War in particular really was a proxy war between superpowers where the focus was very much on politics and attrition, rather than total victory.

Many aspects of the Korean War make it stand out as being a vehicle for change in the way wars are fought.Inflicting casualties in an effort to gain bargaining chips for diplomacy was perfected here.Jet airplanes were first used broadly as fighters/bombers.Helicopters proved their usefulness in transportation and evacuation.The threat of nuclear annihilation became the US's most powerful deterrent to escalation.Also important was the emergence of the United Nations as a vehicle for diplomacy and for legitimizing war.This was the first time the UN supported the invasion of another country in order to maintain future peace.Malkasian does a remarkable job in laying out the many unique aspects of the Korean War.

While this war might not have turned out that way either side had hoped (particularly Koreans), we must be thankful to some degree that it ended when it did.This book makes it quite apparent how close the world came to a third World War during this conflict.Both the United States and the Soviet Union were apparently very close to escalating this war, which would have undoubtedly had devastating results for Southeast Asia, and very likely for the rest of the world.

Read this book, help yourself remember the forgotten war.

Superlative Summary
This summary covers all the bases of the Korean conflict: political, tactical, strategic, cultural and does it well within an Osprey format. It was a war fought on two levels. The lower level was fought between the two Korean countries wanting to unify their whole country under their political control. On the larger scale, it was a war fought among the three super powers for ideology, prestige and the expansion of world dominance.
North Korea was under the influence of Stalin and the Soviet Union was training and equipping the NKPA to invade the south while the US was marginally helping the South Koreans. Its been said that the speech Dean Acheson gave on 1/12/1950 that implied the US was letting go of South Korea, excluding it from the US sphere was the prime motivator for the invasion.

The introduction presents a brief history of Korea going back to 1905 when Japan took it over and mistreated the Koreans until the end of WWII when the Soviet Union liberated the northern half and the US the southern half. The narrative continues to describe the friction between the US and Communist China after the world war as well as the alliance formed between Stalin and Mao. The author talks about the political atmosphere of the day and how these countries are linked together. Its all basic information but if you're new to the Korean War, its invaluable to understand how the war started, why the PRC got involved and why the UN forces stayed the course. There were critical implications that could effect the world if a third world war or a nuclear war had ignited. It was the first time in the Cold War that the Superpowers were indirectly fighting each other.
Mr Malkasian includes a good chronology that spans the entire war that will be helpful as a guide to follow the battle action and political events.

The invasion of the south began on June 25th, 1950 when columns of T34 tanks spearhead the assault along the border. For the next two and half months the ROK and meager US forces had a very tough time being pushed back to the Pusan Perimeter until enough reinforcements were brought in to stop the NKPA at the Naktong River. MacArthur devised the Inchon landings in mid September which turned everything around, causing the NKPA to flee to the north. UN Forces followed past the 38th parallel inciting Mao to counterattack, dramatically escalating the war.

The key engagements are covered and each has its own color map. There are 12 maps which greatly help to understand the dialog. The maps show the dispositions of all the key players: US, ROK, PRC, NKPA and UN. The maps include the initial invasion, the Pusan Perimeter, the major PRC offensives, the Chosin Resivoir battle, Mig Alley. In addition to the tactiacal coverage on the ground, off the coast as well as the air war, the author explains the civilian migration and hardship, the Communist insurgency in the south, the quarrelous "peace" negotiations, POW issue, prison riots and much more. There are mini profiles of MacArthur, Ridgeway, Clark. The story ends with describing the human and economic costs of the war and how the different countries survived and responded from the bitterness of the war.
There are also many fine photos to study. A Bibliography and Index round out the book.
This is an excellent primer and a good starting place before you read the full length books. Its highly recommended. Also, a good companion book to this one would be "US Army Forces in the Korean War 1950-53" by Donald Boose. Its one of Osprey's Battle Orders series and it expands on the organizational aspects.

A decent but short introduction to Korean War
War history is story telling, and good story telling requires a good thesis. The main thesis of this book, which is also the author's PhD thesis, is that Korean War is the first modern "limited war" as the major geopolitical players feel their ways into optimal strategies and tactics in the nuclear-dominated Cold War era. I think this point of view is quite valid and appropriate. Thus the book, although short, is still quite worthy, as it covers all the important events related to its main theme.

Some colorful and interesting details of the Korean War are necessarily brushed over, given the book's limited length. For example, Task Force Faith is not mentioned in the text at all but appears only on the map of Chosin reservoir. Compounding this shortcoming is the fact that the author is British and selects his anecdotes mainly from the combat history of the Commonwealth troops. While the American perspective is not hard to find in most books on this subject, a better coverage on Chinese and/or Korean sources would have definitely improved this work.

The language in the book is not dry but, well, "patient", by which I refer to the feeling I get about the author talking to a young audience. Indeed, my 8-year-old son has no problem going through the book entirely on his own. He thoroughly enjoys it, but probably misses most of the deeper and broader discussions in the book. Overall, I consider this a strength of the book, as it is deep enough for grown-ups and easy enough for kids.

Concise and brief
Having been a Korea veteran during the 1950--1953 conflict era, I found the book to present the important facts of this era without details that a non-orthodox historian would not be concerned about.

Great!
This is by far the best book I have ever read on the Korean war.It is just the right length to give an easy to follow strategic overview, that is complete in essentials for that level.And for those readers desiring a look at the "little people" involved, there are two sections, one about a soldier's experiences, and another about a Korean family's experiences.There are more than an adequate number of maps, making it easy to follow the ebb and flow of battle.The writing flows along in a nice, easy to read manner.The author is a student of wars of attrition, and his interest and expertise show on every page. ... Read more

Product Description
When the major powers sent troops to the Korean peninsula in June of 1950, it supposedly marked the start of one of the last century's bloodiest conflicts. Allan Millett, however, reveals that the Korean War actually began with partisan clashes two years earlier and had roots in the political history of Korea under Japanese rule, 1910-1945.

The first in a new two-volume history of the Korean War, Millett's study offers the most comprehensive account of its causes and early military operations. Millett traces the war's origins to the post-liberation conflict between two revolutionary movements, the Marxist-Leninists and the Nationalist-capitalists. With the U.S.-Soviet partition of Korea following World War II, each movement, now with foreign patrons, asserted its right to govern the peninsula, leading directly to the guerrilla warfare and terrorism in which more than 30,000 Koreans died. Millett argues that this civil strife, fought mostly in the South, was not so much the cause of the Korean War as its actual beginning.

Millett describes two revolutions locked in irreconcilable conflict, offering an even-handed treatment of both Communists and capitalists-nationalists. Neither movement was a model of democracy. He includes Korean, Chinese, and Russian perspectives on this era, provides the most complete account of the formation of the South Korean army, and offers new interpretations of the U.S. occupation of Korea, 1945-1948.

Millett's history redefines the initial phase of the war in Asian terms. His book shows how both internal forces and international pressures converged to create the Korean War, a conflict that still shapes the politics of Asia.

This book is part of the Modern War Studies series. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Superlative Tale of the "War Before the War"
Your opinion on how the Korean war began and how the U.S. became involved will be forever changed after reading this comprehensive and scholarly account focusing on the creation of the two Koreas during the period 1945 - 1950.For example, the first American soldier to die in combat in Korea was killed in 1948 by South Korean guerillas opposed to Syngman Rhee taking power - not by North Korean Peoples Army (NKPA) soldiers in June 1950. On the other side of the coin, you will also be amazed to discover that the South Korean Army captured Soviet advisors to the North Korean Border troops during the large scale "border skirmishes" that took place in late 1949 and early 1950.For the first time the complete story of the U.S. Korean Military Assistance Group (KMAG) is found here, as well as an in-depth discourse on the creation of the Republic of Korea Army as South Korean security forces transitioned successively from a police force to a constabulary to an army as the political and military situation evolved.The narrative dealing with the trials and tribulations of the American Military Government in Korea is as instructive as it is compelling.Many thanks to Dr. Allan Millett for shedding much needed light on a period of Korean history that has previously been sorely neglected. ... Read more

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In this ambitious and innovative study Gregg Brazinsky examines American nation building in South Korea during the Cold War. Marshalling a vast array of new American and Korean sources, he explains why South Korea was one of the few postcolonial nations that achieved rapid economic development and democratization by the end of the twentieth century. Brazinsky contends that a distinctive combination of American initiatives and Korean agency enabled South Korea's stunning transformation. On one hand, Americans supported the emergence of a developmental autocracy that spurred economic growth in a highly authoritarian manner. On the other hand, Americans sought to encourage democratization from the bottom up by fashioning new institutions and promoting a dialogue about modernization and development.

Expanding the framework of traditional diplomatic history, Brazinsky examines not only state-to-state relations, but also the social and cultural interactions between Americans and South Koreans. He shows how Koreans adapted, resisted, and transformed American influence and promoted socioeconomic change that suited their own aspirations. Ultimately, Brazinsky argues, Koreans' capacity to tailor American institutions and ideas to their own purposes was the most important factor in the making of a democratic South Korea. ... Read more

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This text provides an accurate, balanced and readable history of Korea from 1909 to the present day, providing an invaluable one-volume resource for all students of modern Korean history. ... Read more

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In the last fifty years, Korea has transformed itself from an agrarian, Confucian-based culture into a global and technological powerhouse, and one of the most important political and economic forces in the world. Based on previous research and face-to-face interviews, the book shows how contemporary Koreans negotiate traditional Confucian values and Western capitalistic values in their everyday encounters-- particularly in business and professional contexts. This is a useful companion book for courses in international business, intercultural communication, and Asian studies. ... Read more

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To quote the title of Nelson Mandela's 1994 autobiography, it has been a long walk to freedom. The history of South Africa, one of the oldest inhabited places on earth, is also the story of one of the newest nations, made and remade over the last century. This compellingly written history of South Africa, from prehistoric times through 1999, is the only up-to-date history of the nation. Beginning with an overview of the modern nation, this narrative history traces South Africa from prehistory through the European invasions, the settlement by the Dutch, the imposition of British rule, the many internecine wars for control of the nation, the institution of apartheid, and, finally, freedom for all South Africans in 1994 and the Mandela years 1994-1999.

Twin themes of colonial rule and racism intertwine over the course of the last three hundred and fifty years. Beck, a specialist in the history of South Africa, illuminates the conflicts, personalities, and tragedies of South African history over this period, culminating in the end of apartheid in 1994, the release from prison of Nelson Mandela, and his formation of a new government. Brief sketches of key people in the history of South Africa, a glossary of terms, maps, and a bibliographic essay of suggested reading complete the work. Every library should update its resources on South Africa with this engagingly written and authoritative history.

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The Final Crucible details the 1st Marine Division's harrowing close-quarters battles during the final seven months of the Korean War, January to July 1953. The terrible five-day Battle of the Nevada Cities in March and the Marines' bloody stand at Boulder City on the last day of the shooting war are just two of the engagements detailed here. This volume follows The Outpost War: U.S. Marines in Korea, Vol. 1: 1952. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Another Small Masterpiece.
As a drafted Marine, who spent a year of combat in Korea (the final year of the war), I must commend Lee Ballinger on telling the real story of the "Korean Stalemate". I reviewed his first volume "The Outpost War", so I won't add to my review here (go read that one).

I will say however that the Marine Corps does seem a bit embarrassed that inducted (drafted) Marines played such a vital role in the final outpost battles of the Korean War. I sometimes think Marine Command would like to downplay that segment of Marine Corps history, but I may be overstating it. I know of at least one Marine draftee who received the Medal of Honor during the "Outpost War" so I guess we weren't all bad. ... Read more