The Korean War

By: Max Hastings

Narrated by: Cameron Stewart

Length: 19 hrs and 50 mins

Publisher's summary

On 25 June, 1950, the invasion of South Korea by the Communist North launched one of the bloodiest conflicts of the last century. The seemingly limitless power of the Chinese-backed North was thrown against the ferocious firepower of the UN-backed South in a war that can be seen today as the stark prelude to Vietnam.

Max Hastings drew on first-hand accounts of those who fought on both sides to produce this vivid and incisive reassessment of the Korean War, bringing the military and human dimensions into sharp focus. Critically acclaimed on publication, The Korean War remains the best narrative history of this conflict.

©1987 Max Hastings (P)2014 Audible Studios

Great Read

Very interesting and informative book. I was astounded with how many references there were to the nuclear option. it's frightening how close we came.

Strong mil-focused history of Korean War

Deft handling of military and political aspects, but a little weak on politics and lacks post-ussr fall docs. Aside from that doesn't feel all that dated and he takes advantage of when he wrote it to conduct interviews with lots of different voices. could have gone a bit deeper militarily. Pow chapter of Koreans held in the aouth fascinating. Good job weaving in different non-elite voices and from multiple sides. Would've loved to learn more about Turkish fighters. Worthy war in the end, particularly given how ROK has been able to thrive, important to see relative morality when defending flawed regime that's better than alternative. But enough with the Uk analysis can do no wrong.
Not a brilliant work, but good research and interviews went into it. Mac portrait good and concise, not much on us high politics. Good on characterizing how societies were responding to the war, perspective from everyday Americans and uk. Odd to think that uk in 1950 saw itself a first rate power, empire would last for awhile was operating assumption. Have to always be contextualizj get, imagining what is the recent history of the subjects, get a sense of their historical and political frame of references.

The Korean War - Hasting's Take

Story: Overall, the book is very good and covers elements not covered in most books on Korea such as the UK contributions to the UNC. I recommend this book.

Narrator: it is always a pleasure to listen to Cameron Stewart. There is usual bias of an American listening to a British voice.

Production: Excellent.

Like his book on vietnam, a truly gratifying, educational, introspective, and all encompassing experience

While the book is a bit dated at this point, it provides the most essential account of the Korean War. It bears some resemblances in narrative structure to Tradegy, such as focusing on the experiences of pows and the airmen by about the 2/3 or 3/4 point, which isn’t bad just something I noticed. Also like Tragedy, the last chapter is an almost awe-inspiring exercise in reflection, summary, introspection and making you feel like you understand the conflict as well as most historians. Has made me think twice about my views on Communism, and the best use of limited warfare.

simply the best chronology and

simply the best chronology and analysis o the Korean War ...heavy on facts and reflection

well-rounded & thoughtful

this is a well-rounded and thoughtful survey of the American and English experience in the Korean War. the narrator sought to enliven quotations with his imitations of the various accents of the speakers, which I could have lived without; but I can't suggest a better way to signal the beginnings and endings of quoted material, so even that I got used to. Hastings I have grown accustomed to enjoying and respecting.

Good coverage of an almost forgotten war.

Always entertaining and informative, stacked with interesting facts. There are a great many stories and asides that fill in the human side of the conflict. Well read and never boring, for this listener.

great detail and the narrator gave me a chuckle

great read and the narrator impersonating voices was a plus I would highly recommend this book about the forgotten war

A great primer on a forgotten war

Many Americans have forgotten Korea, the war between our greatest triumph against Fascism and Imperial Japan and the great misunderstood tragedy of Vietnam. This book is a fantastic overall view of Korea with plenty of interviews from soldiers and marines of the UN forces, as well as ROK and Chinese Communist forces. The performance is pretty good, and it comes across more as a story than a dry lecture. One thing to note though is that the narrator uses a rather poor American accent when quoting US figures, which at first threw me off a bit but I came to appreciate it because it made it clear what was quotation and what was Max Hasting's writing.

An education for my generation

I am glad I persevered with this epic from Max Hastings, and did so because of his pedigree.
The scholarship behind writing this book is nothing less than one expects from its author.
That said, I find it irritating when an English narrator attempts an American accent for dramatic effect, in this case dialogue of various US military personnel involved in the conflict.
In 2012 when working in Seoul, I visited the DMZ during the US tour of duty, in representing the UN’s revolving shared responsibility. The US military one encountered showed a quiet and professional respect for what they were doing, and you took them very seriously. Nothing whatsoever to do with planet Hollywood B movie actors, which is what the narrator of this book sounded like. I for one, am glad they are there, not because it’s a good idea, but because of the way they do what they do.