Boys and young men clamber onto planes with spirits full of adventure. Caputo was about 6 months ahead of my dad on the quanticotovietnam trajectory. A rumor of war was just that, it discussed everything from gruesome encounters with the viet cong to descriptions of the horrible weather. The rumor of war is an excellent book that really helps capture the true essence of the vietnam war and as stated by caputo, this book does not pretend to be history xiii. For anyone who has ever asked, what was vietnam really like, marine lieutenant philip caputos book, a rumor of war, is a must read. No 573 a rumor of war by philip caputo for the 1977 club. Caputos a rumor of war, published in 1977, is about his personal experiences in vietnamfirst as a member of the marines sent into danang in 1965 as the first combat unit in vietnam and then. A decade later, caputo would write in a rumor of war, this is simply a story about war, about the things men do in war and the things war does to them. This book was the first book that dealt with vietnam reasonably and it gave people a sense of what the war was like. A rumor of war summary from litcharts the creators of sparknotes. The a rumor of war community note includes chapterbychapter summary and analysis, character list, theme list, historical context, author. A rumor of war is considered one of the greatest books written about the vietnam war because of the personal, ambivalent tone that caputo takes throughout the book. A rumor of war is far more than one soldiers story. In a rumor of war philip caputo portrays many characters, but the three that seamed to stand out most in the book were three lieutenant caputo, lieutenant neal, and sergeant sullivan.
A rumor of war study guide from litcharts the creators of. Throughout the course of the book, approximately 16 months, we observe a young, ambitious boy ready to prove his manhood, in search of adventure turn into an aged disillusioned man. Download and read politicians are being played like a violin, page 300. One of the main reasons for the common misconception that the war would be over in a few weeks or just a bit longer was the fact that the viet cong were underestimated. A decade later, caputo would write in a rumor of war, \this is simply a story about war, about the things men do in war and the things war does to them.
A rumor of war by philip caputo plot summary litcharts. Analysis of philip caputos a rumor of war essay bartleby. Like dispatches, by michael herr, it is a gripping first person narrative of what it was like to be in vietnam but herr was there as a war correspondent, and the worst action he sees is brief visits to forward camps. The best study guide to a rumor of war on the planet, from the. On march 7, 1965, however, three companies, including caputos, are finally assigned to war. In the foreword, caputo makes clear that this is not a history book, nor is it a historical accusation. In the foreword, caputo makes clear that this is not a history book, nor is it a. Philip caputos, the author of a rumor of war, use of vivid language made the book come alive, as if it were a movie. As a vietnam veteran and 30year army officer, i was slightly conflicted while reading a rumor of war. A rumor of war is a book by philip caputo, written in the year 1977 narrating his experience as a united state marine corps soldier while in the vietnam war. A rumor of war summary and study guide supersummary. Read, highlight, and take notes, across web, tablet, and phone. Analysis of philip caputos a rumor of war essay 1896.
A memoir of the vietnam war, a rumor of war tells the tale of lieutenant philip caputo and his journeys throughout a war that claimed 58,226 american lives and over 1. A rumor of war is the troubled conscience of america speaking passionately, truthfully, and finally. For your reference, we provided these a rumor of war quotes with page numbers using the following version of the book. Philip caputo starts his memoir, a rumor of war, by declaring that it is not an historical account but simply a book about war, and about what. What is the summary for philip caputos a rumor of war. I was up until at least 1 oclock in morning for four nights straight reading the book a rumor of war. Book summary and download volume 1 book in the silent revolution of truth, compilation edition, volume 2, the free pdf book. The a rumor of war community note includes chapterbychapter summary and analysis, character list, theme list, historical context, author biography and quizzes written by community members like you.
A rumor of war quotes showing 18 of 8 before you leave here, sir, youre going to learn that one of the most brutal things in the world is your average nineteenyearold american boy. These sparks of light in the darkness give the book a sense of hope. A rumor of war study guide from litcharts the creators. Philip caputos 1977 memoir about his experience in the vietnam war, a rumor of war, is considered one of the most important books ever written. In the years since then, it has become not only a basic text on the vietnam war but also a renowned classic in the literature of wars throughout history and. The 40thanniversary edition of the classic vietnam memoirfeatured. Anyone who fought in vietnam, if he is honest about himself, will have to admit he enjoyed the compelling attractiveness of combat. It is a terrifying thought, and a rumor of war is a terrifying book.
A rumor of war part 2 1980 cbs special movie presentation intro duration. The memories of a us marine lieutenant in vietnam who slowly gets disillusioned as the war progresses. Its definitely worth a try if youre searching around for a good wartime novel. A rumor of war quotes philip caputo this study guide consists of approximately 43 pages of chapter summaries, quotes, character analysis, themes, and more everything you need to sharpen your knowledge of a rumor of war. A rumor of war book by philip caputo 16 available editions. I swear ive heard the narrator on some voice over on goofy blooper shows and commercials. A rumor of war paper at affordable prices with cheap custom writing service.
A rumor of war is a good book, although not my favorite vietnam book. Phillip caputo was a marine lieutenant during the first years of the vietnam war. He grows up in westchester, illinois, a western suburb of chicago, and longs to escape from the dullness of his. His debut novel, horn of africa, was a finalist for the national book award in 1980. In terms of content and message, however, i could not say that i certainly liked it.
Supersummary, a modern alternative to sparknotes and cliffsnotes, offers highquality study guides for challenging works of literature. This 39page guide for a rumor of war by philip caputo includes detailed chapter summaries and analysis covering 18 chapters, as well as several more indepth sections of expertwritten literary analysis. Use the page number display located at top right to find the correct page. Learn vocabulary, terms, and more with flashcards, games, and other study tools. Lieutenant caputo has, in his writing divided the book into sections with the first one describing his reasons for joining the united states marine corps, the training thereafter and the. It was the book that shattered americas deliberate indifference to the fate of the men it sent to fight in the jungles of vietnam, and in the years since it was first published it has become a basic text on that war. Nov 30, 2015 a decade later, caputo would write a rumor of war. War is always attractive to young men who know nothing about it, but we had also been seduced into uniform by kennedys challenge to ask what you can do for your country and by the missionary idealism he had awakened in us. Philip caputo starts his memoir, a rumor of war, by declaring that it is not an historical account but simply a book about war, and about what happens to people as a result of conducting war. Philip caputo was not only an amazing marine lieutenant, but he was also a very talented writer. Upon its publication in 1977, it shattered america s indifference to the fate of the men sent to fight in the jungles of vietnam. A rumor of war is a dangerous and even subversive book, the first to insistand the insistence is all the more powerful because it to what lengths would i have gone to survive. Created by the original team behind sparknotes, litcharts are the worlds.
The sense of self is assaulted, overcome, subverted, leaving the reader to contemplate the deadening possibility that his own moral safety net might have a hole in it. When it first appeared, a rumor of war brought home to american readers, with terrifying vividness and honesty, the devastating effects of the vietnam war on the soldiers who fought there. A rumor of war 1999 read online free book by philip. Vietnam hits lieutenant caputo very quickly, as it must have for all marine corps platoon leaders. Apr 20, 2018 what makes a rumor of war a great book rather than just an interesting book is the human angle and the moments of warmth, kindness and camaraderie among the soldiers that caputo clings to. Jun 03, 2016 a rumor of war part 2 1980 cbs special movie presentation intro duration. When first arriving in danang, vietnam, caputo and his men step into what feels to them like just another military exercise. In this edition, page numbers are just like the physical edition. Upon its publication in 1977, it shattered americas indifference to the fate of the men sent to fight in the jungles of vietnam. A rumor of war summary and study guide supersummary, a modern alternative to sparknotes and cliffsnotes, offers highquality study guides for challenging works of literature. It is set in what was the early, optimistic vietnam in the spring of 65 when we thought we were fighting for freedom and before the reality of the place hit home.
The first memoir to emerge from the vietnam conflict, philip caputos a rumor of war is now regarded as one of the great classics of war literature, ranked alongside all quiet on the western front and the naked and the dead 40th anniversary edition with an introduction from kevin powers. And while it is a memoir of one young mans experiences and therefore deeply personal, it is also a book that speaks powerfully to todays students about the. The main events of a rumor of war take place between 1960, when caputo joins the marines, and 1967, when he is discharged. Caputo says that the vietnam war was different from other wars because of its savagery. What caputo means by this is that history books only cover a small part of what the vietnam war was all about. What makes a rumor of war a great book rather than just an interesting book is the human angle and the moments of warmth, kindness and camaraderie among the soldiers that caputo clings to.
Kennedy was elected president of the united states in 1960, after narrowly defeating richard nixon. Kennedy features prominently in caputos memory, for it was his message, ask not what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for your country, that. It was a peculiar enjoyment because it was mixed with a commensurate pain. Caputo enters the marine corps in 1960, attracted by the allure of adventure and danger. Open library is an initiative of the internet archive, a 501c3 nonprofit, building a digital library of internet sites and other cultural artifacts in digital form. This is one of the most unnerving and most important quotes in the book for the. With brad davis, keith carradine, michael okeefe, richard bradford. This book is partly an attempt to capture something of its ambivalent realities.