The Killing Fields

by Sydney Schanberg

A record of the work of a NY Times correspondent, Sydney Schanberg, and his Cambodian assistant, Dith Pran, from the fall of Phnom Penh to the Khmer Rouge in 1975 and the blood bath in Cambodia that followed. This information is the basis for the film of the same name, includes dispatches, photos and personal accounts

Genres: Nonfiction, History, War, Journalism, Asia

Paperback

First published November 22, 1984

About the author

Sydney Hillel Schanberg was an American journalist best known for his coverage of the war in Cambodia. Schanberg joined The New York Times as a journalist in 1959. He spent much of the early 1970s in Southeast Asia as a correspondent for the Times. He has been the recipient of a Pulitzer Prize, two George Polk awards, two Overseas Press Club awards, and the coveted Sigma Delta Chi prize for distinguished journalism.

Reviews

[Mikey B. · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is an accompanying booklet to the film “The Killing Fields”. I always felt this very powerful film to be the best of the Vietnam War movies; albeit not directly about Vietnam but the tragic plight of Cambodia. Wars often over-extend themselves and the Vietnam War was no exception.

The book is richly illustrated with articles by both Dith Pran and Sydney Schanberg. There is more about their history and that of Cambodia and the Khmer Rouge than on the actual making of the film.

Page 31 (my book) Roland Joffe – director of The Killing Fields

It was easy too in the controversy of the time to ignore the human complexities of the Vietnam War. Once the Americans were in, and had altered the lifestyles of the countries involved, the acts of staying or leaving would be equally tragic. Men are not machines and are as likely driven by fear, love, or revenge as by strategy. This tragic war in Cambodia contained in it so much we now take for granted in the world – the abiding cynicism of big power geopolitics, civil war, ideological struggles, nationalism and racial paranoia.

[Donna · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was a great lesson in managing my expectations. I saw the movie (again) recently and was deeply moved (again) by the harrowing experiences of the Cambodian people under the Khmer Rouge. The communist takeover was as brutal a regime change as the world has ever known. I had hoped to learn more by reading the short book. Sadly, it didn't add anything significant to what I already know.

I gave the book 3 stars because it does a good job of presenting the facts. If you haven't seen the movie, the book would be worth your time. It's short. If you have occasion to view the movie, I would recommend that over this book.

[Mike Bruce · Rating 5 out of 5]

The brutality of communism in full force. Only today, forty years later, was someone convicted of genocide and crimes against humanity. A forgotten Pulitzer Prize winner.

[P.S. Winn · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a great story, first of a war that never should have happened, then of the journalists covering it. It is also a story of incredible will to survive.

[Ed · Rating 5 out of 5]

An essential read for our time.

[Bill · Rating 3 out of 5]

See the movie. I never say that, but this book is essentially the screen play in a less organized format. Great story but the book does not add anything.