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Behind the Lines: Powerful and Revealing American and Foreign War Letters---and One Man's Search to Find Them
A candid exploration of warfare from the perspectives of soldiers and civilians is drawn from previously unpublished letters as collected by the author during his country-wide tour in search of wartime correspondences, in a tribute that features the writings of soldiers from every major American conflict. 350,000 first printing.
501 pages, Hardcover
First published May 10, 2005
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Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews
August 11, 2019
Letters from solders in war and their correspondents, a selection going back centuries from every corner of the globe and every culture - including recent email correspondences.
There are common themes in all the letters that examine the psychological struggles and effects of war.
They carry from hearted letters which were escapism from the daily grind, and the pleads, despair and prayers of families at home. A mother from India pleading for the financial support and return of her son, saying she could survive without him - this letter was found on his body. It leaves you thinking about the real price of war.
There are common themes in all the letters that examine the psychological struggles and effects of war.
They carry from hearted letters which were escapism from the daily grind, and the pleads, despair and prayers of families at home. A mother from India pleading for the financial support and return of her son, saying she could survive without him - this letter was found on his body. It leaves you thinking about the real price of war.
March 30, 2018
excellent editing in bringing together letters from different places and periods of time
October 13, 2018
Not as good as War Letters, but still eye opening.
May 12, 2010
After it was released in June of 2001, Carroll's War Letters shot onto bestseller lists as the U.S. entered its first major war in 10 years. That collection selected 150 letters from 50,000 Carroll received after a Dear Abby mention of his Legacy Project, founded in 1998 to preserve soldiers' letters home; the book ranged from the Civil War to Bosnia. This follow-up reaches from the American Revolution to the war in Iraq and offers 200 letters along with 72 b&w photos and illustrations. All the letters were written "during major American wars," but not necessarily by soldiers or by Americans; Carroll culled many of them globe-trotting through 35 countries, from Poland to Iraq, over the past year (he tells the story of his journey in a moving introduction).
As for the letters themselves, Carroll has made the very wise editorial decision of printing them as they were written, with misspellings, odd line breaks and regional references intact; letters in translation reproduce idioms and distinctive grammatical turns word for word. The letters are, almost without exception, arresting in their earnestness, sincerity and passion, and diverse in their sentiments—brave, fearful, amorous, angry, resigned, conniving, unbalanced, stoical. The result is captivating in its immediacy. Short head notes provide succinct context, but most speak for themselves. 50-state author tour.
A compilation of soldiers' letters home sounds maudlin on the face of it, but Behind the Lines is touching and tastefully recorded. A cast of readers with appropriate accents brings to life the voices of veterans of the Revolutionary and Civil Wars, both World Wars, and even those serving abroad today. Even foreign soldiers--enemies at the time--are given fair time.
Short bios inform listeners as to the outcomes of each soldier's tour of duty. There is a universality, as all the soldiers miss their homes, families, and sweethearts. Though their convictions and loyalties may be diametrically opposed, many retain a perky gallows humor through it all. The humor and sorrow are ably voiced. Oddly, the audiobook, if anything, serves as an antiwar paean and a fascinating insight into the unintentional literature of war.
As for the letters themselves, Carroll has made the very wise editorial decision of printing them as they were written, with misspellings, odd line breaks and regional references intact; letters in translation reproduce idioms and distinctive grammatical turns word for word. The letters are, almost without exception, arresting in their earnestness, sincerity and passion, and diverse in their sentiments—brave, fearful, amorous, angry, resigned, conniving, unbalanced, stoical. The result is captivating in its immediacy. Short head notes provide succinct context, but most speak for themselves. 50-state author tour.
A compilation of soldiers' letters home sounds maudlin on the face of it, but Behind the Lines is touching and tastefully recorded. A cast of readers with appropriate accents brings to life the voices of veterans of the Revolutionary and Civil Wars, both World Wars, and even those serving abroad today. Even foreign soldiers--enemies at the time--are given fair time.
Short bios inform listeners as to the outcomes of each soldier's tour of duty. There is a universality, as all the soldiers miss their homes, families, and sweethearts. Though their convictions and loyalties may be diametrically opposed, many retain a perky gallows humor through it all. The humor and sorrow are ably voiced. Oddly, the audiobook, if anything, serves as an antiwar paean and a fascinating insight into the unintentional literature of war.
August 26, 2009
I am sucker for letters as a genre in the first place, but I am especially intrigued by war time letters. War will always be controversial. Even when two people believe war justifiable, there is still the question over whether a given war fits into that category. War and its various aspects can easily be studied and analyzed with a certain amount of detachment, but letters touch on the humanity, heroism, and tragedy of war in a way that no philosophical or historical study can. This is a great collection of letters stretching from the American Revolution to the present-day conflicts in Afghanistan and Iraq.
(I listened to this as an audiobook and recommend it!)
(I listened to this as an audiobook and recommend it!)
April 14, 2011
Book was a gift from my niece. Bascially letters from people who served in various wars back and forth to family, lovers, etc. Nice layout, not too informal, a good read, and the personal side of humanity displayed well. More for people who might be more "patriotic" or like reading other peoples love letters, etc.
I'm sure a lot of research was done by the writers part in getting all the various letters and putting them into a coherant order was done.
Overall a nice book. Good coffee table book.
I'm sure a lot of research was done by the writers part in getting all the various letters and putting them into a coherant order was done.
Overall a nice book. Good coffee table book.
February 13, 2008
Just got it for Christmas already addicted. Im putting off other reading for it. Thanks Kim! Not for the faint hearted all war letters that express the families, and soldiers point of view. Its about as real as you could get to getting close to the effects of war on the phsyche. Dating from the French and Indian War, American Revolution, all the way through to Afghanistan.
March 25, 2008
I'm not usually one for "war stories" but this book is actually a collection of real war letters ranging from the American Revolution all the way to the current war Iraq. I got teary eyed several times and a couple times I laughed almost hysterically. It is a very moving book and is a revealing and unique view of history. This is a MUST READ!
Currently reading
October 2, 2015Thank you "Book Rack" once again! Zipped in really quickly this morning, and found this! Was SO excited! I already have his "War Letters" and "Letters of a Nation", which I LOVED!! Now I see he edited a book called "Women's Letters"! Must get!
Want to read
June 7, 2007Sorry about that earlier review! I was confused!
June 25, 2008
Interesting and unique (more for my husband than for me) If your into war history--this book is for you
January 6, 2009
a really wonderful collection of letters and emails from soldiers and civilians in wars all over the world. this book was really touching and interesting.
May 19, 2009
I had the audio book and it was awesome. I laughed so hard at some parts and had to fight to keep the tears away on others. Wonderful book!
June 20, 2013
I found it a bit tough to get into. Not really a letters fan, however on the whole I liked it a lot.
March 16, 2024
Should be required reading in all schools.
January 22, 2016
Letters from men & women in the military from colonial to modern times. Nothing captures history so well as first person accounts.
Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews