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40 Men and 12 Rifles
Indochina 1954
Ratings/reviews counts are updated frequently.
Check link for latest rating. ( 171 ratings, 24 reviews)
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Format: Paperback / softback
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Book Hero Magic created this recommendation. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! IS THIS YOUR NEXT READ?
If you're intrigued by immersive storytelling and historical narratives depicted through compelling illustration, this graphic novel might captivate you. Known for its vivid art style and poignant exploration of human experiences, it could appeal if you appreciate stories that blend rich visual elements with deep, thought-provoking content. Fans of illustrated historical accounts may find this work particularly engaging.
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See moreBy the author of Such a Lovely Little War and Saigon Calling, a stirring graphic novel about love, beauty, and war in 1950s Indochina.
Arsenal Pulp Press
Book Hero Magic formatted this description to make it easier to read. While it's new and
still learning, it may not be perfect - your
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Description
By the author of Such a Lovely Little War and Saigon Calling, a stirring graphic novel about love, beauty, and war in 1950s Indochina.
40 Men and 12 Rifles is an expansive, gripping graphic novel set in Indochina in the year leading up to 1954, when the French-held garrison at Dien Bien Phu fell after a four-month battle, leading to the end of the first Indochina war between French forces and Ho Chi Minh's nationalist rebels. Minh (no relation to Ho) is a young man from Hanoi, an aspiring painter who dreams of experiencing la vie bohème in Paris's Latin Quarter. To dissuade him from pursuing an artistic life, his father sends him into the countryside to tend to the family's holdings. He is soon pressed into serving with the Ho Chi Minh rebels, where he becomes a soldier despite repeatedly defying his cadres - ideological Communist commanders with whom he disagrees - becoming both hero and anti-hero in the process.
40 Men and 12 Rifles is a moving and beautifully illustrated book about the human and artistic spirit of the Indochinese people who persevered in the face of warfare and suffering.
'With a style close to "poetic realism," Truong brilliantly succeeds in his great leap into fiction, while reconciling the precision of historical narrative.' Le Telegramme
'The story, drawing, details, and authenticity of the entire book is remarkable and will be considered a milestone.' Ligne Claire
'Marcelino Truong's graphic novel is a work of genius, with striking and cleverly constructed graphics, compelling dialogue and brilliant anecdotes. A real pleasure to read, and destined to become a classic.' L'Histoire
Book Hero Magic summarised reviews for this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! HOW HAS THIS BEEN REVIEWED?
40 Men and 12 Rifles is praised for its captivating exploration of a complex historical period. Reviewers commend Truong's art style for its clarity and emotional depth and highlight the author's ability to blend historical accuracy with engaging storytelling. The book is noted for its richly illustrated depictions of midcentury Vietnam and is considered both affirming and haunting, with some describing it as a classic work of genius.
Book Details
INFORMATION
ISBN: 9781551529233
Publisher: Arsenal Pulp Press
Format: Paperback / softback
Date Published: 23 November 2023
Country: Canada
Imprint: Arsenal Pulp Press
Illustration: 296 Illustrations
Contributors:
- Translated by David Homel
- Translated by David Homel
Audience: General / adult
DIMENSIONS
Width: 192.0mm
Height: 241.0mm
Weight: 300g
Pages: 296
Collections
About the Author
Marcelino Truong is a French Vietnamese painter, illustrator, and author whose previous books include Such a Lovely Little War: Saigon 196163 and Saigon Calling: London 196375. Born in 1957, the son of a Vietnamese diplomat in the Philippines, he and his family moved to the US and then to Vietnam at the outset of the war. He attended the French Lycee in London, then moved to Paris, where he earned degrees in law at the Paris Institute of Political Studies and in English literature at the Sorbonne. He lives in St-Malo, France.
David Homel (translator) is a writer, journalist, filmmaker, and translator, and the author of nine novels. He has translated many French-language books into English and is a two-time recipient of the Governor General's Literary Award for Translation. He lives in Montreal.
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Saigon calling: London 1963-75
Marcelino Truong's first book about the early years of the Vietnam war, the graphic memoir Such a Lovely Little War (2016), received starred reviews in Publishers Weekly and Kirkus Reviews, and was named "one of the season's best graphic novels" by the New York Times. In this sequel, young Marco and his family move from Saigon to London in order...PaperbackSold Out
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