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Matterhorn

'My favourite book of all time' Jeremy Clarkson
4.27 goodreads logo

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( 46,769 ratings, 3,858 reviews)
Book Hero Magic crafted this summary to help describe this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Summary
Matterhorn by Karl Marlantes is a powerful and vivid novel set during the Vietnam War. It follows the emotional and physical journey of a young Marine officer, Lt. Waino Mellas, and his company as they face not only the brutal realities of jungle warfare but also the complexities of military bureaucracy and racial tensions. The story delves into the harrowing experiences of soldiers, exploring themes of courage, sacrifice, and the impact of war on the human spirit.
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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?

You might enjoy this book if you're interested in the harrowing realities and personal experiences of soldiers during the Vietnam War. Its vivid detail and intense exploration of camaraderie, sacrifice, and the strain of combat capture the emotional and physical toll on those involved, making it a gripping read for fans of military and historical fiction.

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Thirty years in the making, this towering, critically-acclaimed and huge international bestseller is now available in paperback.

'One of the most profound and devastating novels ever to come out of Vietnam - or any war' Sebastian Junger, New York Times Thirty years in the making, this towering, critically acclaimed and huge international bestseller is now available in paperback.

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 feedback is welcome! Description

Fire Support Base Matterhorn: a fortress carved out of the grey-green mountain jungle. Cold monsoon clouds wreath its mile-high summit, concealing a battery of 105-mm howitzers surrounded by deep bunkers, carefully constructed fields of fire and the 180 marines of Bravo Company. Just three kilometres from Laos and two from North Vietnam, there is no more isolated outpost of America's increasingly desperate war in Vietnam.

Second Lieutenant Waino Mellas, 21 years old and just a few days into his 13-month tour, has barely arrived at Matterhorn before Bravo Company is ordered to abandon their mountain and sent deep in-country in pursuit of a North Vietnamese Army unit of unknown size.

Beyond the relative safety of the perimeter wire, Mellas will face disease, starvation, leeches, tigers and an almost invisible enemy. Beneath the endless jungle canopy, Bravo Company will confront competing ambitions, duplicitous officers and simmering racial tensions. Behind them, always, Matterhorn. The impregnable mountain fortress they built and then abandoned, without a shot, to the North Vietnamese Army.

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?

Matterhorn by Karl Marlantes has been highly praised by critics and readers alike for its profound and devastating portrayal of the Vietnam War. It is often described as a powerful and unforgettable novel, with some considering it among the best war stories ever written. The novel's intense realism and evocative storytelling have led some to label it their favourite book, highlighting its impact and emotional depth.

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Book Details

INFORMATION

ISBN: 9781848874961

Publisher: Atlantic Books

Format: Paperback / softback

Date Published: 01 May 2011

Country: United Kingdom

Imprint: Corvus

Edition: Main

Audience: General / adult

DIMENSIONS

Spine width: 40.0mm

Width: 129.0mm

Height: 198.0mm

Weight: 518g

Pages: 736

About the Author

A graduate of Yale University and a Rhodes Scholar at Oxford University, Karl Marlantes served as a Marine in Vietnam, where he was awarded the Navy Cross, the Bronze Star, two Navy Commendation Medals for valour, two Purple Hearts and ten air medals. This is his first novel.

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