Description
Book SynopsisAnalyzes what is arguably the most important event in the history of the Vietnam conflict. The author situates this book in the context of American foreign policy and the state of the war up to 1968 while carefully considering the impact of the media on American public opinion.
Trade ReviewThe Tet Offensive is a lucid and authoritative reexamination of a key moment in the Vietnam War. Schmitz is an intelligent and discerning historian, and he shows it in this excellent brief introduction to the subject. -- Fredrik Logevall, Cornell University; author of Choosing War: The Lost Chance for Peace and the Escalation of War in Vietnam
The Tet Offensive is essential reading for scholars and students of the Vietnam War as well as general readers interested in one of the key turning points in post-1945 American history. Writing with remarkable economy and clarity, David F. Schmitz persuasively argues for a new understanding of U.S. decision-making during the critical early months of 1968. In the process, he dismantles the old and pernicious notion that the American media turned a military victory for the United States into a defeat by convincing the U.S. public that the war was unwinnable. This book will surely stand for years to come as the most authoritative brief account of American responses to the Tet Offensive. -- Mark A. Lawrence, University of Texas at Austin; author of The Vietnam War: A Concise International History
Schmitz offers a concise, convincing portrayal of the Tet Offensive's crucial significance in the history of the Vietnam War. . . . Highly recommended. -- H. Shapiro, University of Cincinnati * CHOICE *
David F. Schmitz has produced a compact and readable history of what is arguably the most important chapter in the American war in Vietnam. -- Erik B. Villard, U.S. Center of Military History
David Schmitz has provided a sound, compact, and fast-paced account of the critical phase of the Vietnam War, nicely blending military, political, diplomatic, and economic developments. This book should prove appealing to students and general readers alike. -- Robert J. McMahon, The Ohio State University
Table of ContentsIntroduction Chapter 1: The American Road to Vietnam Chapter 2: Light at the End of the Tunnel Chapter 3: The Tet Offensive Chapter 4: Capping Escalation Chapter 5: The Meaning of Tet Bibliographic Essay
