Street Without Joy
The French Debacle in Indochina
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Street Without Joy
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Narrated by:
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Derek Perkins
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By:
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Bernard B. Fall
About this listen
In this classic account of the French war in Indochina, Bernard B. Fall vividly captures the sights, sounds, and smells of the savage eight-year conflict in the jungles and mountains of Southeast Asia from 1946 to 1954. The French fought well to the last, but even with the lethal advantages of airpower, they could not stave off the Communist-led Vietnamese nationalists, who countered with a hit-and-run campaign of ambushes, booby traps, and nighttime raids. Defeat came at Dien Bien Phu, in 1954, setting the stage for American involvement and opening another tragic chapter in Vietnam's history.
©1964 Bernard B. Fall (P)2013 TantorListeners also enjoyed...
Most memorable moment? The tennis match.
Like to see " Hell In a Very Small Place" on Audible. Fall s account of the battle of Dien Bien Phu.
Excellent
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Contemporary first hand account reflects the conflict and writing style of the period. Like pretty much all post WWII conflicts fought by the West bar America, carried out on a shoe string budget and demonstrating the futility of the dying colonial era.
Excellent listening
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What did you like most about Street Without Joy?
Clearly the history. It is a war which is rarely discussed, especially with the American involvement so soon afterwards. This was written while the US was still in Vietnam so his descriptions of the combat and conditions resonate with what we know of the US War.What was one of the most memorable moments of Street Without Joy?
The story of the Jewish refugee from WWII who found his way into the French Foreign Legion and into Vietnam to confront an enemy from his past. That is a story crying out for a film to be made.What about Derek Perkins’s performance did you like?
It wasn't business like which some historical narrations can be, he came across as interested in what he was reading.Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?
The suffering on all sides was terrible.Any additional comments?
Fine historical knowledge gained from this book particularly so as the war isn't that well covered. I learned things I hadn't known and my respect and pity for the French soldiers as well as admiration for the Vietnamese has increased tenfold.It is also interesting to note that the US repeated so many of the French failures in Vietnam while the VC kept to broadly the same tactics. The blurb for the book states this is now required reading at American military schools as examples of counter insurgency successes and failures. I would hope such lessons are learned well to keep American soldiers safe in current wars.
Fascinating
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Considering when it was written I found all the information useful and very gripping.
Compelling
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The real tragedy of this book is that the lessons have still not been learnt by the western leaders even today :-(
Excellent analysis still relevent today (sadly)
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Would you listen to Street Without Joy again? Why?
I have read this at least three times and will do so again.What other book might you compare Street Without Joy to, and why?
The Last Valley by Martin Windrow. Windrow revisits the pre-cusors to Dien Bien Phu, the battle itself and the aftermath. Although written thirty years later when considerably more French and North Vietnamese governmental records were available, the foundational details remain the same with similar, if not the same conclusions.What about Derek Perkins’s performance did you like?
It was fine.Did you have an emotional reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?
Complete puzzlement in how the battle came to pass and the fact that US did not learn from the mistakes of the French in Indo-China.Any additional comments?
A thumpingly good book.Missed opportunity for the US
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there failure to adapt and their arrogance was ultimately there undoing..
rinse repeat... America..
great.
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Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?
Fascinating listening, especially as it was written just before America's involvement in Vietnam began to involve putting lots of combat units on the ground. The author was killed by a landmine on the titular street without joy in 1967 which gives this work an added dimension.I think it bears up really well and was gripped from start to finish.Who was your favorite character and why?
The author himself, who isn't shy of talking about his own experiences and opinionsWhat about Derek Perkins’s performance did you like?
His voice is a good choice, his pronunciation practiced and he even gets away with doing a few accentsIf you made a film of this book, what would be the tag line be?
Before the war you knew, there was the one you don'tAny additional comments?
I hope there are more audiobooks from this author on hereOld Indochina Hand tells it like it was
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Great story, terrible pronunciation
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Where does Street Without Joy rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?
in the top halfWhich scene did you most enjoy?
The 2 mile french convoy that was ambushed and nearly destroyed.Did you have an emotional reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?
In some ways its sad to see a former world power cling on to its empire by its finger tips, All Empires fall....A lesson to our current Superpowers I think.Any additional comments?
Interesting stuff....try it...if you dont like it...send it back :)INTERESTING
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