Overview

Memories of a Lost War is a study of poetry written primarily by Vietnam veterans during and after the war. Drawing on a wealth of material often published in small presses and journals, the book highlights the horrors of war and the continuing traumas of veterans in a post-Vietnam America that has largely rewritten the Vietnam war to suit dominant national ideologies. The analysis dwells on poems of solidarity wherein American veterans reach out to their former enemy. The concluding chapter on Vietnamese poems in translation extends the circle of memory and trauma. In its inclusion of Vietnamese perspectives Chattarji's study marks a departure from earlier works that have largely concentrated on Vietnam as a war rather than as a country. This is a unique and significant addition to Vietnam studies and will be of interest to specialists in literature and culture studies, as well as those with a more general interest in the subject.

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9780198187677

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Reviews

... sheds light on poetry written from both sides of the political spectrum and shows the influence of imperialist discourses in both cases. The book challenges us to reread antiwar poetry as, in fact, conventional. In addition, Chattarji's argument provides a fascinating opportunity to compare little-read prowar veteran poetry with antiwar poetry, which has enjoyed more critical acclaim. This refreshing, updated, and unflinching look at imperialist narratives that provide foundations for rethinking and reacting to political and historical tragedy is perhaps the book's greatest contribution. American Literature Chattarji's book will be of great value to those interested in Vietnam poetry, as well as scholars interested in the cultural discourses of imperialism. American Literature

Author Information

Subarno Chattarji is a Reader in the Department of English, University of Delhi

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