The Vietnam war; a history in documents. (History & Geography).

YOUNG, Marilyn B., FITZGERALD, John J., GRUNFELD, A. Tom, eds. The Vietnam war; a history in documents. (Pages From History series). Oxford Univ. Press. 173p. illus. bibliog. index. c2002. 0-19-516635-3. $19.95.

SA

Broadly speaking. historians mainly write two kinds of books. "Popular" histories are directed at the layperson and casual reader, and are usually researched from secondary sources--other books, articles, and the like. The more serious books, aimed at a discerning readership, invariably are researched from primary sources such as letters, diaries, official papers, documents, and so forth.

The authors of this volume have taken a different approach: they present readers with a wide collection of historical source material, and leave it up to them to interpret the evidence for themselves. One of the Oxford University Press' Pages From History books, this title is a typically meaty example of the series. The Vietnam War, with all of its complexity and vehement feelings, makes a perfect forum for this approach. To this end, the authors present an impressive array of press stories, posters, foreign press reports, speeches, political cartoons and, especially. numerous photos that inflamed the public throughout the war. Because historical documents often contradict each other, the reader soon learns a vital lesson in sorting facts from opinion.

Using original source documents in this way can take one of two different paths. The historical evidence can lead the researcher to genuine objectivity, or it can be selectively used merely to confirm a preexisting bias. That's another good lesson for students.

Raymond L. Puffer, PhD, Historian, Edwards AFB, Lancaster, CA