Street Without Joy

Book Description

Harrisburg: Stackpole. (1964). The first printing of the fourth edition (1964), which was heavily revised and updated to include early U.S. actions in Vietnam. Fall's classic study of French policy and tactics in Southeast Asia and the American penchant for following in the footsteps of the French, duplicating their erroneous assumptions and mistakes. Perhaps the single most insightful volume on the Indochina war(s). Published by a press more noted for its sporting handbooks than for its general trade books, which often issued titles with first printings as small as 1000 copies. To read the book is to be struck by a slowly-building horror -- the realization that much of Fall's description of the failure of various tactics, strategies and policies in Vietnam was written before the United States employed those same tactics and strategies there. Inscribed by Fall one month after publication to a Major Weber, "with best wishes" and dated 11/5/64. There is also an ownership signature of Walt Gray, a Major in the U.S. Air Force, dated April, 1965. Fall's books were sought after on military bases and often passed around among officers, as this would appear to have been. The fourth edition of this title was the last, and it included the most references to the U.S. involvement in Vietnam. Near fine in a rubbed, very good dust jacket with slight sunning to the spine. Laid into this copy is a Time magazine obituary of Fall from March, 1967. . hardcover.

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