A look back at the Battle of Hue, in time for the 50th anniversary

Every week, The Thread checks in with booksellers around the country about their favorite books of the moment. This week, we spoke with Steve Bercu, CEO of BookPeople in Austin, Tex.

'Hue 1968' by Mark Bowden.
'Hue 1968' by Mark Bowden.
Courtesy of publisher

Steve Bercu has a timely reading suggestion for your nonfiction shelf: "Hue 1968: A Turning Point of the American War in Vietnam."

The fiftieth anniversary of the battle of Hue will be marked this January; the battle was part of the Tet Offensive. At Hue, American troops were surprised by an attack from North Vietnamese forces.

"Aside from being astoundingly good writing, and a story that I guess a lot of people have forgotten, this was a major turning point," Bercu said. "In a grander context, it was also the first recognition, nationally, that the government could not be trusted because it became obvious that the government had lied about the status of the war."

"I find it to be a great book."

Hue 1968 Hue 1968

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