The Things They Carried
Tim O'Brien's third book about Vietnam, a collection of interconnected stories about soldiers fighting on the ground. O'Brien, a soldier in the 23rd Infantry Division himself, draws on his own experiences in his writing. A very moving and powerful work. Signed & Inscribed by O'Brien on the title page: "For Mika Babcock / Peace, / Tim O'Brien."
Hardcover. First Edition, First Printing. Octavo, bound in black cloth and boards. Boston: Houghton Mifflin, 1990. ISBN: 039551598x. #10304.
Fine in fine dust jacket.
The Things They Carried is a critically acclaimed novel written by Tim O'Brien, first published in 1990. The book is a collection of interconnected short stories that revolve around the experiences of a platoon of American soldiers during the Vietnam War.
Set during the late 1960s, the stories portray the physical and emotional burdens the soldiers carry with them, both in terms of tangible items and the intangible weight of memories, guilt, and fear. Each chapter focuses on different characters and events, providing a multifaceted perspective of war and its impact on the soldiers' lives.
The book blurs the line between fact and fiction, as O'Brien incorporates elements of his own experiences as a Vietnam War veteran, blending them with imaginative storytelling. Through vivid and poignant prose, he delves into the complexities of human nature, the moral dilemmas faced by soldiers in a war zone, and the lasting effects of trauma on individuals and their relationships.
The Things They Carried is a powerful and moving exploration of the human condition during wartime, and it has become a significant work in the realm of war literature, offering readers a profound understanding of the psychological and emotional toll that war inflicts on those who serve.