Death and rain

Author: (German) Turk
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2006-01-01
Features: It is a documentary novel with a strong autobiographical flavor. The author, Harry Turk, witnessed the war that took place in the tropical jungles of Vietnam in the 1960s and 1970s as a journalist. In the book, the author adopts a scattered perspective, using the shifting perspectives of German journalist Steinwald as the central thread throughout the narrative: the capture of an American ace pilot. The continuous defeats of the U.S. military, which held a decisive advantage in weaponry, the stubborn resistance of the Viet Cong-led guerrillas, the indomitable spirit of a Vietnamese girl captured as a hostage by the U.S. military, the magnificent sonatas beyond the clamor of war, the skepticism and reflections of Western journalists, and more—all are vividly depicted by the author. The mystery and humidity of the tropical rainforest, the tragic and sorrowful destruction of individual lives amidst the endless rain, the desolation and grief of the homeless—all effectively set the mood and highlight the author's humanitarian reflections on war. When he woke up, it was already dark outside. As usual, the bed was draped with mosquito nets, the air in the room was stale and moldy, and the stifling heat and humidity of the day had...