VIETNAM

Get ready for an audiobook about the Vietnam War, seen through Australian eyes. The Communist threat loomed ominously to Australia, and Chinese support for the war impelled the Australians to take action at the beginning. Starting with a detailed history of Vietnam as an independent country, then a Chinese colony, and then a French colony gives an excellent background for those new to the subject. Like the author, narrator Peter Byrne speaks the English accent from "down under." Reading with short pauses for quoted material, he avoids theatrical characterizations as there would be too many to add any usefulness to the presentation. With no loss to his impact, he sticks to the detached view used by the author. J.A.H. © AudioFile 2009, Portland, Maine [Published: OCTOBER 2009]