Behind the Lines: Powerful and Revealing American and Foreign War Letters---And One Man's Search to Find Them by Andrew Carroll

Behind the Lines: Powerful and Revealing American and Foreign War Letters---And One Man's Search to Find Them Reviews

• 
  Nikki

  Letters from solders in war and their correspondents, a selection going back centuries from every corner of the globe and every culture - including recent email correspondences.
  There are common themes in all the letters that examine the psychological struggles and effects of war.
  They carry from hearted letters which were escapism from the daily grind, and the pleads, despair and prayers of families at home. A mother from India pleading for the financial support and return of her son, saying she could survive without him - this letter was found on his body. It leaves you thinking about the real price of war.
• 
  Deborah

  excellent editing in bringing together letters from different places and periods of time
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  Caryn Picarillo

  Not as good as War Letters, but still eye opening.
• 
  Brett

  I am sucker for letters as a genre in the first place, but I am especially intrigued by war time letters. War will always be controversial. Even when two people believe war justifiable, there is still the question over whether a given war fits into that category. War and its various aspects can easily be studied and analyzed with a certain amount of detachment, but letters touch on the humanity, heroism, and tragedy of war in a way that no philosophical or historical study can. This is a great collection of letters stretching from the American Revolution to the present-day conflicts in Afghanistan and Iraq.
  
  (I listened to this as an audiobook and recommend it!)
• 
  A.S. Johnson

  Book was a gift from my niece. Bascially letters from people who served in various wars back and forth to family, lovers, etc. Nice layout, not too informal, a good read, and the personal side of humanity displayed well. More for people who might be more "patriotic" or like reading other peoples love letters, etc.
  I'm sure a lot of research was done by the writers part in getting all the various letters and putting them into a coherant order was done.
  Overall a nice book. Good coffee table book.
• 
  TC

  I'm not usually one for "war stories" but this book is actually a collection of real war letters ranging from the American Revolution all the way to the current war Iraq. I got teary eyed several times and a couple times I laughed almost hysterically. It is a very moving book and is a revealing and unique view of history. This is a MUST READ!
• 
  Christine

  Thank you "Book Rack" once again! Zipped in really quickly this morning, and found this! Was SO excited! I already have his "War Letters" and "Letters of a Nation", which I LOVED!! Now I see he edited a book called "Women's Letters"! Must get!
• 
  shay

  a really wonderful collection of letters and emails from soldiers and civilians in wars all over the world. this book was really touching and interesting.
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  Nikki

  I had the audio book and it was awesome. I laughed so hard at some parts and had to fight to keep the tears away on others. Wonderful book!
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  Dean Thompson

  I found it a bit tough to get into. Not really a letters fan, however on the whole I liked it a lot.
• 
  Karen

  Should be required reading in all schools.
• 
  Bill

  Letters from men & women in the military from colonial to modern times. Nothing captures history so well as first person accounts.