- Matterhorn: A Novel of the Vietnam War
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MATTERHORN: A Novel of the Vietnam War 
Author(s) Karl Marlantes Country USA Language English Genre(s) War novel Publisher El Leon Literary Arts / Atlantic Monthly Press Publication date first edition (May 2009) / revised edition (March 2010) Media type Hardcover Pages 600 ISBN ISBN 978-0-8021-1928-5 OCLC Number 501071580 Preceded by First novel Followed by unknown Matterhorn: A Novel of the Vietnam War is a novel by American author and decorated Marine Karl Marlantes. It was first published by El Leon Literary Arts in 2009 (in small quantity) and re-issued (and slightly edited) as a major publication of Atlantic Monthly Press[1] on March 23, 2010.[2]
Marlantes is a graduate of Yale University and a Rhodes scholar. He was also a highly decorated Marine who served in Vietnam. He was awarded the Navy Cross, the Bronze Star, two Navy Commendation Medals for valor, two Purple Hearts, and ten Air Medals. He spent 35 years working on the novel, which was rejected for publication numerous times.
Contents
Plot
The book is set in Vietnam in 1969 and draws from the experiences of Marlantes, who commanded a Marine rifle platoon. The novel presents an unflinching look at the hardships endured by the Marines who waged the war on behalf of America.[3] It concerns the exploits of second lieutenant Waino Mellas, a recent college graduate, and his compatriots in Bravo Company, most of whom are teenagers. "Matterhorn" is the code name for a fire-support base located between Laos and the DMZ. At the beginning of the novel, the Marines build the base, but later they are ordered to abandon it. The latter portions of the novel detail the struggles of Bravo Company to retake the base, which fell into enemy hands after it was abandoned.
Reception
Matterhorn received high praise from many critics. Sebastian Junger in the New York Times called it
“ one of the most profound and devastating novels ever to come out of Vietnam—or any war. ” Mark Bowden, author of Black Hawk Down, said of the book:
“ (it is) so authentic, so moving and so intense, so relentlessly dramatic, that there were times I wasn’t sure I could stand to turn the page...There have been some very good novels about the Vietnam War, but Matterhorn is the first great one, and I doubt it will ever be surpassed. ” Matterhorn was Amazon's "Book of the Month" for March 2010, and debuted on the New York Times bestseller list in April 2010.[4][5] It won the 2011 William E. Colby Award, was ranked #7 Fiction in Time Magazine's Best Books of the Year (2010), and was one of the New York Times Notable Books of the Year (2010). It was an ALA Notable Book (2010), won the Pacific Northwest Booksellers Association Award (2011) and won the Indies Choice Book Award (Adult Debut, 2011).
Background
It's probable that the fictional Bravo Company 1st Battalion, 24th Marine Regiment, 5th Marine Division of the novel was presumably Charlie Company, 1st Battalion, 4 Marine Regiment, 3rd Marine Division. The engagement at ‘Matterhorn’ was probably the attack on “LZ Mack” {Hill 484}, and Hill 400 on March 1 through March 6 of 1969. With Lima Company 3rd Battalion 4th Marines in reserve {and its Battalion commander, Lt. Col Donald taking charge}. Two platoons from Charlie Company fought several times to reach and secure the summit taking 15 or more casualties with at least 7 killed in action; including a Canadian Marine CPL George Victor Jmaeff, acting as Platoon Sergeant who was posthumously awarded the Navy Cross.[6][7] The author, First Lieutenant Karl Marlantes, who was the Executive Officer of Charlie Company, was also awarded the Navy Cross.[8] Hills 484 and 400 had been occupied at a cost of 20 killed in action, and many wounded, by companies of the 3rd Battalion, 4th Marine Infantry in September–October 1966 and then abandoned.[9][10]
References
- ^ "Matterhorn: A Novel of the Vietnam War". April 2010. Grove/Atlantic, Inc.. http://www.groveatlantic.com/#page=isbn9780802119285. Retrieved 29 October 2010.
- ^ "Matterhorn: A Novel of the Vietnam War (9780802119285): Karl Marlantes: Books". Amazon.com. http://www.amazon.com/dp/080211928X. Retrieved 2010-10-29.
- ^ "Amazon page for Karl Marlantes". Amazon.com. 2010-03-23. http://www.amazon.com/Karl-Marlantes/e/B00383K10U. Retrieved 2010-10-29.
- ^ New York Times, Best Seller, Fiction (hardcover), [1]| MATTERHORN, April 23, 2010| accessdate=27 April 2010
- ^ "Karl Marlantes: The Long Road to Publication". News.shelf-awareness.com. 2010-03-07. http://news.shelf-awareness.com/msgget.jsp?mid=3838064. Retrieved 2010-10-29.
- ^ "Virtual Wall". Virtual Wall. http://www.virtualwall.org/dj/JmaeffGV01a.htm. Retrieved 2010-10-29.
- ^ U.S. MARINES IN VIETNAM, HIGH MOBILITY AND STANDDOWN, 1969 by Charles R. Smith HISTORY AND MUSEUMS DIVISION HEADQUARTERS, U.S. MARINE CORPS WASHINGTON, D.C. 1988
- ^ "Navy Cross Citation". Militarytimes.com. 2010-07-04. http://militarytimes.com/citations-medals-awards/recipient.php?recipientid=4191. Retrieved 2010-10-29.
- ^ "USMC Combat Helicopter Association". Popasmoke.com. http://www.popasmoke.com/visions/image.php?source=3801. Retrieved 2010-10-29.
- ^ Junger, Sebastian (2010-04-04). "The Vietnam Wars: ‘Matterhorn'". The New York Times. http://www.nytimes.com/2010/04/04/books/review/Junger-t.html.
External links
- Interview with Karl Marlantes on Matterhorn
Categories:- American novels
- 2009 novels
- Vietnam War novels
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