The Nightingale's Song Audiobook By Robert Timberg cover art

The Nightingale's Song

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The Nightingale's Song

By: Robert Timberg
Narrated by: Patrick Lawlor
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Robert Timberg weaves together the lives of Annapolis graduates John McCain, James Webb, Oliver North, Robert McFarlane, and John Poindexter to reveal how the Vietnam War continues to haunt America. Casting all five men as metaphors for a legion of well-meaning if ill-starred warriors, Timberg probes the fault line between those who fought the war and those who used money, wit, and connections to avoid battle.

Here is a riveting tale that illuminates the flip side of the fabled Vietnam generation: those who went.

©1995 Robert Timberg (P)2008 Blackstone Audio, Inc. Vietnam War Politics & Government United States Wars & Conflicts Military & War Armed Forces Americas War Military Politics & Activism Biographies & Memoirs Politicians American Foreign Policy International Relations Naval Forces Air Force Imperial Japan

Critic reviews

"[A] terrific book about courage and cowardice, honor and betrayal, suffering and the death, and the indomitability of the human spirit." ( Washington Post)
"[A]n amazing work that could make you cry over descriptions of bravery so bold and big....It is about the soul of a nation....This is a stunning book." ( Boston Globe)
"[I]n Timberg's telling of their specific combat experiences, insightful angles on their subsequent careers emerge....A well-researched and well-written account of five interesting lives." ( Booklist)
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I loved knowing so much more about what went into making the men who were so recently involved in politics and especially really understanding how the Vietnam war is what broke America

Amazing story and historical background.

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The revelations come not from the well researched findings but from the context of "seasoning" experienced by the 5 featured Vietnam vets.
It was thoroughly impressive and fascinating.

Revealing in scope and detail. This book was recommended to me by a good friend and history buff.

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Timberg's task of synthesizing five biographies works well in how Annapolis and then Vietnam shaped these five servants of democracy. Some you love and some you hate but they all did their duty. The author holds nothing back.

Servants of Democracy

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The very partisan liberal author made no bones about who the bad guys were in his story - Reagan and North. His version of the affair might carry some weight if he could make up his mind whether they were the mastermind architects behind the caper or just a couple of bumbling dolts.

Very slanted portrayal participates in the Iran contra affair.

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Good solid information from Anne as always. Everyone should listen if you care about freedom and democracy.

Everyone should listen to this.

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