Embers of war : the fall of an empire and the making of America's Vietnam / Fredrik Logevall.

Includes bibliographical references and index.

The struggle for Vietnam occupies a central place in the history of the 20th century. Fought over a period of three decades, the conflict drew in all the world's powers and saw two of them - first France, then the United States - attempt to subdue the revolutionary Vietnamese forces. For France, the defeat marked the effective end of her colonial empire, while for America the war left a gaping wound in the body politic that remains open to this day.

Pt. 1. Liberations, 1940-1945. "The Empire is With Us!" ; The Anti-Imperialist ; Crossroads ; "All Men Are Created Equal" -- pt. 2. Colonial Clash, 1946-1949. The Warrior Monk ; The Spark ; War without Fronts -- "If I Accepted These Terms I'd Be a Coward" -- pt. 3. East Meets West, 1949-1953. "The Center of the Cold War" ; Attack on the RC4 ; King Jean ; The Quiet Englishman ; The Turning Point that Didn't Turn ; Eisenhower in Charge ; Navarre's American Plan -- pt. 4. The Cauldron, 1953-1954. Arena of the Gods ; "We Have the Impression They Are Going to Attack Tonight" ; "Vietnam Is a Part of the World" ; America Wants In ; Dulles versus Eden ; Valley of Tears -- pt. 5. Peace of a Kind, 1954. With Friends Like These ; "We Must Go Fast" ; "I Have Seen Destiny Bend to That Will" -- pt. 6. Seizing the Torch, 1954-1959. " We Have No Choice But to Win Here" ; Miracle Man ; Things Fall Apart.