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MWSA Review
Weeds of War: Those Who Bled at Dien Bien Phu by Paul Alenous Kluge explores a part of history not often examined by Americans. Sometimes referred to as the ignominious last gasp of the French Empire, the battle of Dien Bien Phu is certainly a worthy focal point for a work of historical fiction. Surprisingly, Weeds of War doesn’t restrict itself to the jungles of Vietnam. The novel’s opening chapter takes place in faraway Northern Ireland—providing an unexpected and mysterious introduction of a young man who’ll eventually reappear to become one of the main characters caught up in the epic and empire-ending titular battle.
It’s not until the 179th page that the reader discovers the poignancy of the book’s title: “weeds” refers to the “grunts, the privates” in the French military and Foreign Legion. Kluge’s alternating focus on the weeds on both sides of the battle—including the tenacious Viet Minh—provides the human dimension of this book.
Review by John Cathcart (June 2024)
Author's Synopsis
It was clear by the first days of 1954 that impending battle at Dien Bien Phu would tip scales everywhere. By then, France was desperate for a win, and Ho Chi Minh was willing to roll the dice, betting on the support of the Soviets, the Chinese, and his own fire-eating army. It was the conscripts, the coolies, and the privates--who had the least to gain and the most to lose--who would pay the heaviest price. They were the weeds of war! The privates depicted are fictional, the battles are not; the historical context is real.
Format(s) for review: Paper and Kindle
Review Genre: Fiction—Historical Fiction
Number of Pages: 236
Word Count: 103,837