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    A Rift in the Earth: Art, Memory, and the Fight for a Vietnam War Memorial
    A Rift in the Earth: Art, Memory, and the Fight for a Vietnam War Memorial
    A Rift in the Earth: Art, Memory, and the Fight for a Vietnam War Memorial
    Audiobook6 hours

    A Rift in the Earth: Art, Memory, and the Fight for a Vietnam War Memorial

    Written by James Reston, Jr.

    Narrated by Jeff Cummings

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    About this audiobook

    A Distinguished and Bestselling Historian and Vietnam Vet Revisits the Culture War that Raged around the Selection of Maya Lin’s Design for the Vietnam Memorial

    A Rift in the Earth tells the remarkable story of the ferocious “art war” that raged between 1979 and 1984 over what kind of memorial should be built to honor the men and women who died in the Vietnam War. The story intertwines art, politics, historical memory, patriotism, racism, and a fascinating set of characters, from those who fought in the conflict and those who resisted it to politicians at the highest level. At its center are two enduring figures: Maya Lin, a young, Asian-American architecture student at Yale whose abstract design won the international competition but triggered a fierce backlash among powerful figures; and Frederick Hart, an innovative sculptor of humble origins on the cusp of stardom.

    James Reston, Jr., a veteran who lost a close friend in the war and has written incisively about the conflict’s bitter aftermath, explores how the debate reignited passions around Vietnam long after the war’s end and raised questions about how best to honor those who fought and sacrificed in an ill-advised war.

    “The memorial appears as a rift in the earth, a long polished black stone wall, emerging from and receding into the earth.” —Maya Lin

    “I see the wall as a kind of ocean, a sea of sacrifice…. I place these figures upon the shore of that sea.” —Frederick Hart

    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherBrilliance Audio
    Release dateOct 17, 2017
    ISBN9781543654974

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    Reviews for A Rift in the Earth

    4/5

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    • 4/5
      Anyone who has visited the Vietnam Veterans Memorial on the National Mall in Washington D.C. knows first-hand the power of the experience. This book reconstructs the controversy surrounding how it was selected, built, and adjusted in response to criticism. Suffice it to say the backlash against the selection was extremely ugly, including racism, condescension, and politics. In addition, art appreciation naturally varies widely in personal taste and it is often difficult to envision the final product during the design stage. Throw in the many intense opinions about the war, and how and why it was fought, and the stage was set for a flashpoint of discontent.

      The author is a Vietnam Veteran, and in the epilogue, he relates the story of his close friend from military training, who died in the Tet offensive. As he looks at the mirrored black granite surface of the wall, he sees his reflection over his friend’s name. It seems like a separate story, but it is a nice way to honor his friend.

      The book is well-researched and reported. I very much enjoyed the inclusion of photos of other submissions, poems, literary references, detailed footnotes, and bibliography. If you are interested in public art or curious about how the Vietnam Veterans Memorial came into existence, this book provides a thorough explanation of the process and pitfalls. It highlights the role of art in the healing process.