A sequel of sorts to This Boy's Life, this memoir delves into Wolff's service in South Vietnam during the war. It details his experiences with remarkable precision and vividness. The writing is, as always, of a high caliber, and Wolff holds nothing back in portraying his often less than exemplary behavior. He presents himself warts and all, which adds an element of authenticity to the narrative. As one might expect in a Vietnam memoir, there are also moments of dark and disturbing humor. These moments provide a strange kind of relief in the midst of the otherwise harrowing account. Wolff's ability to balance the serious and the comical is a testament to his skill as a writer. Overall, this memoir is a powerful and thought-provoking look at one man's experience in the Vietnam War.

A well-written, highly entertaining, and often humorous account of the author's army career unfolds. As a young artillery lieutenant, he was attached to a unit in South Vietnam. His stay there encompassed his participation in the infamous Tet Offensive. The book is comprised mostly of short anecdotal stories that vividly reveal both the horrors and the humor of war.

Some stories stand out, like when he and his sergeant appropriated a color television during a bustling trade in "war mementos" just so they could watch Bonanza. Another memorable incident was when he saved a small puppy from the fire spit. He is brutally honest in his descriptions. He notes his own actions, including the embarrassing moment when he literally shit in his pants after a grenade failed to explode under his truck. He also describes the behavior and attitudes of the local population, his less-than-sterling performance which included the shelling of a nearby town, and his family and relationships, such as his scam-artist father.

It has always been drilled in my head that Tet was a lesson for the Americans, but Wolff interestingly points out that it was meant to be a lesson for the South Vietnamese. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and wholeheartedly recommend it to readers who have a desire to learn more about the war.

This is one of those rare books, a memoir written with unflinching honesty.

It is, at times, funny, brutal, and melancholic. I found it to be an altogether different take on the Vietnam experience.

Wolff's initial description of his entry into the military and subsequent deployment to Vietnam was quite amusing to read. However, it is the misery of command that he endures that held my attention.

He discovers cruelty, misogyny, and distrust everywhere he turns. He struggles with his conscience as he attempts to come to terms with not having the courage to change things.

A particularly nasty act in the bush forces him to stand his ground and halt the activity. Just as he is coming to terms with this minor success, he is completely downcast when, rather than thanks, the victim willingly returns to the perpetrators. This scene, in my view, was a microcosm of the whole book. There are very few little victories, and even then, there is usually a price to pay.

This is a short book but a riveting read. It will particularly appeal to anyone interested in the realities of command during conflict.

CRITIQUE:



"Completing the Whole Tour"



This memoir, a sequel to Wolff's first one, "This Boy's Life", offers a deeper exploration of Toby's life. The first book centered on his relationship with his mother, while this one delves more into his connection with his divorced father, who lived alone in San Francisco, mainly supported by Toby's older brother Geoffrey.



Superficially, it appears as a war memoir set in Vietnam, framed by memories of Toby's training and military discharge, followed by his post-war college education, much of which took place in Oxford where he studied various subjects. However, the memoir is not just about his tour of duty but a comprehensive look at the rest of his life, the "whole tour".



At Oxford, Toby spent his afternoons writing a novel, which became his means of healing from his domestic life and military service. He found pleasure in the act of writing, from the flow of words to the process of ordering and reordering them. Writing, for him, was a way to disperse the fog of war, although some of it still lingered in his memories.



His domestic life and relationships also had a significant impact on him, leaving him adrift just like the war did. What Toby was seeking was a solid foundation for the rest of his life, a comfort that one of his deceased friends no longer needed.



"Finding Out Who We Are"



Toby's search for stability was a crucial part of his journey. He needed this sense of security, especially when compared to his friend who had passed away and would never experience the things Toby would. As he wrote, "The things the rest of us will know, he will not know." Toby realized that we are made to persist, to complete the whole tour of life, in order to discover who we truly are.



The accompanying images and footnotes add depth to the memoir, providing additional context and references. The soundtrack also offers a musical backdrop that may enhance the reader's understanding and emotional connection to the story.



Overall, "Completing the Whole Tour" is a thought-provoking and engaging memoir that offers insights into Toby's life, his experiences, and his search for meaning and identity.

If I had to choose just one word to characterise this book, I would undoubtedly go with “insightful.” Wolff's prose is a remarkable blend of being both sharp and intelligent, while also being charming and engaging. His pacing is such that it effortlessly guides us through the narrative. Instead of presenting a strictly linear account, he employs a technique that serves him well. He presents a story, then diverges to discuss something else for a while, only to return to the original story from a different perspective or by revealing a different aspect of it. The seemingly unrelated elements interspersed in the middle enable us to view the story in a fresh light.

This brings me back to the quality of being insightful. There are instances where he touches upon something profound and true in a way that makes me catch my breath, re-read passages, and even underline them (albeit in pencil, even in a library copy). Here is the first one I marked: “How far was it to Dong Tam? Hard to say, all these years later. But it would have been hard to say then too, because distance had become a psychological condition rather than a measurable issue of meters and kilometers. A journey down these roads was endless until you arrived at the end. No ‘seems’ about it: it was endless until it was over. That was the truth of distance.”

Another such passage, this one from the bus taking him to Vietnam: “Until now nothing had seemed irrevocable. I had persisted in the unconscious faith that no matter what I did, no matter how many steps I took, I would be excused from taking this last step. Something would happen—I didn’t know what….Up to now men had been going over in one long unbroken line, but I hadn’t been one of them. My position in the line guaranteeed that something would happen to make it stop.”

The last one, because you can never have too much of a good thing: “My job was to call in American gunships and medevacs if any were needed. I could even get F-14 Phantom jets if we ran into serious trouble, or trouble that I might consider serious, which would be any kind of trouble at all.”

As you can see, it's smart, true, and far from the easy clichés that could have been used to describe these moments.

The other aspect I noticed while reading this book was that the stories were told with a sometimes surprising lack of emotion. Wolff's relationship with his father, his role in the war, Hugh's death, his volatile relationship with Vera - the emotional aspects of these are not dwelled upon and sometimes are barely even acknowledged. I expected this to bother me more than it actually did. Although it did make it a little easier to view Hugh's death as something less traumatic than it was. Overall, however, it gave the stories Wolff tells us a clarity that they likely wouldn't have had if there were too many emotions muddling them up.

In conclusion, the book features strong prose, excellent storytelling, and is a very good read.

In Pharaoh's Army by Tobias Wolff is a remarkable memoir that showcases his ability to transform life experiences into engaging storytelling.

Wolff's first memoir, This Boy's Life, detailed his difficult childhood, and In Pharaoh's Army can be seen as a continuation. The book begins in Vietnam, where Wolff and Sergeant Benet try to barter for a color TV for Thanksgiving. The structure is not chronological but rather a collection of short stories about Wolff's experiences in the war, similar to Tim O'Brien's The Things They Carried.

Eventually, Wolff takes us back to the beginning, describing his training at the U.S. Army Airborne School, Officer Candidate School, and language school. We also meet Vera and her family, and see Wolff's relationship with her develop. Once in Vietnam, Wolff feels inadequate and constantly fears for his life. He shares several close calls and his struggles to come to terms with his role as an officer.

After the war, Wolff returns to a changed San Francisco and moves in with his father, a con man. This part of the book is surprisingly moving, as Wolff cares for his father and forms a bond with him. He later decides to dedicate himself to literature and attends Oxford, where his feelings of inadequacy resurface. However, he overcomes these fears and builds a life based on gratitude.

Overall, In Pharaoh's Army is not a new take on the Vietnam War, but as a coming-of-age story, it adds something unique. Wolff's writing is simple yet powerful, and he manages to avoid the traps of melodrama and cynicism. The book ends with Wolff reflecting on the gift of his survival and realizing the true worth of his life.

A very honest and highly readable account presents the author's experiences during his time in Vietnam and his complex, on-again-off-again relationship with his seemingly hopeless father. The narrative offers a vivid portrayal of the author's life in Vietnam, painting a picture of the challenges and emotions he faced. At the same time, the exploration of his relationship with his father adds a layer of depth and poignancy to the story. However, while the book is good, there is a sense that the reader is left with a slight feeling of unfulfillment. Perhaps there were certain aspects that could have been delved into more deeply or developed further. Overall, it earns a solid 8/10 for its engaging writing and thought-provoking content.

Slick - at times too slick. But for the most part really fucking good. His chapter on Tet, "The Lesson", is truly captivating.

It offers a detailed and vivid account of the events during the Tet Offensive. The author's writing style is engaging, drawing the reader in and making them feel as if they are right there in the middle of the action.

The chapter explores the strategies, the chaos, and the human experiences that took place during this significant moment in history. It provides valuable insights into the war and its impact on those involved.

Overall, this chapter is a must-read for anyone interested in learning more about the Tet Offensive and the Vietnam War in general. It showcases the author's talent for storytelling and his ability to bring history to life.

You can find the full chapter at https://erenow.net/ww/in-pharaohs-arm....

I read this book some time ago, and yet it continues to linger in my mind.

The author Tobias Wolff vividly portrays the ineptitude and misbegotten interference in another country's fate, which is a truly sad picture.

What stands out is the story of the farewell party that the Vietnamese counterparts organized. It has a delicious twist of revenge on a soldier who was rude and oppressive.

Wolff's writing is so well-rendered, ironic, and dispassionate that it leaves a lasting impression.

When I closed the book, I felt educated and inspired rather than depressed.

This book not only tells a captivating story but also makes the reader reflect on the consequences of actions and the importance of understanding different cultures and situations.

It serves as a reminder that our actions can have far-reaching impacts, and we should strive to approach other countries and their people with respect and empathy.

Overall, it is a remarkable piece of literature that I would highly recommend to others.

Why had I not heard about, much less read, this spare, reflective, intelligent memoir of Vietnam before?

It's not as if I hadn't lived through the era. I was there, experiencing the turmoil and the upheaval that defined that time.

It's not as if I'd never read Tobias Wolff before. His works are known for their depth and their ability to capture the human condition.

Thank goodness for friends bearing gifts. In this case, the erudite and generous Dave Lauten. He introduced me to this gem of a memoir.

This should be required reading for anyone under the age of 50. It offers a unique perspective on a war that shaped a generation.

No, change that. It should be required reading for anyone who wants to experience brilliant writing while learning about a very dark but essential part of the twentieth century. Wolff's prose is masterful, painting a vivid picture of the war and its impact on those who fought it.

It's a must-read for anyone interested in history, literature, or the human experience.

In Pharaoh’s Army: Memories of the Lost War, Tobias Wolff
‬‭
In Pharaoh's Army: Memories of the Lost War is the second memoir by American writer Tobias Wolff. It was first published on October 4, 1994.

This book vividly chronicles the author's experiences as an US Army officer in the Vietnam War. Before his actual one-year tour of duty in Vietnam, Wolff spent a year in Washington, D.C. learning the Vietnamese language. Prior to that, he had received training as a paratrooper with Special Forces. Wolff was stationed with South Vietnamese Army soldiers near My-Tho, which is the center of economics, education, and technology of Tien Giang Province, located in the Mekong Delta region of South Vietnam. He was present during the Communists' Tet Offensive in 1968. The memoir not only includes a detailed recollection of that battle but also various vignettes of his personal experiences, both within and outside of Vietnam.

The book was read on December 12, 2011.

Title: In Pharaoh's Army; Author: Tobias Wolff; Translator: Manireh Shakhsari; Tehran, Cheshmeh, 2009; in 237 pages; ISBN 9789643626709; Second printing in 2014; Subject: Memoirs of American writers in the 20th century.

The story and the past in "In Pharaoh's Army" are the personal memories of Tobias Wolff in the Vietnam War, told in a humorous language. The relationship between the "South Vietnamese" forces and the American forces is quite interesting. Friends and foes, and one's own and others' fronts, with an effective humor, lose their meaning, and only the dialogue of war looks at its meaning in the midst of all this. This work, rather than having the structure of a novel, is a collection of continuous stories of memories. A. Sharbiani

I have been intrigued to know more about the Vietnam War for some time now. Five years ago, after visiting Vietnam, my love for this country and my eagerness to learn more about our history with them grew significantly.

This exquisitely written, concise yet captivating memoir brought the Vietnam War (referred to as the American War in Vietnam) to life for me in a very personal manner. Tobias Wolf disclosed his own personal experiences not only during the war but also before and after it. He shares his life and his stories in an inviting and charmingly simple way.

As I delved deeper into the book, I discovered that Tobias was mainly stationed in the town of My Tho in southern Vietnam, which was the very place where I stayed and worked during my visit. Having my own personal experience with that location and the people who live there evoked a profound sense of sadness and horror when reading the accounts of what truly transpired in that town so many decades ago. I am always grateful for the opportunity to know more about this remarkable country.