A Country Such as This

By James Webb

1983

First Published

4.14

Average Rating

556

Number of Pages

16H58M

Audio Length

The innocence the 1950s and turbulence of the 1960s and 70s—years when America reached out and touched the heavens, only to be torn apart by internal conflict and a war in Southeast Asia—provide a dramatic setting for this unforgettable story of three men and the women they love carving a place for themselves in a society where the rules keep changing. Written by bestselling novelist James Webb, it has been hailed as a major work of our time and a stunning commentary of political and social life in America over nearly three decades. From the wars in Korea and Vietnam to antiwar protests in Washington and POW camps in Hanoi, from young love and parenthood to divorce and reconciliation, Webb's eye for detail, provocative insights, and subtle revelations have earned him the highest literary accolades. His convincing characters and gripping scenes fully engage the reader as the three Naval Academy graduates reevaluate their lives, their country, and the cost of success.

Avg Rating

4.14

Number of Ratings

163

5 STARS

41%

4 STARS

38%

3 STARS

15%

2 STARS

1 STARS

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Author

James Webb

Author · 11 books

James Henry "Jim" Webb, Jr. is an American politician and author. He has served as a United States Senator from Virginia, Secretary of the Navy, Assistant Secretary of Defense for Reserve Affairs, Counsel for the United States House Committee on Veterans' Affairs and is a decorated Marine Corps officer. Outside of working in government, Webb is also an Emmy Award winning journalist, filmmaker, and author of ten books. He taught literature at the United States Naval Academy and was a Fellow at the Harvard Institute of Politics. As a member of the Democratic Party, Webb announced on November 19, 2014, that he was forming an exploratory committee to evaluate a run for President of the United States in 2016. On July 2, 2015, he announced that he would be joining the race for the Democratic nomination for president, but stepped down from running in the primaries on October 20, 2015, stating that he was "not comfortable" with many political positions from the party's leadership. In 2020, Webb was named the first distinguished fellow of University of Notre Dame's International Security Center. Senator Webb is also an author of many books, stating that "I've written for a living all my life, so writing is as much a part of me as working out."