A Christmas Far from Home, Stanley Weintraub
A Christmas Far from Home, Stanley Weintraub
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A Christmas Far from Home
An Epic Tale of Courage and Survival during the Korean War

Author: Stanley Weintraub

Narrator: Malcolm Hillgartner

Unabridged: 5 hr 22 min

Format: Digital Audiobook Download

Published: 10/28/2014

Synopsis

From an acclaimed historian comes the dramatic story of the Christmas escape of thousands of American troops overwhelmingly surrounded by the enemy in Korea's harsh terrain.Just before Thanksgiving in 1950, five months into the Korean War, General MacArthur flew to American positions in the north and grandly announced an "end-the-war-by-Christmas" offensive despite recent intervention by Mao's Chinese, who would soon trap tens of thousands of US troops poised toward the Yalu River border. Led by marines, an overwhelmed Tenth Corps evacuated the frigid, mountainous Chosin Reservoir fastness and fought a swarming enemy and treacherous snow and ice to reach the coast. Weather, terrain, Chinese firepower, and a four-thousand-foot chasm made escape seem impossible in the face of a vanishing Christmas. But endurance and sacrifice prevailed, and the last troopships weighed anchor on Christmas Eve.In the tradition of his Silent Night and Pearl Harbor Christmas, Stanley Weintraub presents another gripping narrative of a wartime Christmas season.

About Stanley Weintraub

Stanley Weintraub is a National Book Award finalist and a former Guggenheim fellow. A professor emeritus of arts and humanities at Penn State University, he is the author of numerous histories and biographies, including Silent Night and 11 Days in December, and is an expert on George Bernard Shaw. He lives in Newark, Delaware.

About Malcolm Hillgartner

Malcolm Hillgartner is an accomplished actor, writer, and musician. Named an AudioFile Best Voice of 2013 and the recipient of several Earphones Awards, he has narrated over 250 audiobooks.

Reviews

Goodreads review by Dpoir624 on May 07, 2018

Although this is a nonfiction book, Douglas MacArthur strikes me as a very strong character in the world. He believes in nothing but victory and is a very optimistic character.......more

Goodreads review by Lisa of Hopewell on December 03, 2022

My Interest Since moving here to Southern Ohio in 2008 I’ve met two Korean War veterans. One died during the Covid epidemic, the other, my next door neighbor, is still going strong at 90-something. Of course, I have a near life-long interest in U.S. history, too, so that figured into decided to read......more

Goodreads review by Stephen on October 13, 2023

I was going through my grandfather’s keepsake suitcase a few weeks ago, which is a metal box full of things like his Korean War papers and some photographs from the 1950s. He enlisted in the army in 1952 and did a tour of Korea during the Korean War until the conflict ended. It always saddens me how......more

Goodreads review by Mark on November 20, 2021

Though he was referring to another war, I couldn't help think of my father when I read this book. He used to say after coming home from working out in the cold all day, "It's as cold as a bastard out there." I don't know if I'll ever have to experience the kind of cold that the Marines at Chosin in K......more

Goodreads review by Elgin on August 26, 2018

This is the first (and last) of Stanley Weintraub's "Christmas and war" books that I have read. I am not sure what the author was trying to accomplish here. I have read a couple of other accounts about the situation at the Chosin reservoir. If I had not read those other books I would not have unders......more

Quotes

“A Christmas Far from Home is a terrific tale of MacArthur’s ego and errors. Even more, it’s the story of how Americans in uniform had to pay the price for them yet prevailed against overwhelming obstacles.” San Diego Union-Tribune

“A story of heroism and cowardice, of brilliant leadership and bungling stupidity, of mud- and snow-slogging endurance on the part of an assortment of troops of many nations, in obedience to a call of duty from a briefly united United Nations, against the tide of North Korean and Chinese Communist forces. And overlaying all, the lash of a brutal and relentless winter campaign in some of the most rugged mountains in Asia…Though primarily of interest to Korea veterans and military history buffs, this modest volume may find favor with a reading public who love brave tales of danger and courage, well-researched and engagingly composed. Perhaps it may also serve as a warning of the perils of unpreparedness, on which far too many Americans seem ready to rely.” Roanoke Times

“[Weintraub] portrays MacArthur as ego-driven and politically ambitious; he surrounded himself with yes-men when he would have benefited from those advising caution…The heroes in this account are the troops in the field who endured appalling conditions, maintained discipline, and staved off complete collapse.” Booklist

“The tragic tale of how the arrogance of a general led to disastrous consequences for the American troops in North Korea in 1950…Weintraub expertly delineates the unraveling disaster for the entrapped, frozen, dispirited troops on the ground.” Kirkus Reviews

“An Epic Tale of Courage and Survival During the Korean War…Weintraub…tells this story with the sort of growl toward incompetent command earned by a man who himself served in the trenches.” Minneapolis StarTribune

Awards

  • Military Book Club
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