Nothing, and So Be It

Nothing, and So Be It records Italian journalist Oriana Fallaci's experiences as a war correspondent in Vietnam during 1967-1968. The book chronicles her time embedded with American forces and Vietnamese civilians, documenting both military operations and daily life in Saigon. Written in diary format, Fallaci's account captures the immediacy and chaos of a pivotal year in the Vietnam War. She reports from the front lines and cities, conducting interviews with soldiers, civilians, and military leaders while working alongside photographer Gianfranco Moroldo for L'Europeo magazine. The book earned Fallaci the Bancarella Prize in 1970 and established her reputation as a fearless war correspondent. Her reporting includes testimony from American soldiers involved in the Mỹ Lai massacre and accounts from survivors, providing crucial documentation of this historical event. The narrative stands as both a personal testament and historical record, exploring themes of truth in wartime, human resilience, and the complex relationship between observers and participants in conflict. Its unflinching perspective on war's impact continues to resonate with readers today.

Reader reviews highlight this as a raw, unflinching account of the Vietnam War from Fallaci's unique perspective as an Italian journalist. Several reviewers note her blunt writing style and unflattering portrayals of both American and Viet Cong forces. Readers appreciate: - The personal, diary-like format - Detailed observations of daily life during the conflict - Unfiltered criticism of military leadership - Focus on Vietnamese civilian experiences Common criticisms: - Dense, sometimes difficult prose translations from Italian - Jumps between timeframes can be confusing - Some readers find her tone too cynical or nihilistic Review stats: Goodreads: 4.1/5 (175 ratings) Amazon Italy: 4.5/5 (86 ratings) Amazon US: 4.3/5 (limited ratings) "She shows the absurdity of war without preaching," notes one Goodreads reviewer. Another calls it "journalism that reads like literature." Multiple readers mention the book's emotional impact, with one stating it "haunted me for weeks after."

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The Face of War by Martha Gellhorn Compiles war reporting from multiple conflicts spanning the Spanish Civil War to Vietnam, presenting battlefield observations and civilian perspectives.

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✦ Oriana Fallaci was one of the few female war correspondents during the Vietnam War, and she continued reporting from combat zones despite being severely wounded in the 1968 Tlatelolco massacre in Mexico. ✦ The book's title "Nothing, and So Be It" (Niente e così sia in Italian) comes from Fallaci's observation that war ultimately achieves nothing, despite all its devastating human costs. ✦ During her time in Vietnam, Fallaci lived among U.S. Marines in their camps and bunkers, refusing special treatment as a woman journalist and experiencing the same conditions as the soldiers. ✦ The author's vivid descriptions of the Tet Offensive in 1968 provided some of the first detailed civilian accounts of this crucial turning point in the Vietnam War. ✦ The Bancarella Prize, which this book won in 1970, is one of Italy's most prestigious literary awards, chosen not by critics but by independent booksellers across the country.