A Private War: An American Code Officer In The Belgian Congo [Hardcover]

Robert Laxalt (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 1, 1998

This vivid World War II memoir recalls Robert Laxalt's service in a remote jungle outpost where a secret war was being fought for control of the world's future. Deep in the Congo lay a mine that produced a little-known mineral called uranium, and for reasons that no one then understood, the Allies and the Germans were struggling ferociously to control the mine and its ore. But Laxalt's war was an inward one as well. Embittered by his country's rejection of his wish to serve it, Laxalt left the U.S. hoping never to see it again but his tenure in the tropics helped him realize what his country meant to him.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"Through the use of narrative, passages from his journal and letters from his family, Laxalt presents a vivid picture of a young man at a crossroads, where ultimate reward is found not in the netherworld of clandestine diplomatic machinations, but in the knowledge that familiarity and family are the things this preeminent Nevada writer holds nearest and dearest to his heart." -- Silver & Blue --This text refers to the Paperback edition.

From the Publisher

Esteemed Nevada author, Robert Laxalt, has written fourteen books, including SWEET PROMISED LAND and THE BASQUE HOTEL. His most recent novella, DUST DEVILS, was selected by the New York Public Library as one of the 1998 Books for the Teen Age. This is the third time Laxalt's work has been awarded this honor.

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 120 pages
• Publisher: University of Nevada Press; Limited edition (October 1, 1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 087417323X
• ISBN-13: 978-0874173239
• Product Dimensions: 7.7 x 4.7 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 7.8 ounces
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,258,446 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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