The Associated Press with RosettaBooks is publishing “Saigon Has Fallen,”an intimate remembrance on the 40th anniversary of the fall of Saigon by Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Peter Arnett.
The book tells the story of Arnett’s role covering the Vietnam War for AP from 1962 to April 30, 1975, when North Vietnamese forces entered and took control of Saigon, the capital of South Vietnam. As Saigon fell, Arnett was one of three AP reporters remaining in the bureau.
He recounts historic points of the protracted conflict, including Marine landings, mountaintop battles, and the evacuation of civilians and U.S. personnel in the chaotic final hours.
Arnett won the Pulitzer Prize for International Reporting in 1966 for his Vietnam coverage. He later joined CNN and became well-known to TV audiences during the first Gulf War when he broadcast live from Baghdad during the U.S. bombing raids.
In “Saigon Has Fallen,” Arnett writes about his risks and triumphs, recalling his fears and fights in reporting from Vietnam.
“Vietnam was America’s last uncensored war, and we journalists were pushed between a rock and a hard place, browbeaten by government officials to present their optimistic version of the war while our news industry executives back home demanded we report the unvarnished truth,” Arnett said. “We chose the truth, sharing with our audiences the bitter realities of an unwinnable war that, for the Americans and South Vietnamese who fought it, came to an unbearable, heart-rending end forty years ago.”
“Saigon Has Fallen” features 21 dramatic photographs from the AP archives as well as Arnett’s personal collection and is available exclusively for Kindle at Amazon.com. A paperback edition can be found in the coming days leading up to the April 30 anniversary wherever books are sold.
Arnett has recounted this period of his career before, but in “Saigon Has Fallen” he approaches those years with a fresh perspective for the 40th anniversary. The memoir also includes chapters about his fascinating return visits to Vietnam decades afterward.
"Peter Arnett brings new perspective to a tumultuous moment of the Vietnam War,” said Sarah Nordgren, director of content development for AP. “His story adds sharp focus to a moment in history that resonates widely, even today.”
This is the first of several AP book projects that will be published in collaboration with RosettaBooks, including “World War II: Stories and Photographs by Correspondents of The Associated Press” in recognition of the 70th anniversary of VE-Day, in May.
“We are thrilled to work with The Associated Press on a line of books that cover pivotal moments in history as told by AP’s award-winning journalists,” said Roger Cooper, associate publisher at large, RosettaBooks.
About RosettaBooks
RosettaBooks is the leading independent digital publisher. Its prominent author collections include 52 works of Winston Churchill, 35 titles by renowned science fiction author Arthur C. Clarke, 20 works by Kurt Vonnegut, 12 titles from international bestselling business author Stephen R. Covey and 18 works by Robert Graves, celebrated 20th century English poet, critic, and author of I, Claudius and Claudius, the God. RosettaBooks also publishes eBook lines in collaboration with AARP, Harvard Health Publications and Mayo Clinic. Publisher of ten Kindle Singles, including Ray Bradbury’s The Playground, RosettaBooks has launched nine of them to bestseller status. RosettaBooks is an Inc. 500 company, on the exclusive list of the fastest growing private companies in the United States. For more information, please visit RosettaBooks.com.
About AP
The Associated Press is the essential global news network, delivering fast, unbiased news from every corner of the world to all media platforms and formats. Founded in 1846, AP today is the most trusted source of independent news and information. On any given day, more than half the world's population sees news from AP. On the Web: www.ap.org.
Contact
Paul Colford
Director of Media Relations
The Associated Press
212-621-1895
pcolford@ap.org
Erin Madigan White
Senior Media Relations Manager
The Associated Press
212-621-7005
emadigan@ap.org
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