Ho Chi Minh: A Political Biography
by: Jean Lacouture

NY, Random House, 1st US, 1968, Book: Very Good, Hardcover, black cloth stamped in green on front, gilt on spine. 313 pages. Lacouture's biography of Ho Chi Minh examines the North Vietnamese leader's political development from his early years in France, through World War Two, and up until 1968 when this book was first published. Lacouture doesn't avoid the negative aspects of his political career, but these negatives (e.g. harsh control of the starving North Vietnamese in the 50s) only help to put in perspective Vietnam's similarly harsh treatment by Western and Eastern powers alike. A former Le Monde correspondent, author has also written books on Vietnam and DeGaulle. Internally bright and clean.