Dispatches
Michael Herr (1940–2016) was an American writer known for Dispatches (1977, Folio 2025), his groundbreaking account of the Vietnam War, hailed as one of the 20th century's most vivid war books. After studying at Syracuse University, Herr went to Vietnam as a correspondent for Esquire, capturing the chaotic, surreal combat experience. Published in 1977, Dispatches (Folio 2025) profoundly shaped perceptions of the war. Herr also co-wrote the screenplays for Apocalypse Now (1979) and Full Metal Jacket (1987), blending his immersive war insights with cinematic storytelling. His work reshaped war literature and film, leaving a lasting legacy that continues to resonate today.
Born in 1940 in New York City, Frances FitzGerald is an award-winning journalist known for her groundbreaking analysis of the Vietnam War. One of the few women to cover the conflict, FitzGerald’s perspective challenged Western narratives, culminating in her landmark book Fire in the Lake (1972). This influential work, examining both American and Vietnamese perspectives, won the Pulitzer Prize, the National Book Award and the Bancroft Prize. Beyond Vietnam, her journalism has spanned topics from American evangelicalism to urban history, consistently illuminating complex socio-political issues with empathy, depth and intellectual courage.