Just about everyone is familiar with the horrors associated with the Vietnam War — confusion, guerilla warfare, Agent Orange, napalm, prisoners of war kept for years in the "Hanoi Hilton," PTSD, antiwar protests that often got violent, etc. But for the most part, when we think about Vietnam veterans, we think about the soldiers and airmen.
The Women turns the focus on one of the 10,000 female combat nurses who also went to Vietnam and saved the lives of many of those who came through their operating rooms. Inspired by her older brother (who proudly signed up and shipped out before being killed in action), Frances "Frankie" McGrath took her nursing degree to the front, unaware of the pain and destruction that awaited her. But as she spends time in country, she finds her purpose, thriving under pressure and helping anyone who needs medical attention. Upon returning home, however, she's mentally and emotionally adrift, grief-stricken by those she's lost, out of touch with her pre-war life, and boxed out by her parents and the VA.
It's obvious by now that Hannah knows how to write stellar historical fiction novels (The Nightingale, The Four Winds, etc), and this is no exception. She has a dedication to accuracy that's commendable, and does an excellent job shining a light on an overlooked aspect of the Vietnam War. A fantastic novel, and highly recommended to fans of historical fiction.
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