''The Man From Saigon'' is 2009 novel by
Marti Leimbach
Marti Leimbach (born July 16, 1963) is an American fiction writer. Her first novel, ''Dying Young'' (1990), was an international bestseller and the basis of the film, ''Dying Young'', starring Julia Roberts, Campbell Scott, David Selby and Vincen ...
.
It was published in the United Kingdom by
Fourth Estate in 2009 and in the United States by Nan A. Talese/
Random House
Random House is an imprint and publishing group of Penguin Random House. Founded in 1927 by businessmen Bennett Cerf and Donald Klopfer as an imprint of Modern Library, it quickly overtook Modern Library as the parent imprint. Over the foll ...
in 2010.
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]
Plot
In 1967, during the Vietnam War
The Vietnam War (1 November 1955 – 30 April 1975) was an armed conflict in Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia fought between North Vietnam (Democratic Republic of Vietnam) and South Vietnam (Republic of Vietnam) and their allies. North Vietnam w ...
, half-American and half-English war correspondent Susan Gifford finds herself falling in love with Marc Davies, her fellow correspondent who was married to another woman, and who made friends with Hoang Van Son, a photographer. The three agree to cover the war before finding themselves hostages of the Vietcong
The Viet Cong (VC) was an epithet and umbrella term to refer to the Communism, communist-driven armed movement and united front organization in South Vietnam. It was formally organized as and led by the National Liberation Front of South Vi ...
who suspected Son to be a spy. Susan struggles in her relationship with Marc while Son is put at risk.
Characters
*Susan Gifford is a wartime journalist born to a British mother and American father. She has an affair with Marc Davies, a fellow correspondent whom she met her during the Vietnam War, and made friends with Hoang Van Son.
*Hoang Van Son is a Vientnamese photographer hired by American press and a friend of Susan. He is a kind-hearted and calm man.
*Marc Davies is a married correspondent with whom Susan has an affair with while his wife was pregnant. He dislikes Son very much.
*Donna A is a nurse and a hostage of the Vietcong.
*Anh/Long Hair is a Vietcong soldier and leader who kidnaps Susan and Son. He is so nicknamed because he has long hair.
*Hien/Thin One is another Vietcong soldier who tried to kill Susan before Son saved her. He and Minh have a close relationship as brothers.
*Minh/Gap Tooth is another Vietcong soldier who took Marc and Don hostage.
*Don Locke is Marc's friend who is also kidnapped by the Vietcong.
*Jonas is a German driver.
References
External links
The Man From Saigon by Marti Leimbach at Random House
2009 American novels
Novels set during the Vietnam War
Fiction set in 1967
Fourth Estate books
{{VietnamWar-novel-stub