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Close-Up on War: The Story of Pioneering Photojournalist Catherine Leroy in Vietnam



by
Mary Cronk Farrell

Edition
Hardcover edition
Publisher
Abrams
Imprint
Amulet
ISBN
9781419746611
POTENTIALLY SENSITIVE AREAS
Violence: War/Harsh Realities of War , Discrimination: Racial Insensitivity/Racism , Illustrations/Images: Blood/Gore
$21.42   $17.85
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The incredible story of Catherine Leroy, one of the few woman photographers during the Vietnam War, told by an award-winning journalist and children’s author.

From award-winning journalist and children’s book author Mary Cronk Farrell comes the inspiring and fascinating story of the woman who gave a human face to the Vietnam War. Close-Up on War tells the story of French-born Catherine Leroy, one of the war’s few woman photographers, who documented some of the fiercest fighting in the 20-year conflict. Although she had no formal photographic training and had never traveled more than a few hundred miles from Paris before, Leroy left home at age 21 to travel to Vietnam and document the faces of war. Despite being told that women didn't belong in a “man’s world,” she was cool under fire, gravitated toward the thickest battles, went along on the soldiers’ slogs through the heat and mud of the jungle, crawled through rice paddies, and became the only official photojournalist to parachute into combat with American soldiers. Leroy took striking photos that gave America no choice but to look at the realities of war—showing what it did to people on both sides—from wounded soldiers to civilian casualties.

Later, Leroy was gravely wounded from shrapnel, but that didn’t keep her down more than a month. When captured by the North Vietnamese in 1968, she talked herself free after photographing her captors, scoring a cover story in Life
Farrell interviewed people who knew Leroy, as well as military personnel and other journalists who covered the war. In addition to a foreword by Pulitzer Prize–winning journalist Peter Arnot, the book includes a preface, author’s note, endnotes, bibliography, timeline, and index.

Map. Foreword by Peter Arnett. Author’s note. “How a Camera Worked in the 1960s.” Glossary. Time line. Endnotes. Select bibliography. Suggestions for further information. Index. Black-and-white and full-color photographs. 

POTENTIALLY SENSITIVE AREAS
Violence: War/Harsh Realities of War , Discrimination: Racial Insensitivity/Racism , Illustrations/Images: Blood/Gore

Details

Format

Print

Page Count

320

Trim Size

8" x 5 1/2"

Dewey

B

AR

0: points 0

Genre

Nonfic

Scholastic Reading Counts

0

JLG Release

May 2022

Book Genres

Autobiography/Biography

Topics

Catherine Leroy (1944–2006). War photographers. France. Photojournalists. Women war correspondents. Vietnam War (1961–1975). French journalists. 

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Praise & Reviews

School Library Journal

School Library Journal

Library Journal

Gr 7-10-Short in stature but a giant of determination, Catherine Leroy left France in 1966 to photograph the rising conflict in Vietnam. Though she had no journalism experience and had never even handled a camera, Leroy had an innate sense of the news and the confidence to ignore and overpower the sexism she confronted as the only female photojournalist. At 21, she traveled on helicopters with the troops, moved through jungles, went weeks without a shower, and gained the respect of the infantrymen. Farrell begins each chapter with portions of Leroy's letters to her mother. These small peeks into her life are often in stark contrast with her deadly profession; she asks her mother to send clothes, money, and tampons. While telling Leroy's story, Farrell also gives a compelling history into Vietnam and the events that led to the conflict. Life in Vietnam during the war is told in vivid detail, as is the hardship endured by soldiers and peasants. The book concludes with an examination of 1960s cameras, a glossary, time line, notes, and bibliography. This is really three books in one-it tells of the work of Leroy, describes the daily workings of war correspondents of that era, and gives a glimpse into life during the Vietnam War-excelling at each. VERDICT History buffs looking for a personal account of the war will enjoy this book. Recommended for schools and public libraries.-Cathy DeCampli?(c) Copyright 2011. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

Praise & Reviews

School Library Journal

School Library Journal

Library Journal

Gr 7-10-Short in stature but a giant of determination, Catherine Leroy left France in 1966 to photograph the rising conflict in Vietnam. Though she had no journalism experience and had never even handled a camera, Leroy had an innate sense of the news and the confidence to ignore and overpower the sexism she confronted as the only female photojournalist. At 21, she traveled on helicopters with the troops, moved through jungles, went weeks without a shower, and gained the respect of the infantrymen. Farrell begins each chapter with portions of Leroy's letters to her mother. These small peeks into her life are often in stark contrast with her deadly profession; she asks her mother to send clothes, money, and tampons. While telling Leroy's story, Farrell also gives a compelling history into Vietnam and the events that led to the conflict. Life in Vietnam during the war is told in vivid detail, as is the hardship endured by soldiers and peasants. The book concludes with an examination of 1960s cameras, a glossary, time line, notes, and bibliography. This is really three books in one-it tells of the work of Leroy, describes the daily workings of war correspondents of that era, and gives a glimpse into life during the Vietnam War-excelling at each. VERDICT History buffs looking for a personal account of the war will enjoy this book. Recommended for schools and public libraries.-Cathy DeCampli?(c) Copyright 2011. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

Grades 9 & Up
Biography High Plus
For Grades 9 & Up

Fascinating biographies and compelling personal stories that provide a view into history or perspective on the issues of our times.

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Interests
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