NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • The master of military historical fiction turns his discerning eye to the Korean War in this riveting novel, which tells the dramatic story of the Americans and the Chinese who squared off in one of the deadliest campaigns in the annals of combat: the Battle of Chosin Reservoir, also known as Frozen Chosin. June 1950. The North Korean army invades South Korea, intent … invades South Korea, intent on uniting the country under Communist rule. In response, the United States mobilizes a force to defend the overmatched South Korean troops, and together they drive the North Koreans back to their border with China.
But several hundred thousand Chinese troops have entered Korea, laying massive traps for the Allies. In November 1950, the Chinese spring those traps. Allied forces, already battling stunningly cold weather, find themselves caught completely off guard as the Chinese advance around the Chosin Reservoir in North Korea. A force that once stood on the precipice of victory now finds itself on the brink of annihilation. Assured by General Douglas MacArthur that they would be home by Christmas, the soldiers and Marines fight for their lives against the most brutal weather conditions imaginable—and an enemy that outnumbers them more than six to one.
The Frozen Hours tells the story of Frozen Chosin from multiple points of view: Oliver P. Smith, the commanding general of the American 1st Marine Division, who famously redefined retreat as “advancing in a different direction”; Marine Private Pete Riley, a World War II veteran who now faces the greatest fight of his life; and the Chinese commander Sung Shi-Lun, charged with destroying the Americans he has so completely surrounded, ever aware that above him, Chairman Mao Tse-Tung watches his every move.
Written with the propulsive force Jeff Shaara brings to all his novels of combat and courage, The Frozen Hours transports us to the critical moment in the history of America’s “Forgotten War,” when the fate of the Korean peninsula lay in the hands of a brave band of brothers battling both the elements and a determined, implacable foe.
“A military story as dramatic and heroic as any that exists.”—The American Interest
“The Frozen Hours . . . illustrates again Shaara’s mastery. . . . This is fiction and history at their blended best.”—Marine Corps Gazette
“Marvelously effective storytelling . . . that shows us what warfare feels like both to those who plan campaigns and those who execute them . . . gripping, precisely detailed historical fiction.”—Booklist (starred review)
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Great book!
Brilliant re-creation of the Chosen Reservoir battle with the Chinese and the honest depiction of some bone-headed decisions made by American senior staff.
I really enjoy his works and this one doesn’t disappoint. He was able to bring out the harrowing details of the initial part of the Korean war in a way that brings home what the soldiers had to endure.
Great war read!
Excellent peek at the Korean War.
5 plus stars!
Jeff Shaara’s new book covers the Battle of the Chosin Reservoir in Korea. It starts out in 1950 when the United States enters the war.
The Chinese are determined to take South Korea for their own and rejoin it to the North. During a bitterly cold winter, the US Marines and soldiers fight to keep this from happening. At first, thinking they were only fighting the North Koreans, General Douglas MacArthur tells his troops that they’ll be home by Christmas. The reality is much different.
The northern troops are swelled by the thousands of Chinese who come flooding into the south. What seemed like an easy victory turns into a fight for their lives as the US troops are outnumbered by a margin of six to one.
This book uses differing points of view, like Shaara’s other novels. It is a device that serves him very well. There are the famously known names, like General MacArthur and General Puller and then there are ordinary soldiers like Marine Private Pete Riley. We also have the point of view of the Chinese commander who is feeling the pressure from Chairman Mao breathing down his neck. The book tells the story of some very brave men who banded together to defeat a vicious and very tough enemy.
This book is extremely well written and plotted. It is fast paced and thrilling. The book gives the reader a front row seat to the action of America’s “Forgotten War.” My father-in-law fought in Korea and he never spoke about it but I can see now how awful both the weather and the enemy were.
I want to thank Netgalley and Random House Publishing Group – Ballantine/Ballantine Books for forwarding to me a copy of this most informative and wonderful book.
He is a fabulous writer. I like ever book he’s written.
Shaara is an outstanding writer of historical novels. This book will make you think your toes are freezing. If you had the misfortune to be one of the “Frozen Chosen”, you’ll be one again.
I am a Shaara fan. This is one of his best books. You feel like you are there experiencing the battle. I highly recommend this book. You will have a new appreciation for the Marines and soldiers who endured in North Korea.
Love the experience of reading a Shara Book. Educational and entertaining for any patriotic American.
My senior DI was part of the Chosen Réservoir. Tough as nails. Had great respect for him.
Even in Hawaii my feet got cold reading about these brave solder and their retreat from the frozen chosin.
Didn’t care for it.
The Frozen Hours, is the first foray of historical fiction author Jeff Shaara, into telling the history and personal stories of the Korean War. As with the previous books I have read by him. He not only reads biographies by authors on the subject he also interviews the military members still living who were there or speaks to relatives of theirs to gain insight.
One of the things that Shaara keeps constant is not only writing about the major historical figures but the lesser known names too. Often the men or women history does not write of but authors like Shaara do can presents them on par with the likes of MacArthur and Truman. The focus of his novel like that of a PBS documentary I watched last year on the Battle of Chosen. This novel goes deeper and in fact touches on several battles and the struggle to survive in temperatures in the very low negatives.
I rooted for every person in this novel and felt like I was pulled right in along side them. Another great book by Shaara and I look forward to learning what he has coming next.
I’ve been a fan of Jeff Shaara for some time and although I’ve read a lot of military history, had never read either fiction or nonfiction about the Korean conflict. Shaara never disappoints. Kept me up much too late as I always wanted to see what happened next. Great characters and a great read.
Jeff Shaara does his usual masterful job of storytelling – the astounding drama and tragedy of the Korean War’s Chosin Reservoir Campaign in the fall and winter of 1950, where American and Chinese combatants faced off in the brutal cold.
Brings to light the foolishness of the leaders of our military and the bravery of our troops.
I loved the way this book explained history while giving the reader rich characters and detailing the harshest conditions imaginable.
Necessary history. Society needs to understand and value what it asks of its Military.
Great read. Hard to put down.