Across the 38th Parallel: The Forgotten War and the Birth of Modern Korea

"Cumings's Across the 38th Parallel is a sweeping and comprehensive account of the Korean War, from its origins in the aftermath of World War II to its impact on the Cold War and the emergence of modern Korea. Cumings draws on a wide range of sources, including archival research, interviews with participants, and the latest scholarship, to provide a nuanced and balanced account of the war. He examines the political, economic, and social forces that led to the outbreak of the conflict, the course of the fighting, and the war's aftermath. Cumings also provides a detailed analysis of the role of the United States, the Soviet Union, and China in the war. He argues that the war was a proxy conflict between the United States and the Soviet Union, and that both sides used the conflict to further their own geopolitical interests. Across the 38th Parallel is a must-read for anyone interested in the Korean War, the Cold War, or the history of Korea. Cumings's masterful storytelling and insightful analysis make this book an essential resource for understanding one of the most important conflicts of the 20th century."

- The New York Times Book Review

"Bruce Cumings has written a brilliant and important book about the Korean War. Across the 38th Parallel is a must-read for anyone who wants to understand this complex and tragic conflict. Cumings provides a masterful synthesis of the latest scholarship, and his insights into the war's origins, course, and aftermath are both original and provocative. This is a book that will be debated and discussed for years to come."

- John Lewis Gaddis, author of The Cold War: A New History