Behind the Lines Powerful And Revealing American And Foreign War Letters--and One Man's Search to Find Them

BEHIND THE LINES:Powerful and Revealing American and Foreign War Letters -- and One Man's Search to Find Themby Andrew Carroll"The Mission Continues?" TourAndrew Carroll is embarking on a 50-state book tour to talk aboutBehind the Linesand his larger mission to seek out and preserve war letters and e-mails for posterity. Please visit Carroll's website, www.WarLetters.com, for more information about his national tour and to see if he is coming to a city near you. If so, we encourage you to bring your book club to the event, as Carroll would very much like to meet your group, offer insights intoBehind the Lines,and share stories (and travel tips) from his journey to 35 countries around the world in search of the extraordinary letters he selected for the book."Behind the Lines" Discussion Questions:1. Andrew Carroll's last book, War Letters, features wartime correspondence only by Americans, whileBehind the Linesincludes letters by both USandforeign troops and civilians. In the introduction to the new book, Carroll says that American veterans encouraged him to seek out foreign war letters. Does it surprise you that they asked him to do this? Why do you think these veterans wanted him to include letters by soldiers and civilians from other countries who have fought either with or against the United States?2.Behind the Linesbegins with a first-person account of Carroll's trip around the world to seek out wartime letters, and the book includes numerous photographs from his journey. How does this more personal approach affect the way you read the book and the letters Carroll found? Or does it not make a difference?3. Carroll writes in the Editor's Note that, while the book includes foreign letters from more than 30 nations, he only focuses on wars in which Americans have actively participated. Do you feel this is too limiting? Or would the book have lost its focus by trying to address too many conflicts?4. Carroll also writes that, both in the US and abroad, people went out of their way to give him letters that are quite intimate and emotional. (See pages 61, 417-422, 428, and 436.) Why do you think they were so willing to share these extremely personal stories?5. What is your overall reaction to the foreign letters in the book? Do they detract from the US letters or enhance them? Do you find cultural differences in these letters or do they seem similar to those by Americans? How do these letters change or confirm your views of war?6. Some of the letters in the book are quite vivid and depict combat in great detail. (See pages 135-137, 188-192, 217, and 355.) Why do you think the troops wrote these extremely descriptive letters to loved ones, including to children?7. What is your reaction to the chapter of humorous letters? What role does humor play in the lives of troops on the front lines and of their families back home? Does it make light of the seriousness of war or does it help those who fight relieve the tension of combat?8. When we think of war letters, we often think of correspondences written by soldiers, Marines, airmen, sailors, and other combatants.Behind the Linesfeatures many letters by military spouses, parents, and other loved ones on the homefront, as well as letters by and about civilians. Why do you believe Carroll included these? Do you find them as powerful as the combat letters? Should they be considered "war letters"?9. Similar to the previous question, why do you think Carroll included a chapter focusing on "aftermath" letters? What are some of the emotional issues veterans and their families grapple with in the months and years after a war?10. "For most servicemen and women -- officers and enlisted personnel alike -- few tasks are more emotionally demanding than writing to a fallen comrade's next of kin. Every word they put to paper will be readCarroll, Andrew is the author of 'Behind the Lines Powerful And Revealing American And Foreign War Letters--and One Man's Search to Find Them', published 2006 under ISBN 9780743256179 and ISBN 0743256174.