Historical fiction book · Curated
Matterhorn
Karl Marlantes · historical fiction
Marines fight for a hill in Vietnam—brutal, unforgettable (SAH Prize 2011).
About this historical novel
Matterhorn by Karl Marlantes is historical fiction set around 1969 in the Cold War period with key settings including Vietnam. Marines fight for a hill in Vietnam—brutal, unforgettable (SAH Prize 2011).
On HisFic we tag it under 5. Military & war and 1. Literary historical fiction so you can pair it with similar story types. Recurring themes include war, brotherhood, and race. It also appears on our prize-winner shelf—useful if you like critically recognized historical novels.
Use HisFic’s free journey planner to stay in this era or subgenre, save titles to a want-to-read list in your browser, and open Amazon when you are ready to buy. HisFic is discovery-only—not a bookstore—so pages like this exist to help you choose the next historical novel with intent.
Plot summary
Marines fight for a hill in Vietnam—brutal, unforgettable (SAH Prize 2011).
Awards
- ★ Society of American Historians Prize for Historical Fiction · 2011 (winner)
Biennial US prize (formerly James Fenimore Cooper Prize) for historical fiction on an American subject.
Subgenres
Eras
Browse this mix
More like this on HisFic
Curated titles that share era, story type, or themes.
- The Women · Kristin Hannah
A young American nurse serves in Vietnam and struggles to be seen when she comes home.
- In the Lake of the Woods · Tim O'Brien
A politician’s marriage unravels under the shadow of Vietnam (SAH Prize 1995).
- A Dangerous Friend · Ward Just
American idealism collides with Vietnam’s reality (SAH Prize co-winner 2001).
- Tightrope · Simon Mawer
A female SOE agent’s wartime courage and Cold War aftershocks (Walter Scott Prize 2016).
- The Garden of Evening Mists · Tan Twan Eng
A judge in Malaya tends a Japanese garden and confronts wartime memory (Walter Scott Prize 2013).
- Pachinko · Min Jin Lee
Four generations of a Korean family navigate life under Japanese rule and in Japan.
Regions & places
Asia
Vietnam
Themes
- war
- brotherhood
- race
Tags
award-winner