Charlie wilsons war is a behindthescenes chronicle of a program that is still largely classified. Jacket has very minimal creasing around the edges, otherwise book and jacket is in near fine condition. Charlie wilsons war by george crile synopsis this book is the story of the biggest and most successful cia campaign in history. Scenes from the texas book festival of george crile and former representative charles wilson signing copies of mr.
It was adapted into the 2007 mike nichols film charlie wilsons war, in which wilson was. Criles book is lauded for offering a necessary perspective on the absurd personal life of united states politicians and how it usually translates into nonoptimal political. Charlie wilson a charismatic, boozing, womanizing, ruggedly tall and handsome, neerdowell congressman from the texas bible belt and gust arvakotos a street. The story has considerable depth, which does not translate into the movie. Charlie wilsons war is a movie based out of reallife events. The extraordinary story of the largest covert operation in history by george crile and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at. This politically themed movie was released in the year 2007. Charlie wilsons war manages to entertain and inform audiences, thanks to its witty script and talented cast of power players. The extraordinary story of how the wildest man in congress and a rogue cia agent changed the history of our times crile, george on.
Entertaining because of criles journalistic writing and the indepth character studies of the main players. Criles globetrotting research and adroit writing have produced a vastly entertaining book that. Charlie wilsons war thus offers a second, more surreal look at the political operations and mechanisms of power that actually influence the evolution of nations. Author george crile published charlie wilsons war in 2003. Weighing in at over 500 pages, this is a highly detailed retelling of how a louche. Charlie wilsons war by george crile, published by atlantic books. Charlie wilsons war the presence of every minute have. Charlie wilsons war is proof once again that truth is far stranger than fiction, for throughout this story you will be struck time and time again by the sheer magnitude of the undertaking, the force of the personalities, and the effect they have on the entire world. Charlie wilsons war kindle edition by crile, george. Crile presents a detailed, blowbyblow account of how the united states congress came to fund the biggest. Former congressman charlie wilson helped fund afghanistans resistance to the soviet union. Charlie wilsons war reads like a bestselling novel.
Charlie wilson tom hanks starts out in the 1980s as a congressman who is more interested in partying than legislating, frequently throwing parties. Its the story of how the united states turned the tables on the soviet union and did to them in afghanistan what they had done to the us in vietnam. George crile tells how charlie wilson, a maverick congressman from east texas, conspired with a rogue cia operative to launch the biggest, meanest, and most successful covert operation in the agencys history. He embodies the seemingly sexist career politician with a winning good ol boy charm. His behindthescenes campaign was the subject of the nonfiction book charlie wilsons war. Charlie wilsons war by mike nichols mike nichols, tom.
Charles wilson, a swinging, harddrinking, cokeusing liberal democrat from texas who more or less singlehandedly defeated the russians in afghanistan. With tom hanks in the lead and a talented cast and crew, this movie is considered to one of the best of all time. Charlie wilsons war is a dark comedy based on the real activities of an east texas congressman who, in the 1980s, managed to funnel powerful weapons to afghanistan for soldiers fighting against. The extraordinary story of the largest covert operation in history by george crile m. In the early 1980s, a houston socialite turned the attention of maverick texas congressman charlie wilson to the ragged band of afghan freedom fighters who continued, despite overwhelming odds, to fight the soviet invaders. Riveting from start to finish a reallife cia thriller. The book opens near the end of the story, as charlie wilson receives an award from the cia, a rare event for a civilian. A drama based on a texas congressman charlie wilsons covert dealings in afghanistan, where his efforts to assist rebels in their war with the soviets have some unforeseen and longreaching effects. Charlie wilsons war may be more of a hoot than any picture dealing with the bloody, protracted fight between the soviet army and the afghan mujahedeen has any right to be.
George crile describes how, after the 1979 soviet invasion of afghanistan, maverick texas congressman charlie wilson persuaded his colleagues to fund the cias efforts to arm the mujahideen and recounts the. I havent seen the movie, but the book upon which the film is based is outstanding. In charlie wilsons war, george crile, a veteran 60 minutes producer, recounts the story of wilsons personal journey from the east texas bible belt to congress, where he became the secret. With tom hanks, julia roberts, philip seymour hoffman, amy adams. Charlie wilsons war peace and conflict monitor university for. This study guide consists of approximately 32 pages of chapter summaries, quotes, character analysis, themes, and more everything you need to sharpen your knowledge of charlie wilsons war. Hailed by the seattle times as one of the most important books ever written about u. In the early 1980s, a houston socialite turned the attention of maverick texas.
This about a nonfiction book on afghan history article is a stub. The extraordinary story of the largest covert operation in history. Central intelligence agency, fiction, united states, secret service, american military assistance, history, soviet occupation of afghanistan 19791989 fast ocolcfst055030, american military. Charlie wilsons war, criles 2003 book that spent months on the new york times best seller list, began with a 60 minutes profile in 1988 of a texas congressman named charlie wilson.
The extraordinary story of the largest covert operation in history george crile, author. George crile talked about his new book, charlie wilsons war. Charlie wilsons war film, a 2007 film directed by mike nichols based on the book. As charlie wilson, a texas senator familiar with the shadier sides of his private appetites, tom hanks embodies someone who both enjoys the privileges of and respects the power he possesses. The extraordinary story of the largest covert operation in history by george crile jr 18 editions. Charlie wilsons war is the cia and congress as they have never been seen before, engaged in the last great battle of the cold war. Book of secrets, starring nicolas cage, topped the. If you hated the movie or at least thought it shallow, you will love the book.
Congressman charlie wilson and cia operative gust avrakotos, whose efforts led. In its time there was little dispute that the covert war was one of the most successful c. In the early summer of 1980, the texas congressman charlie wilson. The extraordinary story of the largest covert operation in history, a 2003 book by george crile iii documenting the above events. Charlie wilsons war by george crile, signed abebooks. Charlie wilsons war is the untold story behind the last battle of the cold war and how it fueled the rise of militant islam. Charlie wilsons war movie analysis 762 words 4 pages. The action then flashes back to wilsons early days in the congress. The extraordinary story of how the wildest man in congress and a rogue cia agent changed the.
The operation certainly contributed to the collapse of the. Charlie wilsons war the extraordinary story of how the wildest. George criles new york times best seller, charlie wilsons war, is now a major motion picture starring oscar winners tom hanks, julia roberts, and philip seymour hoffman and directed by oscarwinner mike nichols hailed by the seattle times as one of the most important books ever written about u. The true story of charlie wilsons war 2007 youtube.
Charlie wilsons war tells the story of what became the largest covert operation in history. For those who have seen the recent movie version of charlie wilsons war, starring tom hank and julia roberts, and are expecting the book to be a similarly fast paced, witty, aaron sorkin style affair, im afraid that youre likely to be somewhat disappointed. The extraordinary story of the largest covert operation in history by george crile iii and the. Inscribed by charlie wilson on the half title page. Charlie wilsons war is a 2007 american comedydrama film, based on the story of u. George crile tells the nearly unbelievable tale of charlie wilson and his passionate support of the war in afghanistan against the soviet union in the 1980s. Charlie wilsons war is a highly entertaining, eyeopening, sobering book. The extraordinary story of how the wildest man in congress and a rogue cia agent changed the history of our times paperback november 6, 2007. This ultimately leads to an investigation into his cocaine use, as part of a larger inquest into governmental misconduct, but results in a. In the early 1980s, charlie wilson is a womanizing us congressional representative from texas who seemed to be in the minor leagues, except for the.
His story was told in the book and film charlie wilsons war. Tom hanks, who purchased the rights to george criles biography, charlie wilsons war. Charlie wilsons war was a publishing sensation and a new yor. Charlie wilsons war is said to be based on fact, and i have no reason to doubt that. This book tells the story of the war in afghanistan against the soviet union in the early 1980s. The soviets withdrew in 1989, the berlin wall fell, the cold war was over, and ronald reagan got all the credit. The extraordinary story of how the wildest man in congress and a rogue cia agent changed the history of our times, stated during a november 2007 oprah interview, i think charlie wilson is a fascinating example of how things can get done from the oddest.