Introduction & Overview of How to Tell a True War Story by Tim O'Brien

How to Tell a True War Story Introduction

"How to Tell a True War Story" first appeared in October 1987 in Esquire. It later came to hold a central position in Tim O'Brien's book The Things They Carried, published in 1990. An interesting combination of recalled events and editorial commentary, the story received critical attention at its first publication. Indeed, nearly every reviewer and critic who treats O'Brien's work singles out this story for special commentary. The story in many ways provides a map to the rest of The Things They Carried. By trying to characterize what constitutes a true war story, but never really achieving this feat, O'Brien introduces the most important themes of his book, including memory, imagination, episte-mology (the study of the nature of knowledge), and truth. In addition, O'Brien uses the very technique he would later use in creating The Things They Carried, interspersing anecdotes and stories with commentary about the roles of fiction...
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