Diksia.com - Word of Honor is a novel by American author Nelson DeMille, published in 1985. It is the first novel by DeMille that deals with the Vietnam War, a controversial and traumatic topic for many Americans.
The novel explores the themes of honor, guilt, justice, and forgiveness through the story of Benjamin Tyson, a successful executive who is accused of participating in a massacre of civilians in Hue, Vietnam, in 1968.
The Plot
The novel begins with Tyson reading a book by Andrew Picard, a journalist who was in Hue during the Tet Offensive. The book, titled “Hue: Death of a City”, exposes a horrific incident that occurred in a hospital called Misericorde, where Tyson’s platoon allegedly killed hundreds of wounded Vietnamese soldiers and civilians. Picard names Tyson as the platoon leader who ordered the massacre.
Tyson is shocked and outraged by the book, which he claims is full of lies and distortions. He denies any involvement in the massacre and says he was only following orders from his superiors.
However, his life is turned upside down when the Army recalls him to active duty and charges him with murder. Tyson faces a court-martial that could result in life imprisonment or even death penalty.
Tyson hires Vincent Corva, a civilian lawyer and Vietnam veteran himself, to defend him. Corva is skeptical of Tyson’s innocence at first, but gradually becomes convinced that he is telling the truth.
Corva also develops a romantic interest in Karen Harper, an Army officer who is assigned to investigate Tyson’s case. Harper is torn between her duty and her feelings for Tyson, whom she also believes is innocent.
The novel alternates between the present-day trial and flashbacks to Tyson’s experiences in Vietnam. Through these flashbacks, the reader learns more about Tyson’s platoon members, their personalities, their motivations, and their fates.
The reader also learns more about the circumstances that led to the Misericorde Hospital Massacre, the role of Prince Jin (a mysterious and powerful Vietnamese warlord), and the cover-up that followed.
The novel reaches its climax when Steven Brandt, the medic in Tyson’s platoon and the only surviving witness of the massacre, testifies against Tyson.
Brandt reveals that he was actually working for Prince Jin as a spy and that he orchestrated the massacre to frame Tyson and his men. Brandt also confesses that he killed several members of Tyson’s platoon after they returned from Vietnam to silence them.
Tyson is stunned by Brandt’s betrayal and confronts him in court. He accuses Brandt of being a traitor and a murderer who has no honor.
He also declares that he has no regrets for what he did in Vietnam and that he would do it again if he had to. He says that he acted according to his code of honor, which was to protect his men and his country.
The novel ends with Tyson being acquitted of all charges by the jury. He is reunited with his wife Marcy, who had supported him throughout the ordeal, and his son David, who had admired him as a hero.
He also reconciles with Harper, who resigns from the Army and joins Corva’s law firm. Tyson decides to write his own book about his experiences in Vietnam and hopes to find peace and redemption.
The Themes
Word of Honor is a novel that explores complex and challenging themes related to war, crime, punishment, culpability of leaders, guilt, justice, honor, and redemption. The novel raises questions such as:
- What is honor? How does one define it? How does one uphold it?
- What is guilt? How does one cope with it? How does one atone for it?
- What is justice? How does one seek it? How does one deliver it?
- What is redemption? How does one achieve it? How does one deserve it?
The novel also examines the impact of the Vietnam War on the American society, culture, and psyche. The novel portrays the war as a brutal and senseless conflict that caused immense suffering and loss for both sides.
The novel also depicts the war as a divisive and controversial issue that polarized the American public and created a generation gap between those who supported the war and those who opposed it.
The novel also reflects on the legacy of the Vietnam War on the American veterans who fought in it. The novel shows how many veterans struggled with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), substance abuse, homelessness, unemployment, alienation, and stigma.
The novel also shows how some veterans tried to rebuild their lives after the war by finding new careers, families, or causes.
The Adaptations
Word of Honor has been adapted into two different media forms: a television miniseries and a Chinese web series.
The Television Miniseries
In 2003, Word of Honor was adapted into a two-part television miniseries by TNT. The miniseries starred Don Johnson as Benjamin Tyson, Jeanne Tripplehorn as Marcy Tyson, Sharon Lawrence as Karen Harper, John Heard as Vincent Corva, and Arliss Howard as Steven Brandt. The miniseries was directed by Robert Markowitz and written by Leslie Greif and Cynthia Whitcomb.
The miniseries followed the plot of the novel closely, with some minor changes and omissions. The miniseries received mixed reviews from critics and viewers, who praised the performances of the cast but criticized the pacing, the dialogue, and the production values.
The miniseries was nominated for two Emmy Awards: Outstanding Sound Editing for a Miniseries, Movie or a Special and Outstanding Single Camera Sound Mixing for a Miniseries or a Movie.
The Chinese Web Series
In 2021, Word of Honor was adapted into a 36-episode Chinese web series by Youku. The web series starred Zhang Zhehan as Zhou Zishu, Gong Jun as Wen Kexing, Zhou Ye as Gu Xiang, Ma Wenyuan as Cheng Ling, and Sun Xiuyuan as Ye Baiyi. The web series was directed by Cheng Zhichao and written by Xiao Chu.
The web series was loosely based on the novel Faraway Wanderers <天涯客> by Priest, which was inspired by Word of Honor. The web series changed the setting from Vietnam to ancient China and added elements of wuxia (martial arts fantasy) and BL (boys’ love).
The web series followed the story of Zhou Zishu, a former leader of a secret organization who quits his job and tries to live a peaceful life. He meets Wen Kexing, a mischievous and mysterious man who claims to be his friend. Together, they get involved in a series of adventures and mysteries that involve a legendary treasure, a hidden sect, and a powerful enemy.
The web series received positive reviews from critics and viewers, who praised the chemistry of the leads, the action scenes, the humor, the music, and the cinematography. The web series also gained a large and loyal fan base, especially among BL fans who appreciated the subtle but undeniable romance between Zhou Zishu and Wen Kexing.
The web series was nominated for several awards, including Best Web Series, Best Actor, Best Actress, Best Supporting Actor, Best Supporting Actress, Best Director, Best Screenplay, Best Cinematography, Best Original Soundtrack, and Best Theme Song.
The Conclusion
Word of Honor is a novel that offers a compelling and thought-provoking exploration of the Vietnam War and its aftermath. It is a novel that challenges the reader to reflect on the concepts of honor, guilt, justice, and redemption.
It is also a novel that entertains the reader with its gripping plot, engaging characters, and vivid descriptions. Word of Honor is a novel that deserves to be read and remembered.
