Tree of Smoke is a novel about the Vietnam war, written by author Denis Johnson and published in 2007. The novel explores the traumatic experience of warfare through its four main characters, and details the destructive impact it has on people's lives and psychological well-being. This novel also chronicles the difficulty of adapting to normal society again after experiencing these horrors.
Johnson focuses on the different experiences of soldiers during the Vietnam war, depending on rank. William Houston is a young soldier who joins the navy, whilst his younger brother James enlists in the army; through their characters, Johnson details the experience of a low-ranking soldier.
On the other hand, Colonel Francis Sands and William Sands represent the army leaders, who have an entirely different experience of warfare as high-ranked soldiers. While discussing the issues of reputation, validation, and leadership with the higher-ranked soldiers, Johnson explores the horrors of trench warfare as experienced by lower-ranked soldiers.
