The curtain is about to fall on an extraordinary chapter in British history as Sir Don McCullin prepares to conclude his illustrious seven-decade career with a final book that will leave no one untouched – 'Vietnam', a heart-stopping tribute to the conflict that shook the world. This magnum opus, penned by a master whose lens captured some of the most enduring images of our time, is set to revisit the raw emotion and visceral impact of his harrowing experiences during the 1968 Battle of Hue.
This is no quiet departure for McCullin – at 91, he's still as fiery as ever. His remarkable career spans a lifetime, beginning at 23 with his photograph of a Finsbury Park gang published in The Observer. That was just the starting point on a whirlwind journey that saw him covering conflicts in the Congo, Cyprus, and the construction of the Berlin Wall before being sent to Vietnam – where one momentous 12-day stint embedded with US Marines at the Battle of Hue changed everything.
McCullin's been haunted by those 12 days ever since. He's described it as 'total madness and insanity', admitting that the memories still creep up on him uninvited, making him wonder whether he could've done more or better. But his work has always been driven by a unique blend of empathy and detachment – 'a cold eye informed by the warmth of his humanity', to quote former editor Harold Evans.
Despite having witnessed some of the most brutal conflicts of our time – Belfast, Biafra, and countless others – McCullin's chosen Vietnam for this final book. He's made 16 trips there in total, convinced that 'there was no war like Vietnam' among the blood-soaked landscapes of the past half-century. The forthcoming publication will feature a staggering 100 images alongside personal mementos from his time, including his battered helmet and compass.
Now retired from war photography at 75 after being moved to tears by a visit to Aleppo, Syria – 'I could no longer move quickly enough to avoid danger' – McCullin's turned his attention to other passions. Ancient Rome has been a particular fascination, with previous books capturing the grandeur and majesty of an era long past. Yet, despite the monumental impact of his work on public understanding of conflict, he remains characteristically modest about its capacity to change the world.