To Hell and Back

By: Audie Murphy

Narrated by: Tom Parker

Length: 8 hrs and 4 mins

Publisher's summary

The time is 1943, the place is Sicily, and the event is the start of the most remarkable career of any American infantryman in the war. Audie Murphy was a desperately poor eighteen-year-old orphan when he joined the Army, nineteen when he first saw a buddy die from an enemy bullet and an enemy die from one of his own. During the next two years, he fought in Italy, France, and Germany. By VE-day, he had killed at least 240 Germans, had single-handedly destroyed a German tank in one battle and held off six tanks in another, and had become the most decorated soldier in American history, winning every medal his country offered, including the Congressional Medal of Honor.

Four years later he was living in Hollywood trying to get an acting career off the ground when he and a friend decided to turn his story into a book. Instantly recognized for its grim authenticity and its unblinking accounts of some of the most terrible fighting in the war, To Hell and Back became a best seller and, in 1955, the basis for one of the most successful WWII films ever made, with Murphy playing himself.

©1949 Audie Murphy (P)1998 Blackstone Audiobooks

Critic reviews

"Audie Murphy hit the big time with this simple, compelling narrative....It is a book of raw honesty, clipped descriptions and simple courage." (AudioFile)
"Tom Parker brings this terse yet vivid and articulate memoir to life....Parker's clear and well-paced reading is a joy." (Library Journal)

Great

The raw, scary and human emotions of war and why we should never send our children into another one

Very well told story

The account of Audie Murphys experiences during the war were well told. Painted a vivid picture of what it was like for an infantry soldier, the conditions you had to endure while fighting. The hunger, the cold, the straw on your body. Losing friends, fellow soldiers and continuing to fight the enemy in spite of all the harshness you faced.

Superior Read

I was surprised at how well written this was as the author was not a writer. I should not have been surprised. Mr. Murphy is clearly a remarkable human. He remains the most decorated soldier in US history. At the time of his service Mr. Murphy was barely 18 years old. The writing is strong and direct.

Been there, done that...

War is Hell... and, then some.... Audie knows our story and tells it just as it told.

A true story, fought in WWII, by a true man.

A heroic tale from the man who lived it, told with humility. Actually Audie went to war at 16 (not 18, as stated in the book). He didn't want to give the impression that it was okay to lie about his age.

(Not in the book)

It's truly sad how the war affected him after. PTSD, led to alcoholism, sleeping pill addiction, and a gambling habit. He fought that personal war too, and tried to be a better person till his death at age of 45.

I’m glad it was written and produced for us today.

In the words have a real life hero we are reminded of the toll paid for our freedom today.
Well worth the listen.

Captivating and hard to stop listening too!

The narrator was very captivating! He used different voices and accents so it felt like I was able get to know each character. I couldn't get enough of the story!

Phenomenal!

Matter of factly tells the story of his war without boasting. Inspiring; a must read!

very engaging

I was captivated by the story from the beginning. The narrator was great. I loved it.

Amazing book

Details the most famous Texan of WW2 as a history student this book is immensely helpful in gaining Audie’s perspective of the battles and such he went through. Highly recommend it. 5/5