War Letters

Extraordinary Correspondence from American Wars

By: Andrew Carroll

Narrated by: Joan Allen, Tom Brokaw

Length: 6 hrs and 9 mins

Publisher's summary

In 1998, Andrew Carroll founded the Legacy Project with the goal of remembering Americans who have served this nation and preserving their letters for posterity. Since then, more than 50,000 war letters discovered in basements, attics, scrapbooks, and old trunks have poured in from around the country. The best of these letters are assembled in this extraordinary collection, offering unprecedented insight into the Civil War, World Wars I and II, Vietnam, Korea, the Cold War, the Persian Gulf, and even the fighting in Somalia and the Balkans.

Featured here are dramatic accounts of combat written immediately after the most ferocious battles American troops have ever faced; poignant expressions of love by homesick husbands and sweethearts; humorous anecdotes and gripes about insufferable conditions; thoughtful recollections on the nature of warfare; and perhaps most devastating, a startling number of last letters, heartfelt messages penned just hours before the sender was killed.

These historic letters capture the full fury and intensity of warfare, and they reveal in vivid detail what the servicemen and women of this nation have experienced and sacrificed on the front lines. War Letters is a lasting tribute to those who have fought for this country, and celebrates the enduring power and lyricism of personal letters.

Read by an all-star cast, including Joan Allen, Michael Beach, Tom Brokaw, Hope Davis, Robert Foxworth, Lukas Haas, Edward Herrmann, Rob Lowe, Julianna Margulies, Giovanni Ribisi, Campbell Scott, John Slattery, Eric Stoltz, David Strathairn, Noah Wyle, and Steve Zahn.

©2001 Andrew Carroll, All Rights Reserved (P)2001 Simon & Schuster Inc., All Rights Reserved

Critic reviews

"The power of these voices...is undeniable, and the sentiments and observations they record have a compelling immediacy." (Publishers Weekly)
"Carroll honors us all with his gift to the nation of the superb War Letters." (James Bradley )

History that matters....

As a homeschooling mom this audiobook epitomizes the type of history resource I want to provide to my children. It's real...it spans the ages...it shows the commonality of generations of individuals and it reinforces the priorities I am trying to instill in my children.

In teaching "history" to my children my first priority is that it be real...that it grip them by the heart and allow them to see history as a living subject...to be learned from. My feeling and hope is that given this gift, an interest in history will be developed.

From now on, War Letters will be a benchmark from which all other history resources in our home will be measured...

I am just starting to listen to Grace Under Fire and find it to be equally as good, if not better than War Letters.

I will be purchasing every book/ audiobook by Andrew Carroll.

Moving and valuable

Produced with excellent narration & touches of music, I was able to be completely focus on the words written down by witnesses to & participants of past American wars. Some folks were practically poets, others were simply trying to be chatty, and what they almost all wanted most was to go home. I am extremely grateful to the editor, Andrew Carroll, for making them available. I will listen to them repeatedly.

War Letters

When you listen to these letters it makes war real and not just something you read about in a book or newspaper.The soldiers that died had names,family,friends,sweethearts or wives,and future dreams.You will enjoy this one.

One of the best...

This was easily one of the best audio books I've heard to date. In fact, I think it works even better as an audio book vs written text. The acting was subperb! I think he should have stopped with Vietnam but that's just a personal opinion. The WWII letters were absolutely gripping and even brought a few tears to my eyes hearing the fear in their written words. Fantastic!

War Letters

Absolutely amazing! A must for any war history buff. You feel you are right there with them receiving or writing the letters.

Powerful touching and timeless.

I personally own the book already and I also have it on here. Amazing book!

Great book and time well spent listening to it!

This is an amazing read or listening to book. I own the book and have still listened to this book on here 3 time's. And I am sure that I will again. Loved the letters and the stories that they told.

A bit dry

Nice light listening, but a bit dry and the stories didn't keep my attention long enough.