Christmas Eve, 1914

By: Charles Olivier

Narrated by: Cameron Daddo, Xander Berkeley, Cody Fern, Damon Herriman, James Scott, John Beck, Lance Guest, Gabe Greenspan, Nate Jones

"Drawing from historic events and written especially for audio by two-time Emmy Award winner Charles Olivier, this stellar production transports the listener behind British lines on the Western Front during the first Christmas of WWI, when, of all things, German and English soldiers declared an unofficial truce to bury their dead, sing carols, and give thanks. The cast's excellent naturalistic acting and superb dialogue bring out the human side of a conflict in which the enemy lay entrenched only a few hundred yards away. Spot-on sound effects and motion-picture-style original music create sonic depth and atmosphere. Riveting, touching, and timeless, this production is destined to become a family favorite at Christmas for years to come. Winner of AudioFile Earphones Award, 2016." (AudioFile magazine)

Audie Award Finalist, Audio Drama, 2016

"Gentlemen, maybe war takes a holiday today."

This mesmerizing audio drama takes you to the dismal trenches of World War I. It is here, under the constant threat of exploding shells and artillery, that British and German soldiers live in deplorable conditions. Braving the merciless cold and crushing exhaustion and hunger, the men conduct patrols and fight, often to the death, to advance mere inches in the frozen No Man’s Land that lies between them.

But on Christmas Eve, the Western Front gives way to a miracle of grace, as soldiers from both sides emerge from their trenches to greet each other, share their meager rations, and bury the dead for an unofficial and temporary truce. Drawing upon the unforgettable true story of history’s most transcendent ceasefire, this Audible Original, a finalist for the 2016 Audie Award for Best Audio Drama, commemorates an astonishing moment of peace—and celebration of man’s capacity for kindness—in the midst of total war. A full cast performance of a heart-wrenching script written by Emmy Award-winner Charles Olivier and produced by Dawn Prestwich (The Killing), Christmas Eve, 1914 is the perfect reminder of how holiday hope can be found in the unlikeliest of places. At the story’s end, listeners will also enjoy a performance of the classic carol, "Il Est Ne" by Tom Tom Club.

The ensemble cast includes Damon Herriman, Cameron Daddo, Xander Berkeley, James Scott, Lance Guest, Nate Jones, Cody Fern, John Beck, Gabe Greenspan, and Heiko Obermoeller.

©2014 Audible Inc. (P)2014 Audible Inc.

wonderful!

this was so well done and exicuted. I found myself choking up half way through. I love story's of this nature, real and wonderfully uplifting.

Great story, and true.

The reading was wonderful. My husband and I listened to it on a long ride and crummy weather. We truly enjoyed it

Front Line Christmas Comes to Life

If you could sum up Christmas Eve, 1914 in three words, what would they be?

Poignant, Gritty, and Well Told

What did you like best about this story?

Audio Actors bringing those soldiers to life

Which scene was your favorite?

The Lt reading the young boy's letter home for the first time.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

Yes. It wasn't long, but it was captivating and touching

Any additional comments?

This was short, but it was a story with depth. Thought-provoking.

Great story.

Loved the story. A combination of saving private Ryan and letters from Iwo Jima. Just in 1914. Great story. Very moving.

Eye Opening Story

Great Performance I had heard of this story but to know the background & truth was worth the read. Thank you so much

Well done

I say send this book to all those that send boys off to kill each other!!
If they are ok afterwards, then maybe a reason exists for war. But I doubt it!

More of an audible stage performance!

A wonderful tale based on a true story of World War One, this audible selection will captivate your attention and even tug at your heartstrings. From intense action to mournful sorrow, the voice actors conduct an ovation-worthy performance. With other sound-effects and a fitting musical score, I recommend this selection to be enjoyed in one sitting while allowing your fullest attention be devoted as this tale rightly deserves. 5 GIANT STARS!!

A story everyone should hear!

A truly inspirational story and one that everyone should hear. Very well done. 104 years latter, this story is still amazing.

Such a great story of Friendship

This was an extremely well performed story of how simple humanity values trump all silly wars made by those who lead.
It really brings home the message of love and civility.

Ding! Ding! We have a winner! Brilliant!

The accounts of the 1914 Christmas Eve Truce are commonplace but this is a generous Christmas gift wrapped
up in a shiny bow! Yes, the story is true, but told in this way, it is incredibly effective.
The writing, the execution and production values, the actors, the effect are excellent.
This is more like radio theater than an audio book, but who cares? The listen is captivated from the start,
it's a letter to a mother years after the war.... and the voices tell the story. I was driving on the interstate,
bawling like a baby... and this audio book is free! Well done Audible! A winner