• The Rising Tide

  • A Novel of World War II
  • By: Jeff Shaara
  • Narrated by: Paul Michael
  • Length: 22 hrs and 53 mins
  • 4.6 out of 5 stars (1,481 ratings)

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The Rising Tide  By  cover art

The Rising Tide

By: Jeff Shaara
Narrated by: Paul Michael
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Publisher's summary

A modern master of the historical novel, Jeff Shaara has painted brilliant depictions of the Revolutionary War, the Civil War, and World War I. Now, The Rising Tide begins a staggering work of fiction bound to be a new generation’s most poignant chronicle of World War II.

Through unforgettable battle scenes in the unforgiving deserts of North Africa, into the “soft underbelly” of Hitler’s Fortress Europa, and as battles rage along the coasts of the Mediterranean, The Rising Tide is a vivid gallery of characters both immortal and unknown. From tank driver to paratrooper to the men who gave the commands, Shaara’s stirring portrayals bring the heroic and the tragic to life in brilliant detail.

A new level of accomplishment from this already acclaimed author, The Rising Tide will leave listeners eager for the next volume of this superb saga of the war that saved and changed the world.

©2006 Jeffrey M. Shaara (P)2006 Books on Tape

Critic reviews

"The wonderful first volume of a planned trilogy....Shaara evokes the agony of desert warfare and the utter chaos of an airborne assault....[A] sprawling, masterful opening act." (Publishers Weekly)

What listeners say about The Rising Tide

Average customer ratings
Overall
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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars

Parts Are Brilliant

Enjoyable account of the US involvement in the N. Africa and Sicily campaigns of 1942-43. Absolutely gripping: the narrative of the night drop onto Sicily. It's good to have maps with this one (just about the only downside of audiobooks). Suggested complementary non-fiction reading: An Army at Dawn by Rick Atkinson.

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4 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars

History lesson at it's best

This was a great listen. It was not so different from growing up listening to the stories my father told us about his 4 years in the army and fighting in Europe during WWII. My kids have been fortunate enough to learn much of this from both their grandfather's perspective too.

The author was able to write the facts as those who lived it, saw it, and presented it in such a way as to make the reader understand what it was like to be there. All in story form which made it extremely well written.

I thought the narrator did an outstanding job with all the voices, so that I too was able to identify them as they spoke. He made it a story as well as a lesson in history. Especially with the ending and telling us how all of these men lived after the war.

I hope the author can take on the great war WWI with as much vigor as he has with the Rising Ride, because much of what happened there brought the world to this story.



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3 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

intensely personal

Great book, really pulls you into the action like your there experiencing it yourself. It really makes the story personal.

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2 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

Gripping, Stunning, Intense

Jeff Shaara takes you into the lives and experiences of many different characters during WWII. It's written in a first-hand account of each man, from Dwight Eisenhower to the common soldier on the ground. It was truely fascinating for me to get a sense of the what life for these many characters were like. The political and military back-room dealings, the banter of soldiers the night before a fight, and the raw intensity of battles. It's read, and written, with sword-stabbing realism, you can feel the anxiety of generals who are making crucial decisions, the fear and bravery of the common soldier on the ground. It's breath taking, and will hit you with a sledge-hammer when you're done.

I can't recommend this enough. I can't wait to get the other books in this series.

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2 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Excellent Historical Fiction

Sharra's style brings the history alive. let's you hear the discussions and debates as they might have been

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Excellent Historical Novel!

Another great Jeff Shaara novel, covering the events of WWII in North Africa and Sicily. Highly recommended! Grade: A

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Excellent Story

This is the second book of the Trilogy I’ve listened to. Can’t wait to hear the third. Anyone interested in WWII and the major players should listen to this book. Paul Michael knows how to tell the story.

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Vivid history

A vivid historical novel well written and wonderfully narrated. The preamble (after the slightly self-indulgent author’s note) sets the tone/the background, while the insights into the private lives of the small and large heroes create empathy for the characters.

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

A masterpiece!

This is one of the best historical fiction books I've read/ listened to, you will not be disappointed. Historically accurate, yet reads like a thriller, an elusive combination nowadays. Those 20 hours will fly by so fast, I wouldn't be surprised if you end up a couple of states past your office building on your way to work. Narration is spot on.

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Superb ww2 History

Narration: Excellent..comfortably paced, clear diction, appropriate inflection, absent the melodrama typical of less sophisticated readers.

Content: Excellent...clear, interesting explanations of movements, personalities of leaders, and informative description of relationships among them. Occasional humor is charming, as the description of Churchill bathing nude in the Mediterranean.

One of the very best war histories I have read or listened to, and I have read or listened intently to many, over a hundred at least.

Writing Style: This is an excellent example of simple writing that is not also simplistic. The sentences are brief and help to move the narrative along.

Highly recommended.

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1 person found this helpful