The Rising Tide

A Novel of World War II

By: Jeff Shaara

Narrated by: Paul Michael

Length: 22 hrs and 53 mins

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)

intensely personal

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

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.

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.

Excellent Historical Fiction

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

Another hit by Shaara

Another great blend of history and novel by Jeff Shaara. Keeps your attention all the way.

Jeff Shaara at his best

As a great admirer of Mr Shaara's work, I found this one book, the first of his WW II trilogy, a superb achievement in his re-telling of the events in North Africa. It brought to light a different side of many of the German characters that I was not aware of either. I was always taught while I grew up the all German soldiers and the officers were mindless, fanatical servants to Adolf Hitler. While some were, many were not. Something I found quite interesting. By the end of the story I found myself sympathizing with Field Marshall Rommel. A wonderful story, which was well narrarated by Paul Michael.

You Are There

In the Rising Tide, Jeff Shaara continues to chronicle the spectacle of American war. This time it’s WWII, from the front lines in North Africa through the invasion of Sicily to the buildup in England before Operation Overlord. He drops you right in the middle of the action, whether it’s through the eyes of a paratrooper, Sgt. Jesse Adams, or the future Supreme Allied Commander, Dwight D. Eisenhower, you are there. The superb actor/reader, Larry Pine, does a phenomenal job with the many varied voices and accents. He is able to transport the listener through time, adding immeasurably to the ultimately satisfying listening experience. I eagerly await the next volume from Shaara. 5 stars.

THE TERROR CAN BE FELT

This is a fantastic book that focuses on the personal experiences of generals and common soldiers during the Normandy Invasion and surrounding time periods. I was a history major in college and have a particular interest in WWII since my grandfather fought in it...so I'm naturally predisposed to like this book.

I started reading this series thinking I would most enjoy the perspective of the generals but surprised myself by finding the character of Sgt. Adams the most intriguing. Sgt. Adams is something of an "every man" but he is also the embodiment of all that was right with the generation that fought the war--self-sacrificing, courageous and driven to do his part to win. I had the fortune to visit the National World War II Museum in New Orleans shortly after reading this book feel something of Sgt. Adams in the pictures and mementos at the museum. The book also gave me a deeper appreciation for Eisenhower and Patton, also heightening my experience at the museum.

This is a "must read" book and the best of Jeff Shaara's World War II series.

Helpful perspective

This book provided a perspective on the Italian campaign I hadn't considered. Most of the histories about WW2 dwell on d-day and after... My dad was a muleskinner in Italy and I now need to look at that aspect more closely. This was an engaging novel and well worth the listen!

Loved it and Learned a Lot

Would you listen to The Rising Tide again? Why?

Yes, it gave such a great insight into the decisions faced by these very famous historical figures.

Who was your favorite character and why?

Rommel was by far the most interesting character. It is easy to assume that every German soldier was a Nazi but the reality is that there were many brave and brilliant German soldiers who were continually hamstrung by Fascist world views and ego's gone wild.

What does Paul Michael bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

I think his ability to create a number of accents adds to the listening experience. This is especially the case with some of the nuances of the American accents.

If you could rename The Rising Tide, what would you call it?

Rommel…What could have been.