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  • The Winds of War

  • By: Herman Wouk
  • Narrated by: Kevin Pariseau
  • Length: 45 hrs and 48 mins
  • 4.6 out of 5 stars (8,665 ratings)

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The Winds of War

By: Herman Wouk
Narrated by: Kevin Pariseau
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Publisher's summary

A masterpiece of historical fiction, this is the Great Novel of America's "Greatest Generation".

Herman Wouk's sweeping epic of World War II, which begins with The Winds of War and continues in War and Remembrance, stands as the crowning achievement of one of America's most celebrated storytellers. Like no other books about the war, Wouk's spellbinding narrative captures the tide of global events - and all the drama, romance, heroism, and tragedy of World War II - as it immerses us in the lives of a single American family drawn into the very center of the war's maelstrom.

Also listen to War and Remembrance.
©1971 Herman Wouk (P)2011 Audible, Inc.

Critic reviews

"Wouk's real genius lies not just in the narrative power of his books, but in his empathy with the people and the times of which he writes…. The genius of The Winds of War and War and Remembrance is that they not only tell the story of the Holocaust, but tell it within the context of World War II, without which there is no understanding it." ( The Washington Post)

What listeners say about The Winds of War

Average customer ratings
Overall
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
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    6,500
  • 4 Stars
    1,492
  • 3 Stars
    445
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Performance
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Story
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
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    5,869
  • 4 Stars
    1,275
  • 3 Stars
    368
  • 2 Stars
    87
  • 1 Stars
    65

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

Masterpiece

Superb novel and gripping from start to finish. Narrator's performance was phenomenal. Highly, highly recommend.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

must read for those who didnt live through it

We luve in troubling times. People forget that troubling times are always at our door. This book does an excellent job of showing how Europe struggled and how close Hitler was to winning it all. It is a cautionsry tale, snd yet hopeful.
I can hardly wait to read the sequal.

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

Good, just a bit long

I enjoyed this fairly well, but found myself tiring at points. Lots of interesting info about the process and progress of WW2. Interesting character studies of FDR and Churchill. The characters we enjoyable, if not quite captivating. Perhaps just a bit long.

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

fantastic performance of a great historical drama

I love historical fiction when its done well. Done well to me means the social and political period is layed out and experienced through the life stories of actual people. There are several points of view in this third person narration and their stories are engaging and thoughtful.

The performance is one of the best I have heard yet. This art of performing books is a fine and subtle one. Too much and the story is cartoonish and painful, not enough and its a droning bore. This one is perfect.

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

Great story and storytelling!

What's so amazing is that as the story unfolded in context of current events, history tends to repeat itself. The narrator did an excellent job in keeping pace while juggling the various characters in the story.

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

Excellent!&

Excellent Book. Superbly Narrated. Very Enjoyable. Moving on to "War and Remembrance" next. Listen to this book, you will not be sorry you did.

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

Amazing

I found this book an amazing portrayal of the war era. The storyline is perfect and the narrator even better. Two thumbs up.

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

Amazing

I actually just finished reading this novel when I saw that it was available on audible and I just had to listen to it. This is a grand story and it will fill your head with so much early World War II history that you will find yourself in awe of the authors ability to weave a complex story amongst all of the real life history.

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

Masterpiece

Would you listen to The Winds of War again? Why?

Yes, it's worth listening to multiple times to make sure the history sinks in

What did you like best about this story?

Blending history with a story

Which character – as performed by Kevin Pariseau – was your favorite?

Victor is the most important character, but FDR's voice was the most fun

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

Definitely holds your interest

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

loved it

I have read Winds of War and War and Remembrance several times in my life, and I really enjoyed this audio version.

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