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A Bridge Too Far  By  cover art

A Bridge Too Far

By: Cornelius Ryan
Narrated by: Clive Chafer
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Publisher's summary

The classic account of one of the most dramatic battles of World War II.

A Bridge Too Far is Cornelius Ryan’s masterly chronicle of the Battle of Arnhem, which marshaled the greatest armada of troop-carrying aircraft ever assembled and cost the Allies nearly twice as many casualties as D-day.

In this compelling work of history, Ryan narrates the Allied effort to end the war in Europe in 1944 by dropping the combined airborne forces of the American and British armies behind German lines to capture the crucial bridge across the Rhine at Arnhem.

Focusing on a vast cast of characters - from Dutch civilians to British and American strategists to common soldiers and commanders - Ryan brings to life one of the most daring and ill-fated operations of the war. A Bridge Too Far superbly recreates the terror, suspense, heroism, and tragedy of this epic operation, which ended in bitter defeat for the Allies.

About the author: Cornelius Ryan (1920–1974), born in Dublin, Ireland, became one of the preeminent war correspondents of his time, flying fourteen bombing missions with the US Eighth and Ninth Air Forces. He is the author of numerous books, including several classics of military history, which have appeared throughout the world in nineteen languages. He was awarded the Legion of Honor by the French government in 1973.

©1974 Cornelius Ryan (P)2012 Blackstone Audio, Inc.
  • Unabridged Audiobook
  • Categories: History

Critic reviews

“I know of no other work of literature of World War II as moving, as awesome, and as accurate in its portrayal of human courage.” (General James M. Gavin)
“Ryan masters a spare, strong style to deliver a battle that has much of the majesty and beauty of classic tragedy. ( Kirkus Reviews)

What listeners say about A Bridge Too Far

Average customer ratings
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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    2 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Great story much better than the movie

Where does A Bridge Too Far rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

The research is good and goes so much further than the movie. The characters are complex and one has to remember that they are real. The inability of the allies to manage the campaign makes you wonder what would have happened if the German units were at full strength. The characterization of Field Marshall Montgomery is consistent with most books I've read. The inability of the allies to react nimbly was a result of too big a hierarchy; much like the Pentagon or many corporations. The inefficiency of the German military was unmatched. The saddest part of the book is the fate of the Dutch population who were simply in the way of Montgomery's unending need for glory. His "dagger thrust" strategy was tried and it failed despite the "90%" success.

How could the performance have been better?

Clive Chafer gives monotone delivery a bad name. Not awful but has the most creative and fantastic monotone ever heard. The story is too compelling to put you to sleep but his delivery reminds one of a flat landscape that uses a mouse's foot prints for mountains.

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20 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    2 out of 5 stars
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    1 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Terrible Narration, Great Book

What didn’t you like about Clive Chafer’s performance?

Terrible

Any additional comments?

It's like watching a bad British Film Strip. Monotone and lack of any entertainment value in the reading. The book is great

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14 people found this helpful

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

Great story marred by monotone performance

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

Yes, even though you have seen the movie, the story itself has so much more to offer. The personal perspectives of the survivors, the details about why and how. A great story

What did you like best about this story?

The personal narratvies and stories of the survivors adds a great deal to the story

How did the narrator detract from the book?

The delivery was monotone and mechanical. It nearly ut me to sleep many times. It was a sad way to portray such a great story and made it hard to listen

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

Great learning exerience

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14 people found this helpful

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

Run on sentences

What did you love best about A Bridge Too Far?

The story, men and mission are captivating. A true and powerful example of heroism by the men, and bad decisions by the command.

What did you like best about this story?

Gritty, realistic and stories told from a soldiers POV.

Who would you have cast as narrator instead of Clive Chafer?

Anyone else... He reads the book like he is in a hurry. He reads without regard to punctuation, like it is a long run on sentence. The narrator killed the book.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

Despite the narrator I gained a very keen insight into the special and personal histories.

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12 people found this helpful

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

Intolerable Monotone Performance

Clive Chafer is easily one of the worst--if not the worst--readers/narrators I've ever heard. He reads in a dull monotone and the inflection at the end of every sentence is almost exactly identical. I rated the overall/story two stars, giving the actual material the benefit of the doubt, but I couldn't bear it beyond the third chapter. This will be the first book I've ever returned in around ten years as a member.

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8 people found this helpful

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

Horrible Narrator

I stopped the reading after 25 minutes! The narrator is mono tone, emotionless, and unpunctuated. This was a terrible rendition and I am very disappointed.

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6 people 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

Great read!

This book was a great read. the narrator was very skilled and the book flowed very easily.

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5 people found this helpful

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

Listen to the book, watch the movie

The movie is referred to as "A Hour Too Long" and it is a long film (3hrs). The book though brings clarity and if you wish to watch the film, I suggest listening to this book; before, after or during it does not matter. Spoiler alert, the cavalry doesn't quite make it. What you do get from this book is a clear understanding of what happen, what went wrong and possibly a good answer to the question of why. This is the 'boys own adventure' to battle and even if you are not into history, is a good yarn. Characters, action, sacrifice and morals are on every page. A damn good listen.

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5 people found this helpful

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

very accurate and unbiased history

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

The dry historical data is really bought to an exciting level. The author writes a lively tale of bravery,sacrifice, historical facts and sadness. A book that is well worth the asking price.

What other book might you compare A Bridge Too Far to and why?

Tobruk, Kokoda by Peter Fitsimmons>
Tears in the Darkness by Michael Norman
They bring military historyto the people

If you were to make a film of this book, what would be the tag line be?

The art of tragedy

Any additional comments?

Excellent

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3 people found this helpful

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

#WorldWarII. Very detailed but not boring!

I've listened to a lot of books on WW2 but this is a must listen to if you want to really learn what happened at operation Market garden. At first, I thought the reader was not very good but I got accustomed to his way of reading and really enjoyed the book.
#WorldWarII, #Inspiring
#tagsgiving and #sweepstakes

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2 people found this helpful