No Man’s Land

1918, the Last Year of the Great War

By: John Toland

Narrated by: Grover Gardner

Length: 25 hrs and 5 mins

Publisher's summary

From freezing infantrymen huddled in bloodied trenches on the front lines to intricate political maneuvering and tense strategy sessions in European capitals, noted historian John Toland tells of the unforgettable final year of the First World War.

As 1918 opened, the Allies and Central Powers remained locked in a desperate, bloody stalemate, despite the deaths of millions of soldiers over the previous three and a half years. The arrival of the Americans "over there" by the middle of the year turned the tide of war, resulting in an Allied victory in November.

In this audiobook, participants on both sides, from enlisted men to generals and prime ministers to monarchs, vividly recount the battles, sensational events, and behind-the-scenes strategies that shaped the climactic, terrifying year. It's all here - the horrific futility of going over the top into a hail of bullets in no man's land; the enigmatic death of the legendary German ace, the Red Baron; Operation Michael, a punishing German attack in the spring; the Americans' long-awaited arrival in June; the murder of Russian Czar Nicholas II and his family, the growing fear of a communist menace in the east; and the armistice on November 11.

The different points of view of Germans, Americans, British, French, and Russians add depth, complexity, and understanding to the tragedies and triumphs of the War to End All Wars.

©2017 Blackstone Audio, Inc. (P)2017 Blackstone Audio, Inc.

very informative

not for the faint of heart but if your prepaired for the long haul it's worth your time

A Starting Point, A Finishing Point

Just when you believe a work will offer closure on a subject: The Armistice. This work opens other doors for further study.: Pershing's Memoirs, Reds vs Whites with foreign intervention, in Russia and, of course Shirer's Fall of the Third Republic. The obvious follow up is Paris 1919.

In any case, Toland brings the story to life recounting the year from the trenches to the highest levels of power.

1918

this book reflects on how events of 1918 not only ended world war 1 but also set up world war 2

Fantastic work, but with all audible WW1 books, I DONT SPEAK FRENCH!!

The narrative is fantastic, blending strategic narrative with personal vignettes, but like many WW1 works on audible, the prevalence of French generals and politics lends itself to inclusion of excited and sage utterances in French. Unfortunately, a translation or approximation is never included. This is by no means a large part of the work, but I feel it matters. Certainly in the physical work translations are provided in footnotes, but not included in the audio performance. One loses the humor or drama of the moment, and it breaks the immersion. Regrettable.

great book must read

good storyline well-written exceptional narration would recommend to anyone wanting to learn about the final year of world war 1

Superb variety of the last year of World War 1 covering all the Main events in air, sea and ground combat. I enjoyed it so much.

I listened to it back to again I enjoyed it so much. Outstanding variety and detail!

Outstanding. Drawing from many sources.

In the 100th anniversary of WWI, a great work concerning the strange circumstances that ended the war and opened the gates for the rise of Hitler, the decorated war hero of the Great War.

Excellent coverage and not pedantic

I like John Toland as a storyteller. Kershaw always amazes me with new research, and Keegan is great for building dendrites through decipher. But Toland keeps me turning pages with a seamless weave of a fairly complex plot and many characters. I’ve also read most of Beevor’s books and have a similar feeling for this Author

Great Story!

Big fan of John Toland’s work. I thought this was a great work on the last year of the war. The German offensives that almost cracked the Entente and would have given Germany peace on her terms. The final arrival of US troops and General Pershing’s insistence that the US Army/Marines fight as a unit and not piecemeal for the French and British.

Grover Gardner is a great narrator as well. Holds the listener with the ease of a good story teller.

Worth a listen.

In depth narrative for WW1 buffs

Much enjoyed it about a period little remembered. Toland excellent as always. Have read many of his works.