Tears in the Darkness

The Story of the Bataan Death March and Its Aftermath

By: Michael Norman, Elizabeth Norman

Narrated by: Michael Prichard

Length: 17 hrs and 13 mins

Publisher's summary

Audie Award, History, 2010

For the first four months of 1942, U.S., Filipino, and Japanese soldiers fought what was America's first major land battle of World War II, the battle for the tiny Philippine peninsula of Bataan. It ended with the surrender of 76,000 Filipinos and Americans, the single largest defeat in American military history. The defeat, though, was only the beginning, as Michael and Elizabeth M. Norman make dramatically clear in this powerfully original book.

From then until the Japanese surrendered in August 1945, the prisoners of war suffered an ordeal of unparalleled cruelty and savagery: 41 months of captivity, starvation rations, dehydration, hard labor, deadly disease, and torture---far from the machinations of General Douglas MacArthur. The Normans bring to the story remarkable feats of reportage and literary empathy.

Their protagonist, Ben Steele, is a figure out of Hemingway: a young cowboy turned sketch artist from Montana who joined the army to see the world. Juxtaposed against Steele's story and the sobering tale of the Death March and its aftermath is the story of a number of Japanese soldiers. The result is an altogether new and original World War II book: it exposes the myths of military heroism as shallow and inadequate; and it makes clear, with great literary and human power, that war causes suffering for people on all sides.

©2009 Michael and Elizabeth Norman (P)2009 Tantor

My Great Uncle went through Bataan Death March

If you could sum up Tears in the Darkness in three words, what would they be?

Unforgettable book - I now have more appreciation for what my Great Uncle went through, I really had no concept before.

What was one of the most memorable moments of Tears in the Darkness?

There were many moments that I wont forget, some were of those left behind by those who were too weak to help. Broken hearts all around.

Bataan Death March is a must read about humanity

The most riveting and graphic book I have ever read. All H.S. students should read to understand how horrible is war and how we should never treat each other. Also to learn how our indoctrination, usually how we are raised and how cultures can get it wrong.

Very Oppressive, Sad True Story

Would you say that listening to this book was time well-spent? Why or why not?

The length and darkness of this story almost makes you feel you are with the characters in this desolate, hopeless situation worsening day by day, week by week, month by month and year by year. I got so I almost dreaded continuing to listen, but felt disloyal to not finish it. If they could maintain hope and life after all this time, who was I to lay it aside and forget them. Was it time well spent? I don't know. Am I a better person for having read it? I don't think so, but do I have a new understanding of something that happened when I was but a child.

What did you like best about this story?

That there is no limit to the atrocities of war and inhumane treatment of our fellow man. But that there is always light at the end of the tunnel if you keep putting one foot in front of the other.

Would you listen to another book narrated by Michael Prichard?

I thought Michael Prichard's narration a bit flat, but perhaps appropriate for the character's situation.

Did Tears in the Darkness inspire you to do anything?

It made me sad,angry and depressed, but surprised that I could still feel compassion for the Japanese officer that was executed for the atrocities commited by his soldiers.

Any additional comments?

I would classify this as a

This book should be mandatory reading in high schools in the USA!

This gives a clear and precise account of true suffering of true heroes! God bless them all!

Riveting and heartbreaking

This chilling book reveals the barbaric treatment of allied soldiers by the Japanese army in WW2. The level of cruelty is as shocking as anything perpatrated by the Nazis in Europe. Some scenes of torture and murder caused me to cringe. That any of the soldiers survived is a testament to the will to live, as well as the kindness of fellow soldier's. This is a story of humanity-the loss of it by the Japanese, and the retention of it by those seemingly without hope.

Michael Pritchard did his usual superb job of narrating.

Excruciating Pain, Exquisite Story

"Tears in the Darkness: The Story of the Bataan Death March and Its Aftermath" (2009) invites comparison to Laura Hillenbrand's much more well known "Unbroken: A World War II Story of Survival, Resilience, and Redemption" (2010). "Unbroken" is the story of former Olympian Louis Zamperini, who was taken prisoner of war by the Japanese following 47 days lost at sea, and held as a prisoner of war for three years. "Tears" is largely the story of Ben Steele, taken prisoner of war after the Philippines were surrendered in early 1942, and held until the end of the war.

"Tears" focuses on cowboy-turned-soldier Steele, who volunteered for the Army Air Corps rather than be drafted. Steele was sent to the Philippines, under the overall command of General Douglas MacArthur. MacArthur had a distinguished career, but he was at his inept, indecisive and arrogant nadir in 1941-42. The soldiers under his command still feel, even on the 21st Century, the humiliation of surrender.

Steele and his fellow soldiers - American and Filipino - were taken prisoner and force marched, mostly without food or water, 80 miles across the Bataan peninsula to a prisoner of war camp. Stragglers were bayonetted and left to rot in the jungle heat. No one is sure how many died during the march, but some estimates are more than 10,000. When they reached Camp O'Donnell, the prisoners worked as slave laborers while they were starved and beaten, and buried in unmarked mass graves when they dropped.

"Tears" also explains how the training and the structure of the Japanese military created the sadistic, sociopathic men who tormented Steele, Zamperini, and more than 100,000 other prisoners of war. There was a culture of contempt, brutality, and a complete lack of empathy that is condemned by professional military. I know - I am a US Army veteran.

If you have to choose between Michael Norman and Elizabeth Norman's "Tears" and "Unbroken" choose both. If you can't, "Tears" has an overall perspective on military strategy and tactics; but Hillenbrand's "Unbroken" is exquisitely well written.

As I write this review, Steele is 93 and Zamperini is 96. Steele is a widely respected artist and speaker, and Zamperini is a frequent speaker whose life story, "Unbroken", is being directed by Angelina Jolie. Enjoy these extraordinary men while they are with us.

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Compellingly written, compellingly read

Shortly after finishing this story, I read/listened to a new history of World War II. Within the nearly 40 hours of narration, this story of the heroism, bravery, and shocking depravity merited only about two sentences. To think that such an incredible sequence of events -- the invasion, battles, and surrender in the Philippines exists as almost a footnote in any other telling of WWII is hard to believe. The story here is so rich and intricate that fascination with what it took to survive overpowers any lingering revulsion at what happened in those years following the initial fall of Manila and the Bataan peninsula.

That doesn't mean that the events are any easier to accept. To confront such hatred and evil takes a particular determination. This story by Michael and Elizabeth Norman is told in a way that never excuses any actions, but does give context and three dimensionality to many of the most important players in this awful calamity. Michael Prichard, again, does a fantastic job of bringing the text to life. As a result, I came away from this book with a newfound appreciation for all of the little things, relatively speaking, that happen in war. Bravery doesn't always shine like a newly minted coin. Sometimes, it is hidden in far off corners of the world, where men and women do what they believe is right, in the face of unspeakable wrong.

I had to find out

My own father was a POW in the Philippines for 40 months following his "march" from Bataan into the camp in 1942. During his lifetime he refused to talk about his experience, telling me only that it was a terrible time in his life. He only told me that he had suffered from Malaria, Dengue and Dysentery and that when he was released from his internment his 6' tall body weighed only 103 lbs. I knew there had been torture but he just would not discuss it.
After having read this book I can now "appreciate" why he needed to put the experience and memory of it to rest. Post Traumatic Stress Syndrome was not yet acknowledged. Men were expected to "deal with it" as they re-entered civilian life. Some suffered breakdowns. Others turned to alcohol. My father's way of dealing was to immerse himself in his work as a physician, sometimes to the detriment of the family who wanted him to be around more.
My heart aches for him and for my mother who had to wake up to his nightmares.
Read this to find out about the brave men who experienced this unspeakable horror.
Michael Prichard did an excellent narration of this book.

Grit and survival...

Never take the phrase "death march" in vain again... I kept wondering why it takes the worst in humanity to bring out the best in humanity. You keep thinking the worst is past, but around every bend there's a surprise waiting...

A very difficult read

I disagree completely with the reviewer who defined this as a man's book (in fact, it was just a little offensive). You will need to be interested in military history, historical documentary, etc.--but you don't need to be a man to hold those interests. I will, however, issue a couple of caveats (without defining it as a male/female issue), At times, the detail on military strategy can be numbing. (I "read" during a long commute, and found my mind wandering at times in the first several hours). It will matter farther on in the book, so try to keep focused. Second, some of the descriptions of the brutal treatment of the POWs is extremely graphic and difficult to hear. I'm female (but not weak stomached or hearted), and yet I found myself close to sobbing at times. The depravity and inhumanity that war can create (particularly this one, where the broad differences in culture led the Japanese to see their captives as subhuman and not having any value) subjected Americans AND Filipinos (whose casualties were much higher than the Americans) to horrific abuses. It's tough to listen to.