The Great Bridge

The Epic Story of the Building of the Brooklyn Bridge

By: David McCullough

Narrated by: Edward Herrmann

Length: 10 hrs and 2 mins

Publisher's summary

First published in 1972, The Great Bridge is the classic account of one of the greatest engineering feats of all time: the building of the Brooklyn Bridge.

This monumental audiobook, which presents extended unabridged passages from the book, brings back a heroic vision of the America we once had. It is the enthralling story of one of the greatest events during the Age of Optimism, a period when Americans were convinced that all great things were possible.

In the years around 1870, the concept of building a great bridge to span the East River between the cities of Manhattan and Brooklyn required a vision and determination comparable to that which went into the building of the pyramids. Throughout the fourteen years of the bridge's construction, the odds against its successful completion seemed staggering. Bodies were crushed and broken, lives were lost, political empires fell, and surges of public emotion constantly threatened the project. But this is not merely the saga of an engineering miracle: it is a sweeping narrative of the heroes and rascals who had a hand in either constructing or obstructing this great enterprise.

©1972 David McCullough (P)2004 Simon & Schuster, Inc.

Critic reviews

"The Great Bridge is a book so compelling and complete as to be a literary monument....McCullough has written that sort of work which brings us to the human center of the past." (Los Angeles Times)

Historic marvel

Fascinating account of engineering work. It still inspires aspiring civil engineers to accomplish great things.

Great Book, but...

My only complaint is that this book is not read by the author. I am a huge fan Davbid McCullough and after listening to his reading of 1776, I was disappointed that he didn't read this book. Otherwise, a great recording and a well done reading!

Fasinating story

There were many little known historical and engineering facts connected to the story that I really enjoyed. The discovery of the medical condition "the bends" was another such amazing connection.

A Page Turner

Well, not quite; can't turn an audio tape, but this is a fascinating and true story of the building of the Brooklyn Bridge and the men who undertook it. McCullough is a magnificent writer. An amazing story and amazing men.

There's more than one bridge here

There's more than one bridge here as the author bridges time and place. There's more than one effort here in this inspiring story that crosses from aspiration to accomplishment through setbacks and tragedies. There's more than one politic here in the crossing from Tammany Hall to our present day, elected machine candidates in local, state and federal government. We are in the caisson of the bridge that is heavy and damp and threatens the doing of new things with the injury latent in the unknown. We are in the hoisting of towers which still delineate greatness from mediocrity. We are in the cathedral of cables which enable us to cross both physical and spiritual islands. We are in the knowing of that kind of person that can be engineer, financier or poet, and any manifestation of the enduring, supporting soul. For the author tells us of the many in the creative village, not excluding the heroine as well as the hero.

A great true story told by one of the best!

This is one of my favorite books of all time. I am a fan of David McCullough and the Great Bridge is one of those stories that amazes. The cast of characters that converged to create such an enduring symbol of this country at that time in our history.

in my top 5 of all time!

just loved it. in my top 5 of all time. great history with lots of personal details about the engineers and the political battles.

Great book!

This books describes the history of the Brooklyn bridge. It also gives history and political background surrounding the bridge and it's main engineer John A. and Washington Roebling. This was an easy read.

Excellent,

Fascinating details and history of the Brooklyn Bridge. So many worked, persevered & kept going despite setbacks. The narrators were very good.

Very Poorly Abridged

I love David McCulluogh, and this book should be a real treat, but it's marred by a hack job of an abridging. The great Edward Herman narrates much of the book, but when it comes time to condense content, a completely different narrator, of a different sex suddenly appears! It's extremely jarring. What's worse, is the knowledge that somewhere, a version read completely by Edward Herman exists, and Audible doesn't see fit to offer it. I would gladly listen to that version, but I don't even have that option. Get with it Audible!