The Guns at Last Light

The War in Western Europe, 1944-1945

By: Rick Atkinson

Narrated by: L. J. Ganser

Length: 32 hrs and 18 mins

Publisher's summary

The eagerly awaited final volume in Pulitzer Prize-winner Rick Atkinson's New York Times best-selling Liberation Trilogy.

It is the 20th century's unrivaled epic: At a staggering price, the United States and its allies liberated Europe and vanquished Hitler. In the first two volumes of his best-selling Liberation Trilogy, Rick Atkinson recounted the history of how the American-led coalition fought its way from North Africa and Italy to the threshold of victory. Now he tells the most dramatic story of all - the titanic battle in Western Europe.

D-Day marked the commencement of the war's final campaign, and Atkinson's astonishingly fresh account of that enormous gamble sets the pace for the masterly narrative that follows. The brutal fight in Normandy, the liberation of Paris, the disaster that was Market Garden, the horrific Battle of the Bulge, and finally the thrust to the heart of the Third Reich - all these historic moments come utterly alive. Atkinson tells the tale from the perspective of participants at all levels, from presidents and prime ministers to ambitious generals, from war-weary lieutenants to terrified teenage riflemen. When Germany at last surrenders, we understand anew both the devastating cost of this global conflagration and the awe-inspiring effort that led to Germany's surrender.

With the stirring final volume of this monumental trilogy, Rick Atkinson's remarkable accomplishment is manifest. He has produced the definitive chronicle of the war that restored freedom to the West. His lively, occasionally lyric prose brings the vast theater of battle, from the beaches of Normandy deep into Germany, brilliantly alive. It is hard to imagine a better history of the western front's final phase.

©2013 Rich Atkinson (P)2013 Simon & Schuster

Critic reviews

"Superb… The book is distinguished by its astonishing range of coverage… [Atkinson’s] lively, occasionally lyric prose brings the vast theater of battle, from the beaches of Normandy deep into Germany, brilliantly alive. It is hard to imagine a better history of the western front’s final phase." ( Publishers Weekly, starred review)

"[An] extraordinary accomplishment. This is a beautifully written, moving account of one of the most bittersweet chapters in modern history… The details build a stunning and precise account of major movements—from Normandy to Paris, from the South of France to Grenoble—and close-up portraits of famous figures that make them living, breathing beings." ( Smithsonian Magazine)

"Superb… The book is distinguished by its astonishing range of coverage… [Atkinson’s] lively, occasionally lyric prose brings the vast theater of battle, from the beaches of Normandy deep into Germany, brilliantly alive. It is hard to imagine a better history of the western front’s final phase." ( Publishers Weekly, starred review)

Epic finish to an epic story

Atkinson puts a fitting capstone to the trilogy of the WWII Mediterranean and European Campaign from a U.S. perspective. He continues to expertly blend the detailed human elements of personalities and backgrounds with the higher geopolitical and strategic themes. Well researched and backed by official histories and primary sources, it is not a dry read. He makes this gargantuan topic accessible. Wonderfully narrated and written, this is a must read with the previous two books to get the full
picture of global war.

a story to remember

the account, history, was told in an almost story like format. I liked the personal reading of notes and messages. like when the Germans asked for clarification of what's "Nuts" meant when the Americans were given a surrender notice.

Fantastic book

A fantastic book bringing new details to a well trodden subject... BUT... if you are going to narrate a book about a 'well trodden subject' at least get the pronunciation right!! It made me wonder whether he had ever heard anyone else say the place names or if he had simply read them from the page! Aside from that it was an excellent engaging performance and I would listen to a book read by Mr Ganser in the future.

Depressing, but important

This book is so relentlessly grim and depressing that I had to alternate chapters with a light-hearted Bill Bryson book to get through it. But I am glad I read it and was reminded one more time of the events that shaped the world I lived in as a boy. The reader moved this very long book along well, though I think he played hooky on some classes in French 101.

The last of a trilogy about WWII in Europe

Would you listen to The Guns at Last Light again? Why?

The story is written in a cogent manner that takes the reader (listener) through conflict of WWII in Europe while describing the broad strokes of the conflict and including details of soldiers at the personal level. The narrator does a good job of capturing the listener's attention.

What other book might you compare The Guns at Last Light to and why?

The author's previous two book on WWII in the European theater are equally well written and narrated. This trilogy places WWII in Europe in an accurate and complete historical account.

Which character – as performed by L. J. Ganser – was your favorite?

Ganser is talented at subtly changing his voice and inflection to capture quotes and characters.

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

The book is engaging -- it makes my commute enlightening and entraining.

Any additional comments?

Must buy along with the previous two books.

Great book, great production

I read the book in hard back, and wanted to go over it again while doing chores - so no doubt about the excellent content.
Was really impressed by the actor, it gave pathos to the. Book, including, when necessary, sentences with German or French accents.
One way to honor the dead is to keep their memory alive and this book serves the greatest generation well in that regard.

Well Done

An easy listen, with good anecdotes and the big picture. i highly recommend this book

Superb!

Atkinson captures both the experience of the soldier in battle as well as the sweep of the strategic and tactical movements of armies. I came away with new insight into the critical role of the generals and how their daily decisions played out in the lives and deaths of those they commanded. I was dismayed by how often pride and pettiness came into play. Of course, hindsight makes a lot of things clear that are obscure at the time in the fog of war. The reader is good and I thought he got into the story more as it went along.

absolutely amazing

one of the best history books I have ever written. would recommend to anyone with a fascination with history.

Gratitude

Gave me a greater understanding of what those who came before me fought for, and thru. The book does a great job both chronologically and meticulously from both sides of the war.