The Longest Day: June 6, 1944 Audiobook | Cornelius Ryan | Audible.com
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The Longest Day: June 6, 1944 | [Cornelius Ryan]
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The Longest Day: June 6, 1944

>The Longest Day is Cornelius Ryan’s unsurpassed account of D-day, a book that endures as a masterpiece of military history. In this compelling tale of courage and heroism, glory and tragedy, Ryan painstakingly re-creates the fateful hours that preceded and followed the massive invasion of Normandy to retell the story of an epic battle that would turn the tide against world fascism.
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Publisher's Summary

The classic account of the Allied invasion of Normandy....

The Longest Day is Cornelius Ryan’s unsurpassed account of D-day, a book that endures as a masterpiece of military history. In this compelling tale of courage and heroism, glory and tragedy, Ryan painstakingly re-creates the fateful hours that preceded and followed the massive invasion of Normandy to retell the story of an epic battle that would turn the tide against world fascism and free Europe from the grip of Nazi Germany.

This book, first published in 1959, is a must for anyone who loves history, as well as for anyone who wants to better understand how free nations prevailed at a time when darkness enshrouded the earth.

©1959 Cornelius Ryan; 1987 by Kathryn Morgan Ryan, Victoria Ryan Baida, and Geoffrey J. M. Ryan (P)2012 Blackstone Audio, Inc.

What the Critics Say

“What I write about is not war but the courage of man.” (Cornelius Ryan)

“Fifty years from now, the history of D-day, I am sure, will lean heavily on this book.” (New York Times Book Review)

“A dramatic, moving masterpiece, a living memorial to the men who died, and as suspenseful as the most gripping mystery story.” (Chicago Sunday Tribune)

What Members Say

Average Customer Rating

4.4 (54 )
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4.1 (52 )
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  •  
    pratalife Singapore 07-22-12
    pratalife Singapore 07-22-12 Member Since 2008

    imho - ymmv

    HELPFUL VOTES
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    "Seen the movie? Read the book: it is worth it"
    Any additional comments?

    Have you seen the movie? They make such a prominent statement in the opening credits that it is "based on the book by Cornelius Ryan" that I've always had a mind to read it.

    After all, while the story is epic, the movie just "tries too hard" in parts. Isn't the breaching of Fortress Europe enough of a plot? No! Movie-goers also need a schmaltzy love story too. Surely the book can't be that contrived?

    The good news is that it is not. It shares the "tell a story through a mosaic of slice-of-life vignettes" approach, yet does it with compelling integrity. It is gritty and unrelenting; sometimes poignant, but always authentic. The book's most rewarding and fascinating aspect is how it shows in rich detail the diverse impact of action and inaction, decision and indecision - and often just plain luck - in the final outcome of the day.

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    3 of 3 people found this review helpful
  •  
    mr kieran j murphy 03-22-12
    mr kieran j murphy 03-22-12 Member Since 2010
    HELPFUL VOTES
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    Story
    "a different take"

    This book gives a different take on the d day landings. Using interviews and letter etc it tells the story from the thoughts and feelings of those involved. A very good listen.

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    3 of 3 people found this review helpful
  •  
    Mary United States 03-18-12
    Mary United States 03-18-12 Member Since 2011
    HELPFUL VOTES
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    "Horrendous narration makes it impossible to listen"
    What could have made this a 4 or 5-star listening experience for you?

    A different narration.


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

    Every sentence dragged on with the exact same rhythm. How can you make such
    interesting material so impossible to bear????


    Any additional comments?

    This is one of the saddest disappointments I have ever experienced on Audible.

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    5 of 6 people found this review helpful
  •  
    Tim Bligh Park, Australia 05-09-13
    Tim Bligh Park, Australia 05-09-13 Member Since 2012
    HELPFUL VOTES
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    "OMG....kill me now....."
    Would you be willing to try another one of Clive Chafer’s performances?

    NEVER!!!


    Any additional comments?

    I could not get past Chapter 2.... The narrator was sooooo monotone and drove me to rip my earphones out.....

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    3 of 4 people found this review helpful
  •  
    Alan Waxhaw, NC, United States 04-09-12
    Alan Waxhaw, NC, United States 04-09-12 Member Since 2005
    HELPFUL VOTES
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    4
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    Story
    "Great Story, Poor Story Narrator."
    Where does The Longest Day rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

    Better than average


    What was one of the most memorable moments of The Longest Day?

    The air drop over France


    What three words best describe Clive Chafer’s voice?

    Monotone, not very exciting


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

    There already is a movie.


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    1 of 1 people found this review helpful
  •  
    Bert Hopkins Dracut, MA United States 03-26-12
    Bert Hopkins Dracut, MA United States 03-26-12 Member Since 2006

    I am a retired electrical engineer with interests in computer science, computer history, military history, the brain and conciousness. I am always amazed at the connectedness of things, ideas and concepts.

    HELPFUL VOTES
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    "A long awaited story now being told"
    Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

    All Americans need to understand the sacrifices made by our servicemen on 6 June 1944 as they stormed the beaches of Normandy. I have waited for many years to finally obtain an audio version of this book. A must for all students of History.


    What was one of the most memorable moments of The Longest Day?

    Cornelius Ryan weaving the story of Private Arthur B.


    What does Clive Chafer bring to the story that you wouldn???t experience if you just read the book?

    His very distinct accent added to the narration.


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

    Came very close to tears when listening to what happened to our guys at Sainte Mere Eglise.


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    1 of 1 people found this review helpful
  •  
    Alan Waxhaw, NC, United States 04-09-12
    Alan Waxhaw, NC, United States 04-09-12 Member Since 2005
    HELPFUL VOTES
    6
    ratings
    REVIEWS
    12
    6
    FOLLOWERS
    FOLLOWING
    0
    0
    Overall
    Performance
    Story
    "Great Story, Poor Story Narrator."
    Where does The Longest Day rank among all the audiobooks you???ve listened to so far?

    Better than average


    What was one of the most memorable moments of The Longest Day?

    The air drop over France


    What three words best describe Clive Chafer???s voice?

    Monotone, not very exciting


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

    There already is a movie.


    More Less
    2 of 3 people found this review helpful
    • Showing: 1-7 of 7 results
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  • MR
    Whitley Bay, United Kingdom
    4/13/13
    Overall
    "Readable, scholarly, humane"

    In the two generations that have passed since the end of the Second World War historians have acquired the distance and balance from those terrible events necessary to writing good history. Given the early date of "The Longest Day" it is an enormous credit to Cornelius Ryan that he has avoided both partisanship and triumphalism in his account.



    His research has obviously been meticulous, but this never causes his prose to labour and he humanises the battle on both sides without trivialising it. Most of all this is an accurate historical account that lives up to the size of the subject - perhaps the most important single day in the twentieth century.



    This is not scholarly history in the academic sense, but as a single volume treatment of a momentous battle The Longest Day is as good a book as it could possibly be. And it is an impressive compliment to Ryan's prose that it translates so well to the audiobook format in a reading that does the book full justice.

    0 of 0 people found this review helpful
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