• My Glorious Brothers

  • By: Howard Fast
  • Narrated by: James Fouhey
  • Length: 9 hrs and 5 mins
  • 4.6 out of 5 stars (90 ratings)

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My Glorious Brothers  By  cover art

My Glorious Brothers

By: Howard Fast
Narrated by: James Fouhey
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Editorial reviews

From the author of Spartacus comes another epic tale of uprising and antiquity. A rapturous rendering of the events commemorated by Hanukkah, Howard Fast’s My Glorious Brothers follows a small group of Jewish farmers and intellectuals, led by the five brothers Maccabee, through their decades-long revolt against the mighty Syrian-Greek Empire. Portraying Maccabean mastermind Judas, performer James Fouhey brims with tremulous urgency and a reserved righteousness: at once oppressed and battle-weary, yet proud and determined. A sonorous storyteller and character actor, Fouhey seamlessly weaves together feats of breathtaking bravery, loyalty, tragedy, and devotion, his historic intensity never relenting.

Publisher's summary

The strength of five brothers will define a nation.

My Glorious Brothers is the epic story of perhaps the most breathtaking chapter in the history of Israel, a stirring tale of courage for those who like to find meaning for today's world in the great events of history.

After witnessing a ransacked and desecrated Jerusalem, Simon and his four brothers - soon to be known and revered as the Maccabees - rise to lead an earthshaking rebellion. Their tale has almost no parallel in human history. Theirs was the will, fire, and unbending spirit that inspired the timeless rite of Hanukkah, transforming a society of farmers and scholars into an unconquerable army that would wage the first modern fight for freedom and the first victory for religious freedom.

Master storyteller Howard Fast recounts the story of great battles, brutal atrocities, and undying love and loyalty. But it is also a sensitive and sure picture of a people and an age, in which the mood of a small but spirited segment of humanity two thousand years ago is recreated with gripping authenticity.

©1948, 1975 Howard Fast. 2003 The Estate of Howard Fast (P)2013 Audible, Inc.

What listeners say about My Glorious Brothers

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

A glorious Intertestamental picture<br />

The fictionalized account of the true world of the Maccabee and of the Maccabeans is nothing short of riviting. Howard Fast's writing sores as high as the Judean hills of which his narrator speaks. Both the descriptions of that land and those who fought for it allow me, a blind person all my life, to see eachimage clearly in my mind. As an Evangelical Christian and seminary student, I believe all students of theology should read this book, although it was not written for strictly theological purposes. It helps a person truly engage with that period we call the Intertestamental period. This book is often a book read by devout practicioners of Judaism particularly during Honica based upon my understanding. I believe it is significant for others also, perhaps Catholics most of all because 1 and 2 Maccabees are Deuterocanonical in Catholic Bibles. I would rate this at five stars but my phone will only move to four unfortunately.

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6 people found this helpful

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    5 out of 5 stars
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Fasts knowledge of the topic is great

To me , with all the trash That gets turned into movies ? How this great true story hasn’t ? Anyway , fast makes it riveting as it really was. This is considered the first guerilla conflict in history. It had it all. A right side , wrong side. Elephants in battle. Underdogs. Treachery. You’ll love it. It’s magnificent

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2 👍🏽s Up!

After listening, I was left with impression that ancient Jewish society in Judea was the first authentic democratic society. And possibly the initial society that worshipped an unseen omnipresent god. Actually they worshipped their covent with god.

Looking forward to traveling the ancient homeland, soon.

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    5 out of 5 stars
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Wonderful

A thoroughly enjoyable experience. Mr. James did superbley narrating this intriguing and well written story.

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The Maccabeans - understanding Jews.

A wonderful author and a wonderful narrator. Sad, glorious. The book reflects the constant battle between war and peace, subjugation and freedom.

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    5 out of 5 stars
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Loved the performance!

Not only is the story interesting, but the performance was captivating. Will look for any other books this guy (sorry forgot his name) reads!!!

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    4 out of 5 stars
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Mike C

Really enjoyed the story and the overall history of a short segment of time. I also enjoyed the philosophy of the value of freedom.

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wisdom

thank you for the wisdom and light ✨️ 🙏 you brought with this beautiful novel ❤️ 😍 hope to get more understanding...

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A Great Book

Easily one of the best books I’ve read on Audible. The narrator is amazing, and the story gripping. This isn’t an action packed novel (though there is plenty of that), but it’s more about the emotions tied into the fight for freedom. You’ll laugh, you might cry, but you’ll be gripped the whole way through. There were some minor historical errors, but nothing too glaring and the prose is so well formed, you probably won’t even notice unless you’re an avid scholar of the period. Overall, a great read!

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A Wonderful Surprise

I first read this book years ago and was captivated. The cover is misleading. It looks more like a romantic novel vs. an epic story of a few simple people rising up against tyranny and injustice. It is so well written. Worthy of a movie. But few could do it justice. I’m looking forward to listening to this again.

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