The Long Walk: The True Story of a Trek to Freedom

This is a very gripping adventure story. There seem to be grave doubts about its truth, however. My guess is that it is a compendium of different stories, including that of the author, and that the gaps and other oddities in the book resulted from the ghostwriter's transitions from one story to another. Still well worth reading!

To me, a great audiobook must contain both great writing and great narration/interpretation. This one has both. The story is absorbing, uplifting, inspiring and educational. In addition, the narrator nails the mood, pace, tempo and inflection. There is some dispute as to the veracity of the story (the book has been around for about 50 years), with some saying it can't possibly be true and others questioning only some episodes. I have done enough research to have a fairly high confidence level in the general truth of the story, but that is really beside the point. It is a great yarn, an inspiration worth your time.

The story is gripping, and the narration seems true to the experience. It's too bad none of the experience is true. A 2006 BBC documentary film proved that Rawicz's story was made up.

I could not wait to get back in my car and resume listening to this title. If you enjoy non-fiction and history; this is the title for you! How the characters survived their tremendous journey had me yelling at my mp3!! Don't miss it.

The story kept my interest all the time, even having seen the movie previously. The audiobook provides an excellent opportunity to understand better the survival strategy, as well as to know additional important details this of epic adventure. Moreover: Five stars for the narrator.

From being tortured by the communists, surviving prison camp in Siberia, and then escaping with 6 prisoners who walked from Siberia through Tibet and onto India, this was an incredible story. The adventure and pace never slackens and it reads like fiction. I know that some people question the veracity of the book, but with the level of detail given, I can’t believe that any of it was made up. This is worth your time for the story’s sake, but truthfully I never really got that attached to the characters.

First: Funny enough, I listened to this just after I took up walking around my neighborhood. I was interested with the telling of the initial scenes up until they seemed to be so detailed that I found myself wishing I had a clearer way to play the audio at x2 speed.

Next scene: Eventually the scenes move to the migration of the prisoners to Siberia, which, even though I hadn't read the book yet, I could have guessed that was where they were going.

Queue the prison: I'm still walking, listening, hoping for the 'good parts to make a cameo' and wondering how long I have to listen to this book before we get to walking this long walk the title hints at like a whistling tea kettle. It is getting a little better, and more interesting as the makings of a plan develop and by the time the plan is hatched, I'm hooked.

Let's run then walk: The break from the prison feels like a penultimate climax, the booms you hear before the finale at a 4th of July fireworks display. I won't give away what happens through the walk, but it is more like navigating a mine filled bay, with low sounding, deep thuds, creating deeper impacts to the story than a flash of sparks in the sky.

Near the end of the book, there is a mention of folklore that I took away from the credibility of the story.

I fully recommend this book if you like semi-true stories of hardship and trekking experiences through Siberia, the Gobi, and mountanous regions. It is a little slow to start but I am (unfairly?) comparing this book to Louis L'Amour's "Last of the Breed" which I read ever 5 years or so just because it is so good.

John Lee, one of my favorite narrators, brings a measured dignity and care to this harrowing story of human endeavor, comradeship and courage. Rawicz, a Polish soldier, imprisoned in Siberia during the second world war, escapes and this is his account of his prison hell and subsequent long walk out. Ghost written, it is a very restrained account of such an extraordinary achievement.
There is some question as to the authenticity of the walk, but on balance it seems to be true. It is certainly worth listening to. Published in 1956, it has never out of print and, despite the unimaginable privations endured, Rawicz lived to 89. Distinguished Australian film maker, Peter Weir, has just released a film of this walk called The Way Back.

An epic story, expertly told and brilliantly narrated.

No, only because I now know what happens but it was well worth reading it the first time.

The description of the individual characters.

I like how John Lee did the various accents of all the characters