Tears in the Darkness

The Story of the Bataan Death March and Its Aftermath

De: Michael Norman, Elizabeth Norman

Narrado por: Michael Prichard

Audie Award, History, 2010

For the first four months of 1942, U.S., Filipino, and Japanese soldiers fought what was America's first major land battle of World War II, the battle for the tiny Philippine peninsula of Bataan. It ended with the surrender of 76,000 Filipinos and Americans, the single largest defeat in American military history. The defeat, though, was only the beginning, as Michael and Elizabeth M. Norman make dramatically clear in this powerfully original book.

From then until the Japanese surrendered in August 1945, the prisoners of war suffered an ordeal of unparalleled cruelty and savagery: 41 months of captivity, starvation rations, dehydration, hard labor, deadly disease, and torture---far from the machinations of General Douglas MacArthur. The Normans bring to the story remarkable feats of reportage and literary empathy.

Their protagonist, Ben Steele, is a figure out of Hemingway: a young cowboy turned sketch artist from Montana who joined the army to see the world. Juxtaposed against Steele's story and the sobering tale of the Death March and its aftermath is the story of a number of Japanese soldiers. The result is an altogether new and original World War II book: it exposes the myths of military heroism as shallow and inadequate; and it makes clear, with great literary and human power, that war causes suffering for people on all sides.

©2009 Michael and Elizabeth Norman (P)2009 Tantor

Military History At Its Finest

Humans at their worst and at the same time at their very best. I'm was amazed at how cruel the human being can be. War history told through letters, facts and interviews allowed me to be there and see everything first hand. General MacArthur was brilliant but also self absorbed to the detriment of his command. I thought about this book for several weeks after I had finished it. Excellently written and narrated.

Great for feeling the pain of WWII soldiers

I thoroughly enjoyed listening to this book. I just had to look up the main character on google after listening this. It is a remarkable true story of bravery

Depressing

I couldn't make it through this story as there was no redemption. If you want a great story of this point in history read Unbroken.

Wowed.

I cannot imagine anyone having such strength to endure the treatment and conditions POW s did in this campaign. Amazing stuff. Great listening.

Truely a magnificent work heard around the world.

I can't say enough about this book . From beginning to end the book held my attention. I knew something about the Bataan Death March but never got into the details. This audiobook changed that and filled in the gaps. l'm sure I'll listen to it again down the road. The authors must have taken years to compose all the facts and information concerning both sides of the story. I praise them both.

Amazing

Michael Prichard does an amazing job of narrating this powerful book. If this narration and story does not bring a tear to your eye several times, you must not be human. I, too, bought the hardback version the evening that I finished the audo version. I needed it in my library and I will encourage my 10 year old son to read it some day when he is old enough to understand and appreciate it.

very interesting

great and very interesting I found it compling to listen to to find out what happened.

Holy cow

Opened my eyes to an event I had never even heard of. Awesome listen, I couldn’t stop listening

Powerful, anguishing story

I can't remember the last audio book that I enjoyed so much that I had to run out and purchase the hardcover version just to see the pictures and re-read some of the sections at my leisure, but I did so with Tears in the Darkness. It is the story of the Japanese invasion and occupation of the Philippine Islands during World War II. Manila was a plum assignment for anyone in the military. That all changed suddenly and dramatically with first the news that Japan had attacked Pearl Harbor and next when Japan attacking the Philippines. The Japanese army, built with men who had been subjected to cruelty from the day they entered the service of their country and had thus most had all humanity snuffed out of them during their introductory military training, took over the Philippines faster than the Americans could have ever anticipated, then went on to brutalize them in an unimaginable way. On the famous Bataan death march, which although is part of the title of this book is not a huge aspect of this book, men were routinely beaten, starved, and deprived of even water. They were shot or bayonetted for stopping to assist another. When it was inconvenient to transport men at one point, the Japanese simply decided to bayonet them in small batches and throw them over a cliff. When they were transported in a ship they were unable to breathe, given no food or water. This book will leave you with a lasting impression of true suffering endured by so many. If you don't understand why military tribunals exist for passing judgment for crimes committed on fields of battle, you may after reading this. (Dead men simply can't provide testimony.) There can be no excuse for what was done by the military of the Empire of Japan. Also a good reminder for us to maintain our military strength and stay vigilant at all times. Friends become enemies overnight.

Great listening!

Vivid story telling of Bataan death march and
its brave people.