The Lost Airman

By: Seth Meyerowitz, Peter F. Stevens

Narrated by: Jonathan Todd Ross

Length: 9 hrs and 36 mins

Publisher's Summary

For fans of Unbroken, the remarkable, untold story of World War II American Air Force turret-gunner Staff Sergeant Arthur Meyerowitz, who was shot down over Nazi-occupied France and evaded Gestapo pursuers for more than six months before escaping to freedom.

Bronx-born top turret-gunner Arthur Meyerowitz was on his second mission when he was shot down in 1943. He was one of only two men on the B-24 Liberator known as Harmful Lil Armful who escaped death or immediate capture on the ground. After fleeing the wreck, Arthur knocked on the door of an isolated farmhouse, whose owners hastily took him in. Fortunately, his hosts not only despised the Nazis but had a tight connection to the French resistance group Morhange and its founder, Marcel Taillandier. Arthur and Taillandier formed an improbable bond as the resistance leader arranged for Arthur's transfers among safe houses in southern France, shielding him from the Gestapo.

Based on recently declassified material, exclusive personal interviews, and extensive research into the French Resistance, The Lost Airman tells the tense and riveting story of Arthur's trying months in Toulouse - masquerading as a deaf mute and working with a downed British pilot to evade the Nazis - and of his hair-raising journey to freedom involving a perilous trek over the Pyrenees and a voyage aboard a fishing boat with U-boats lurking below and Luftwaffe fighters looming above. This is a never-before-told true story of endurance, perseverance, and escape during World War II.

©2016 Seth Meyerowitz (P)2016 Recorded Books

Wow--The French Come Out Looking Good!

Sorry, rude review title, but I've got a lot (I mean A LOT) of audiobooks on WWII and, especially if you've listened to those concerning Dunkirk and the period thereabouts, it's easy to sometimes forget that there were French not only devoted enough to fight bravely, but to die and sacrifice for others with the utmost of courage. In The Lost Airmen, you'll meet those very people, the regular people, the Resistance.
Seth Meyerowitz is moved to travel over ground his grandfather traversed, a story he's only heard secondhand as his grandfather died ten years before his birth, and this book is the result.
While some of it does read rather dryly, hence less than a 5-star rating, for the most part it's fairly exciting. After all, the place is crawling with Nazis and Arthur Meyerowitz's journey is a long and arduous one. There's the covert; there's the hiding in plain sight (which rather struck me as a dumb move, but it worked).
Most of all, there are truly dedicated people.
One reviewer couldn't stand the voice of Jonathan Todd Ross, but I didn't mind. Yes, he doesn't have one of your deeper toned voices, but the slightly higher pitch adds to excitement where it builds. So I dunno: Listen closely to the sample and see whether you can stand 9 1/2 hours of it?
Worth the time, worth the credit. And I do so love war heroes!

60 of 65 people found this review helpful

Both Touching and Tragic

Where does The Lost Airman rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

Top 10 in non-fiction.

What other book might you compare The Lost Airman to and why?

Shot Down by Steve Synder and Unbroken by Laura Hillenbrand. These books are similar, as they take place during WW2, but The Lost Airman is distinctive in its behind-the-scenes view of the French Resistance and their heart-breaking and admirable courage and sacrifice.

Have you listened to any of Jonathan Todd Ross’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

No, but an excellent narration.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

No. It's not a book you want to rush--but I always looked forward to getting back to it.

Any additional comments?

A moving account of Arthur Meyerowitz and all those who helped him get back home. I finished it on July 3rd, and was humbled and grateful for the brave sacrifice of so many great souls to preserve freedom and human dignity. The Lost Airman should be required reading in high schools.

21 of 23 people found this review helpful

Compelling read....

What a great recount of the actions of the bravest of men and women, a well crafted and excellently researched telling of the action of bomber crew and the French resistance during 1943/44. History well recorded and not to be forgotten, the author is a credit to his late brave Grandfather and the beyond brave members of the resistance organizations of WWll, well done and thank you.

15 of 17 people found this review helpful

Unbelievable story!

A very interesting story about many brave people! The people that helped WWII airmen were unbelievably selfless and heroic!

6 of 7 people found this review helpful

Can't wait for the movie

I agree with the reviewer who compared this true story to the likes of The Great Escape and Unbroken. It just cries out to be made into a film. Written by the grandson of the book's subject, this is a story that could not be told until the debriefing of Arthur Meyerowitz was finally declassified. His crash behind enemy lines and subsequent life in hiding as a Jew in occupied France (by the grace of unforgettable heroes of the French Resistance) is edge of the seat stuff. And good news!! It seems that a film starring Jake Gyllenhall is in development. Excellent read.

11 of 14 people found this review helpful

Regular people extraordinary people

This book is a treat to read or listen to at this in history. It shows how strong people can be, even the respect people can have for each other in trying times. It seems in contrast to the way people act today. Today not as much watching and helping the other man. The people had it tough during this time real tough and the book gets it across. Today our kids thinks it tough because we said hey a job. Different times. If you like Unbroken you will like this. If you read about hacksaw Ridge you will enjoy this book

4 of 5 people found this review helpful

Couldn't stop listening

Well-written account of a riveting story! Courage, perseverance, loyalty, and patriotism shine though surrounded by the heart breaking actions of the Nazi's of WW II.
My gratitude to the author and others for uncovering this story.

4 of 5 people found this review helpful

Great book even if you're not a history fan.

I read this book not knowing what to expect, as I'm not a huge history buff. However the story is captivating and they could not put it down. The more amazing part is that the story is true! I give Seth a lot of credit for uncovering the story and giving Arthur Meyerowitz the voice he deserves.

6 of 8 people found this review helpful

The Lost Airman

Regardless of any opinion of this book, the true story of Arthur Meyerowitz is breathtaking, awe inspiring. There are not enough adjectives. He endured/survived through an incredible era of history.

That said, the execution is lacking. Although incredible, the story is dry. Sorry to say, it is terribly trite. Arthur is in an airplane over France, crashes, buries his parachute, is sheltered by the French Resistance, and makes his way to freedom. The same circumstance has been told in movies, books, etc., many times. There is no surprise, predictable with any knowledge of WWII history. The narrator is monotone.

The Meyerowitz family should be very proud, a wonderful story. A mediocre book, worth reading for the story itself, not the writing, not the narration.

The Lost Airman is co-written with Peter F. Stevens, 9.5 hours of listening in unabridged format, a 2016 release byRecorded Books.

5 of 7 people found this review helpful

Can't listen to this any longer

What could have made this a 4 or 5-star listening experience for you?

A better narrator. Having just finished listening to "All Quiet on the Western Front," "The Forgotten Soldier," and Grover Gardner expertly narrate William L. Shirer's "Rise and Fall of the Third Reich," I simply could not tolerate Johnathon's boyish voice combined with an author's desperate attempt to emulate Laura Hillenbrand's unique style. Johnathon's voice reminded me of a grade school teacher gently reading "Watership Down" to his young students. Wholly inadequate for a war novel and exceptionally boring.

What do you think your next listen will be?

Anything WWII

Would you be willing to try another one of Jonathan Todd Ross’s performances?

Never.

If you could play editor, what scene or scenes would you have cut from The Lost Airman?

The opening chapter was painful, especially the background story of the main character which did nothing but slow the book's pace to a crawl.

Any additional comments?

I want my credit back.

16 of 29 people found this review helpful