The Great Bridge

The Epic Story of the Building of the Brooklyn Bridge

By: David McCullough

Narrated by: Nelson Runger

Length: 27 hrs and 24 mins

Publisher's summary

This monumental book tells the enthralling story of one of the greatest accomplishments in our nation's history, the building of what was then the longest suspension bridge in the world. The Brooklyn Bridge rose out of the expansive era following the Civil War, when Americans believed all things were possible.

So daring a concept as spanning the East River to join two great cities required vision and dedication of the kind that went into building Europe's great cathedrals. During 14 years of construction, the odds against success seemed overwhelming. Thousands of people were put to work. Bodies were crushed and broken, lives lost, notorious political empires fell, and surges of public doubt constantly threatened the project. But the story of the building of the Brooklyn Bridge is not just the saga of an engineering miracle; it is a sweeping narrative of the social climate of the time, replete with heroes and rascals who helped either to construct or to exploit the great enterprise.

The Great Bridge is also the story of a remarkable family, the Roeblings, who conceived and executed the audacious engineering plan at great personal cost. Without John Roebling's vision, his son Washington's skill and courage, and Washington's wife Emily's dedication, the bridge we know and cherish would never have been built.

Like the engineering marvel it describes, The Great Bridge, republished on the 40th anniversary of its initial publication, has stood the test of time.

Please note: The Great Bridge (Unabridged) is available for just one credit until June 20, 2012, after which point it will be priced at two credits.

©2007 David McCullough (P)2012 Simon & Schuster

Critic reviews

“The impact of the soaring structure upon the American imagination and American life has now been measured with sagacity and style by David McCullough.... The Great Bridge is a book so compelling and complete as to be a literary monument, one of the best books I have read in years. McCullough has written that sort of work which brings us to the human center of the past.” (Robert Kirsch, Los Angeles Times)

" The Great Bridge is a great book. . . . What David McCullough has written is a stupendous narrative about the building of the Brooklyn Bridge, with a cast of thousands (give or take 100), whose major characters come alive on the page as authentically, as creatively, as would their fictional counterparts if one had the imagination to dream up such a yarn. Once again, truth is not only stranger than fiction but a hell of a lot more entertaining. Get your hands on The Great Bridge...This is the definitive book on the event. Do not wait for a better try: there won't be any.” (Norman Rosten, Newsday)

“David McCullough has taken a dramatic and colorful episode out of the American past and described it in such a way that he sheds fresh light on a whole era in American history.” (Bruce Catton)

Excellent

I’m really enjoyed this book. I am a senior construction management student. And lover of all things construction, engineering, and history. I highly recommend this book to anyone, but especially if you’re interested in those topics. Also the Audible version was very good.

David McCullough

David McCullough is one of the most prolific American historians/writers of our age. Every David McCullough book that I’ve read leaves me awestruck at both the history that it conveys and the skill with which it is written, and The Great Bridge is no different. Expertly written, beautifully researched, and engaging from start to finish, The Great Bridge is a masterpiece.

Also, Nelson Runger brings the story to life with his fantastic narration. Honestly, one of the best history books I’ve read in a long tome.

Unexpectedly Amazing

Never thought a story about a bridge would bring such a long range of emotions. A wonderful story of American ingenuity. I feeling you like to hear about history through personal experiences this is a great book to listen to.

Thoroughly Enjoyable Book

Well researched and detailed account of the people and process involved to create this iconic structure. A great mixture of politics, science and engineering, medical and historical stories.

Excellent non-fiction

My favourite author and favourite narrator! The story begins just a couple of years after the end of the U.S. War Between the States.

Fascinating Brooklyn

This book has so much history in it and even though I have never been to the Brooklyn Bridge I was fascinated with the story; the history; and the possibility of the 'actual' engineer. I have gone so far as to look for; visit; and find a bridge mentioned in the book just so I could have some tactile experience related to the feats of those engineers and the risks that so many took-

I will likely listen to this book again-

Epic is the Right Description

What a great story about a great achievement. David McCullough deserves as many accolades for telling the story as the the engineers do for building this great monument. Well done including Nelson Runger’s narration.

Engaging history

it's amazing that a book about the building of a bridge can be totally engaging and fun. This one is all that and more. A wonderful history of the time and politics in New York along with the story of an engineering marvel.

Highly Technical!

I love books by David McCullough, and this was no exception. He does everything within his power to make history interesting and alive, and he does without fail in my experience. This book was highly technical, however, and it was especially difficult to follow as an audible book (while driving in the car). I plan, however to get more information from other resources (hopefully with diagrams) and then read it a second time with a little more background. With that I will surely understand the use of caissons and basic features and principles of suspension bridges.

David McCullough really knows how to write a book

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

I would recommend this book to anyone that has any interest in history and the Brooklyn Bridge.

Who was your favorite character and why?

Washington Roebling was my favorite character. Taking over for his Dad, and being in his shadow and to do what he and his wife did was amazing.

What about Nelson Runger’s performance did you like?

Nelson Runger did a very good job of narration. David McCullough is a fine narrator and I think Nelson did him proud.

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

How detailed it was and the history that was brought into the book.

Any additional comments?

Five star book and narration from me.