September Hope

The American Side of a Bridge Too Far

By: John C. McManus

Narrated by: Walter Dixon

Length: 14 hrs and 48 mins

Publisher's Summary

In September Hope, acclaimed historian John C. McManus explores World War II’s most ambitious invasion, an immense, daring offensive to defeat Nazi Germany before the end of 1944. Operation Market-Garden is one of the war’s most famous, but least understood, battles, and McManus tells the story of the American contribution to this crucial phase of the war in Europe.

August 1944 saw the Allies achieve more significant victories than in any other month over the course of the war. Soviet armies annihilated more than 20 German divisions and pushed the hated enemy from Russia to deep inside Poland. General Eisenhower’s D-Day Invasion led to the liberation of France. Encouraged by these triumphs, British, Canadian, and American armored columns plunged into Belgium, Holland, and Luxembourg. The Germans were in disarray, overwhelmed on all fronts, losing soldiers by the thousands as Allied bombers pulverized their cities. For the Third Reich it seemed the end was near. Rumors swirled that the war would soon be over and that everyone would be home for Christmas.

Then came September, and Holland.

On September 17, the largest airborne drop in military history commenced - including two entire American divisions, the 101st and the 82nd. Their mission was to secure key bridges at such places as Son, Eindhoven, Grave, and Nijmegen until British armored forces could relieve them. The armor would slash northeast, breech the Rhine and go wild on the north German plains. However, the Germans were much stronger than the Allies anticipated. In eight days of ferocious combat, they mauled the airborne, stymied the tanks and prevented the Allies from crossing the Rhine. For the first time, using never-before-seen sources and countless personal interviews, September Hope reveals the American perspective on one of the most famous and decisive battles of World War II.

©2012 John C. McManus (P)2012 Gildan Media, LLC

Critic Reviews

“In September 1944 the Allies' heady advances ground to a bloody halt all along the Western Front. John C. McManus's superb September Hope takes us to the heart of some of the most intense and dramatic combat of the entire war. A riveting and deeply moving story of uncommon courage.” (Alex Kershaw, New York Times best-selling author of The Longest Winter)

“A fine account of one of the Second World War's most fraught and frustrating battles. John C. McManus's extensive research allows him to tell the story with verve and authority.” (Rick Atkinson, Pulitzer Prize-winning author of An Army at Dawn)

Go yanks go !

A good retelling of A Bridge Too Far. What is really needed for this audiobook is a pdf supplement with various maps showing key engagements. Narrator does a good job. This is one of those books that makes you proud to be an American.

Good Story no so great Narrator

If you could sum up September Hope in three words, what would they be?

American Airborne in Holland

What was one of the most memorable moments of September Hope?

The Eisenhower-Montgomery exchange in chapter 1 of the book.

Did the narration match the pace of the story?

I did not like Mr. Dixion as a narator/reader in fact I nearly returned the book because I did not like his style of narration. He seemed almost monotone, he tried to do accents, this did not go well and (personal item) he called I Company first company throughtout most of the book.

Not The American Side But The 82nd Airborne Side Of MG

This is a recount of part of the US involvement in Operation Market Garden. In that recounting, this is a long needed and detailed account of the amazing work and sacrifice of the US 82nd. This recounting virtually ignores any other US involvement, including that of the US 101st. Further, the author lays blame for MG falling on its butt almost entirely on Eisenhower while simply suggesting that Montgomery had no other choice than to push his MG plan as hard as he could. This book is built on Monty apologetics. The narrator speaks in a tone that comes off as if his audience is simpletons...better suited to teen novels than historic accounts read by adults.

A new view of market garden!

Market Garden was not an messy loss. The soldiers of the US fought as if it was their own hometown being fought over. After reading this book I was proud of our troops performance. At times the British held back waiting for orders when a little iniative could have made all the difference in reaching Arnham!

A Bridge too far, the rest of the story….

For those who wondered what happened after the failure of Operation Market Garden and wanted to know more about the operations of the 101st and 82d, this is your book. Cornelius Ryan’s excellent book, a Bridge too far, focuses on the predicament of the British first airborne and the shameful treatment by the British of the Polish Airborne brigade and its leader BG Sosabowski. McManus details the months long grueling battle to hold the Eindhoven Nijmegen corridor by the 101st and 82d. He also describes the 104th Timberwolves under the great Terry Allen clearing the approaches to Antwerp, something Montgomery should have done months earlier. McManus lays blame for the failure of Market Garden at Ike’s door, in my view wrongly. Eisenhower needed at all cost to keep the shaky coalition of the US, UK and USSR together. He would have to expend scarce political capital to get rid of Montgomery’s, so he need to pacify him instead. Had Marshall or even Gavin been in charge, they would have told Montgomery, clear Antwerp and it approached and I don’t want to hear from you until it is done, and if you can’t do it , you will be replaced by someone who will. Ike was too astute for that and knew he had to let Montgomery fail to get the upper hand and on the upside if Monty managed to pull it off so much the better. He failed and a somewhat chastened Montgomery after Market Garden was a more manageable Montgomery.

McManus

Outstanding book. Extremely detailed. Great stories about the leadership of BG Gavin. Story about MAJ Julian Cook’s relationship with Gavin was fascinating. His stories about the average infantryman were great. The book shows the heroism of the paratroopers who fought there. Just a fantastic job of writing. Placing the failure on Ike’s shoulders is a great call.

Bravery beyond compare

terrific book, true story of bravery at the cost of much blood. Eisenhower should have shut this ill conceived operation before it started. Montgomery was short on common sense and appears to not cared about the cost in lives lost

history, well done

Excellent research on Market Garden. My father was in the 504th. Adds to The Devils in Baggy Pants.

next time, tell the story without politics

the author clearly over looked much in history to make General Montgomery look less bad. General Montgomery is totally responsible for the Market Garden disaster. he campaigned for it, and when both Eisenhower and Churchill said no he went to the press. it was all of this that got Eisenhower to finally consent to it and try to use it. it was successful in doing what Eisenhower wanted, using up German troops and keeping them disorganized.

Grueling Personal Experiences, Big Time Flawed Brass Decisions

This book is a must for Market Garden aficionados, and a great source of information about the galant participation of American Airborne divisions in the famous failed operation. The book also includes an equally gripping account of the participation of American troops in the grueling battle for the Scheldt estuary. Excellent book, excellent narrator.