The Rising Tide

A Novel of World War II

De: Jeff Shaara

Narrado por: Paul Michael

A modern master of the historical novel, Jeff Shaara has painted brilliant depictions of the Revolutionary War, the Civil War, and World War I. Now, The Rising Tide begins a staggering work of fiction bound to be a new generation’s most poignant chronicle of World War II.

Through unforgettable battle scenes in the unforgiving deserts of North Africa, into the “soft underbelly” of Hitler’s Fortress Europa, and as battles rage along the coasts of the Mediterranean, The Rising Tide is a vivid gallery of characters both immortal and unknown. From tank driver to paratrooper to the men who gave the commands, Shaara’s stirring portrayals bring the heroic and the tragic to life in brilliant detail.

A new level of accomplishment from this already acclaimed author, The Rising Tide will leave listeners eager for the next volume of this superb saga of the war that saved and changed the world.

©2006 Jeffrey M. Shaara (P)2006 Books on Tape

Reseñas de la Crítica

"The wonderful first volume of a planned trilogy....Shaara evokes the agony of desert warfare and the utter chaos of an airborne assault....[A] sprawling, masterful opening act." (Publishers Weekly)

Superb ww2 History

Narration: Excellent..comfortably paced, clear diction, appropriate inflection, absent the melodrama typical of less sophisticated readers.

Content: Excellent...clear, interesting explanations of movements, personalities of leaders, and informative description of relationships among them. Occasional humor is charming, as the description of Churchill bathing nude in the Mediterranean.

One of the very best war histories I have read or listened to, and I have read or listened intently to many, over a hundred at least.

Writing Style: This is an excellent example of simple writing that is not also simplistic. The sentences are brief and help to move the narrative along.

Highly recommended.

Excellent Historical Novel!

Another great Jeff Shaara novel, covering the events of WWII in North Africa and Sicily. Highly recommended! Grade: A

You Are There

In the Rising Tide, Jeff Shaara continues to chronicle the spectacle of American war. This time it’s WWII, from the front lines in North Africa through the invasion of Sicily to the buildup in England before Operation Overlord. He drops you right in the middle of the action, whether it’s through the eyes of a paratrooper, Sgt. Jesse Adams, or the future Supreme Allied Commander, Dwight D. Eisenhower, you are there. The superb actor/reader, Larry Pine, does a phenomenal job with the many varied voices and accents. He is able to transport the listener through time, adding immeasurably to the ultimately satisfying listening experience. I eagerly await the next volume from Shaara. 5 stars.

Loved it and Learned a Lot

Would you listen to The Rising Tide again? Why?

Yes, it gave such a great insight into the decisions faced by these very famous historical figures.

Who was your favorite character and why?

Rommel was by far the most interesting character. It is easy to assume that every German soldier was a Nazi but the reality is that there were many brave and brilliant German soldiers who were continually hamstrung by Fascist world views and ego's gone wild.

What does Paul Michael bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

I think his ability to create a number of accents adds to the listening experience. This is especially the case with some of the nuances of the American accents.

If you could rename The Rising Tide, what would you call it?

Rommel…What could have been.

Evan's Review

Jeff is my favorite author. I read all his books. He puts you in one on one with the character. Doesn't really me much new information Teddy but the way it is written is just enjoyable.

THE TERROR CAN BE FELT

This is a fantastic book that focuses on the personal experiences of generals and common soldiers during the Normandy Invasion and surrounding time periods. I was a history major in college and have a particular interest in WWII since my grandfather fought in it...so I'm naturally predisposed to like this book.

I started reading this series thinking I would most enjoy the perspective of the generals but surprised myself by finding the character of Sgt. Adams the most intriguing. Sgt. Adams is something of an "every man" but he is also the embodiment of all that was right with the generation that fought the war--self-sacrificing, courageous and driven to do his part to win. I had the fortune to visit the National World War II Museum in New Orleans shortly after reading this book feel something of Sgt. Adams in the pictures and mementos at the museum. The book also gave me a deeper appreciation for Eisenhower and Patton, also heightening my experience at the museum.

This is a "must read" book and the best of Jeff Shaara's World War II series.

Helpful perspective

This book provided a perspective on the Italian campaign I hadn't considered. Most of the histories about WW2 dwell on d-day and after... My dad was a muleskinner in Italy and I now need to look at that aspect more closely. This was an engaging novel and well worth the listen!

Very interesting historical perspective

The book provides interesting perspective into the war in north africa during ww2. interesting how the US grew in skills and abilities as they gained experience. the battle scenes were very well done, realistic. would have been better perhaps had he spent more time in here

A front row seat to history

Any additional comments?

I want to start by saying that Paul Michael is one heck of a narrator. By the end of the book, I could audibly distinguish between characters just by the various accents spoken by the narrator. How anyone can keep two dozen different character accents clear and consistent throughout a 25hr storytelling is beyond me. Five stars!!

The book was great. A few commenters complained about the fact that the novel doesn't concentrate on one character - that it is too broad of a narrative and not enough of a story. But the book wasn't written to be about one or two men. It covers the North African campaigns and the plights of several key figures from that period, and judged in that light, Shaara wrote an amazing novel. From the frustrations of Rommel to the brashness of Patton, to the as yet untested Eisenhower trying to make the coalition function - it's all there.

I'll definitely be ordering the next book in the trilogy.

Thoroughly Enjoyed

I love history - especially the 19th and 20th century history. This is the first book I have read written by Jeff Shaara. He has done a supreme job telling the story of the beginnings of WWII through the eyes of real characters. The events and campaigns of the Africa and Italian campaigns were depicted through the eyes of not only Heads of State, and Generals, but Colonels, Captains, Sargent's, and the little men made the history come alive for me! The reader, Larry Pine, was great, his Churchill,Montgomery,and Patton impressions were PERFECT! This is a great listen especially for history buffs! The only reason I did not give it 5 Stars is that nothing beats Robert Kurson's "Shadow Divers" for real life drama and fascinating adventure! I highly recommend "The Rising Tide" as a truly great audio book.