To Hell and Back

By: Audie Murphy

Narrated by: Tom Parker

Length: 8 hrs and 4 mins

Publisher's summary

The time is 1943, the place is Sicily, and the event is the start of the most remarkable career of any American infantryman in the war. Audie Murphy was a desperately poor eighteen-year-old orphan when he joined the Army, nineteen when he first saw a buddy die from an enemy bullet and an enemy die from one of his own. During the next two years, he fought in Italy, France, and Germany. By VE-day, he had killed at least 240 Germans, had single-handedly destroyed a German tank in one battle and held off six tanks in another, and had become the most decorated soldier in American history, winning every medal his country offered, including the Congressional Medal of Honor.

Four years later he was living in Hollywood trying to get an acting career off the ground when he and a friend decided to turn his story into a book. Instantly recognized for its grim authenticity and its unblinking accounts of some of the most terrible fighting in the war, To Hell and Back became a best seller and, in 1955, the basis for one of the most successful WWII films ever made, with Murphy playing himself.

©1949 Audie Murphy (P)1998 Blackstone Audiobooks

Critic reviews

"Audie Murphy hit the big time with this simple, compelling narrative....It is a book of raw honesty, clipped descriptions and simple courage." (AudioFile)
"Tom Parker brings this terse yet vivid and articulate memoir to life....Parker's clear and well-paced reading is a joy." (Library Journal)

Powerful

I liked the voice of the reader.
The story itself is powerful. How he grew as a leader and learned to change his way of thinking to adapt to combat. I do wish it mentioned what actions he was awarded what medals. But other then that a great book

The best!

Absolutely awesome book! Such an amazing story! Murphy’s tells his story in a true frank manner that draws the reader in and doesn’t let them go! I’m already going to read it again!

Magnificent book that makes combat real

This book was fantastic. Written in the words and cadence of old. A time when men did what they had to do with little nonsense, but a lot of tomfoolery. The stories and banter make you feel like you’re there, feeling what the soldiers felt and knowing how they thought, with none of the terror. Worth listening too.

Great Book

This book is the best descriptive history of war in its raw detail. Every high school senior should read as required.

Hell and Back

I was impressed with how Audie Murphy (and his ghostwriter) were able to focus on his consciousness, all the things he thinks about while in war. He deals with the same difficulties that continue to this day. For example, having to follow the rules of engagement. He had to take care of the Germans who they had wounds. He talks about why he fights: to stay alive and keep your buddies alive. He talks about how incredibly lucky he was. He talks about seeing a prostitute but leaving it unsure if they consummated the relationship. Audie and his brothers in arms used extensive humor to be able to tolerate the war. He does not mention any of the awards he was given. He describes the event that awarded him the Metal Of Honor. He does a very good job detailing how he had so may lucky incidents. Audie jumps on a tank and takes the 50 cal and begins shooting the Germans. THe Germans expected the burning tank was abandoned because it was about to blow up. Audie says he didn't know this and probably wouldn't have if he'd have known. different lucky incident. There was then a wind the blew the snow in such a way to allow him to remain unseen while he killed the Germans. My conclusion is that it is a great war memoir and is as pertinent to it today as it was in 1950's when it came out.

Courage

An amazing story of courage and bravery in the real fight against fascism. A true American!

Great story

This is a good story, based on the amazing story of a good man. the world is a better place because of people like Murphy and others like him.

One of the Greats

If you want to hear one of the greatest War Stories ever told just sit back and listen. Narrator crushed it!

Audie Murphy is a better man than I

What a tremendously powerful account of the horror, loss and tragedy of war. I would recommend this book to anyone who isn't aware of the reality of warfare.

Good, entertaining story.

Good story with some pretty entertaining points, but probably not a book I'd reread any time soon.