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The Longest Day: The Classic Epic of D-Day
by: Cornelius Ryan |
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Binding: Paperback Brand: Simon & Schuster Dewey Decimal Number: 940.542142 EAN: 9780671890919 ISBN: 0671890913 Label: Simon & Schuster Manufacturer: Simon & Schuster MPN: 9780671890919 Number Of Items: 1 Number Of Pages: 352 Publication Date: May 01, 1994 Publisher: Simon & Schuster Studio: Simon & Schuster Features:
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| Customer Reviews | ||
 - Outstanding description of the Normandy InvasionCornelius Ryan does something unusual in this book. He tries to show the perspective of all the sides involved. And to show he is doing this he does not open with a close look at Ike, but rather one of Rommel. In using this technique he enables us to understand the strategy, the mentality, the values of the sides involved. But the most dramatic and interesting parts of the work are descriptions of the actual heroics of battle, the scenes of combat and confusion. The whole story of the opening night parachute landings and effort to prevent the Germans from being able to send major reenforcements shows just how confusing difficult surprising War can be. Ryan is a humane writer and one with a straightforward factual no- nonsense tone which when the situation is important enough creates for great drama in itself. The description of Eisenhower and his staff making the decision to go with the June 6 date is one of the best things in the book. I might also note that the ideal reviewers of this book are not people like myself who were not there, but those who actually participated in the Normandy Invasion. I note a very favorable review by at least one of them on this site. Rating: - A stunning introduction to the real warI read this novel as a 13 year old girl, and it has forever shaped my view on the tragedies and triumphs of World War II. It is a novel that must be read by anyone who truly wants to understand what went on at the beaches of Normandy that day, and all the planning and anxiety that went on beforehand. Rating: - Exciting and Balanced Account of D-DayD-Day is one of the most important days in the last one hundred years. It has been portrayed in countless times in different forms through movies (examples The Longest Day (Two-Disc Collector's Edition), Saving Private Ryan (Special Limited Edition), and Band of Brothers), video games Medal of Honor Allied Assault Deluxe, Close Combat: Invasion Normandy), but written word shouldn't be forgotten. Cornelius Ryan's first book brings it to life. He describes the events leading up to the invasion, the aborted attempt, the airborne landings the night before, and storming the beaches. Ryan provides his colorful history from a range of sources including interviews with generals to soldiers to civilians. He also bases his story on his research of captured German documents and other firsthand historical accounts. There also some nice B/W pictures provided including pictures from Ryan's personal collection. He lays out the story through the perspective of all sides. He shows the story unfolding from the eyes of all the allies, the defending Germans, as well as the civilians directly involved. His writing style is very dramatic and keeps your enthusiasm throughout. He also doesn't neglect the actions of the non-American allies. You are introduced to Gold, Juno, and Sword beaches as well as the well known Omaha and Utah. Ryan also shows us how disorganized the Germans were on D-day. Key members of the German command were away including Rommel. Armored reinforcements were moved and then halted. You never know what could have been, but the book makes you appreciate how fortunate the allies were on D-Day. The generals were expecting that all the beaches would be as bloody as Omaha. My only complaints, roughly three-fifths of the book are events leading up to the beach landings. I think more detail especially on the advances from the beaches should have been provided. Another detraction is the lack of maps in the version that I have. I'm familiar with the beaches and airborne landing areas, but maps showing these areas would have been very helpful to readers not familiar with the subject. Despite those minor detractions, I highly recommend this book. The sacrifices made on June 6th 1944 should never be forgotten. We are fortunate that Cornelius Ryan has captured a little of that for us. See Ryan's other books as well, A Bridge Too Far: The Classic History of the Greatest Battle of World War II and Last Battle: The Classic History of the Battle for Berlin. Rating: - Experience D-Day For Yourself"The Longest Day" by Cornelius Ryan, is one of the most readable historical accounts I have been privileged to experience. As a substitute teacher, a high school student asked me last year what I found so interesting about history books. My response was to ask the student if they would like to step into a time machine and visit any period of time in history. The student's response was immediate and positive. I suggested to the student that a well-written history book was exactly like that: stepping into a time machine and walking through history, personally experiencing events. I shared that through reading, I had personally been present at the American Revolution, the Civil War, and various other great events; I had met Abraham Lincoln and George Washington, John Wilkes Booth, and Teddy Roosevelt. The student seemed awed at the thought. Now, thanks to Cornelius Ryan, I have stood on the beaches at Normandy, on June 6, 1944; I have seen both the carnage and the glory that was D-Day; I have both grieved over the sickening sight of men drowning one step off their transport, or being blown to pieces, and have exulted at seeing the courage of soldiers laying their lives on the line to defeat a great and monstrous evil; I have witnessed the almost devastating weight that was on Dwight Eisenhower's shoulders as he made his decisions, and watched the combined forces of the allies respond to their orders. For the first time, I have a deeper understanding of the maxim "War is Hell!" No historical account, however well written, can truly place one on the scene of a historical event... but Ryan comes as close as any historian I have been privileged to read. If you want to understand the price our gallant soldiers (including all participating allied nations), read "The Longest Day" by Cornelius Ryan. You will never forget it. Rating: - The Invasion of Normandy (4.5 stars)Written 50 years ago and based upon the accounts of actual participants, this is probably the best account of D-Day. It starts with a few stories immediately prior to the invasion, but the main focus is on day of June 6, 1944. As he states in the beginning, this is "not a military history" but "the story of people." And as such it does not present in extensive detail the strategies or even full accounts of each and every unit or battalion involved. Instead it combines the experiences of both generals and soldiers and weaves them into a very readable account. It can feel somewhat confusing at times, mixing both broad plans with on the ground accounts, but this style gives the book a very human feel. And it's not just confined to the Allies' view of events, but includes many accounts from German soldiers and officers as well as a few from French civilians and the Underground Resistance. And all are presented in a surprisingly even and fair manner, without demonizing either side, even giving it a somewhat detached feel at times. It's a very quick and easy read, and goes much faster than it's 300 pages might suggest. My copy (which appears to be an original 1959 edition) has colorful maps in the front and back which made following the narrative easier (although the maps lack a clear legend). A number of b&w photos are also included. |
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