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Never Call Retreat: Lee and Grant: The Final Victory: A Novel of the Civil War Audiobook
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(4.00) - 422 listener ratings
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Publisher Description
New York Times bestselling authors Newt Gingrich and William R. Forstchen conclude their inventive trilogy with Never Call Retreat, a remarkable answer to the great "what if" of the American Civil War: Could the South have indeed won? After his great victories at Gettysburg and Union Mills, General Robert E. Lee's attempt to bring the war to a final conclusion by attacking Washington, D.C., fails. However, in securing Washington, the remnants of the valiant Union Army of the Potomac, under the command of the impetuous General Dan Sickles, is trapped and destroyed. For Lincoln there is only one hope left: that General Ulysses S. Grant can save the Union cause. It is now August 22, 1863. Lincoln and Grant are facing a collapse of political will to continue the fight to preserve the Union. Lee, desperately short of manpower, must conserve his remaining strength while maneuvering for the killing blow that will take Grant's army out of the fight and, at last, bring a final and complete victory for the South. Pursuing the remnants of the defeated Army of the Potomac up to the banks of the Susquehanna, Lee is caught off balance when news arrives that General Ulysses S. Grant, in command of more than seventy thousand men, has crossed that same river, a hundred miles to the northwest at Harrisburg. As General Grant brings his Army of the Susquehanna into Maryland, Robert E. Lee's Army of Northern Virginia maneuvers for position. Grant first sends General George Armstrong Custer on a mad dash to block Lee's path toward Frederick and with it control of the crucial B&O railroad, which moves troops and supplies. The two armies finally collide in Central Maryland, and a bloody week-long battle ensues along the banks of Monocacy Creek. This must be the "final" battle for both sides. In Never Call Retreat, Newt Gingrich and William R. Forstchen bring all of their critically acclaimed talents to bear in what is destined to become an immediate classic.
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"The third book in the trilogy that started with Gettysburgh. The author really gets into the heads of Lee and Grant and the other major figures about which we've read so much. They are in different places doing the same thing with the same resources. Really interesting alternative history."
— J.T. (5 out of 5 stars)
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“Could the South have won the Civil War? Gingrich and Forstchen continue to explore this question in the second volume of the alternate history they began with Gettysburg. Bits of fife and drum music add a military flavor to the production.
— AudioFile on Grant Comes East -
Character depictions are vivid, detailed, and insightful. One of the best novels of the Civil War to appear in recent years.
— Publishers Weekly (starred) on Grant Comes East
Never Call Retreat Listener Reviews
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" Good reading, but I don't like this alternative view of history. Somehow this bothers me knowing the facts are far different. "
— Brett, 12/4/2013 -
" Third and final book of the trilogy. An okay ending, but from a military perspective, the plausibility is all but lost. Still, in all, it was an enjoyable conclusion to the series. "
— Burt, 10/27/2013 -
" Rousing finish to the series. Enjoyed this one the best. "
— Beth, 7/10/2013 -
" Perfect ending to the trilogy that started with the Confederacy's victory at Gettysburg. I wondered how they would have the Civil War end, and the ending was not only believable, but the writing made it that much more dramatic. "
— Matt, 4/19/2013 -
" I don't have much more to add other than my boredom with the cliches of valorous soldier and altruistic commander. It grew tiring to read a book written by fans of Robert E Lee who think he was perfect and could do no wrong. "
— Cv, 12/13/2012 -
" Lee attacks Washington. Interesting read. Not as good as Getysburg. "
— Leonard, 12/12/2012 -
" A refreshing perspective on the Civil War from the inside out. "
— Conley, 7/8/2012 -
" Third of Bruce Catton's three-book trilogy. A must-read for Civil War buffs! "
— Dick, 4/9/2012 -
" Highly recommend Newt's historical fiction series - both Civil War and WWII "
— William, 4/3/2012 -
" The first of this GREAT civil war sci-fi type book show all sorts of historical societies and how they would operate if they exisited at the same time. "
— Paul, 7/21/2011 -
" Not as good ss the first 2 in the series - far more military strategy detail. Ending was a version of the real war end, though earlier and at a different location. So not as "altered" as the first 2 books. "
— Margaret, 4/11/2011 -
" Third of Bruce Catton's three-book trilogy. A must-read for Civil War buffs! "
— Dick, 4/1/2011 -
" Perfect ending to the trilogy that started with the Confederacy's victory at Gettysburg. I wondered how they would have the Civil War end, and the ending was not only believable, but the writing made it that much more dramatic. "
— Matt, 9/9/2010 -
" A refreshing perspective on the Civil War from the inside out. "
— Conley, 2/21/2010 -
" I don't have much more to add other than my boredom with the cliches of valorous soldier and altruistic commander. It grew tiring to read a book written by fans of Robert E Lee who think he was perfect and could do no wrong. "
— Cv, 10/18/2009 -
" Third and final book of the trilogy. An okay ending, but from a military perspective, the plausibility is all but lost. Still, in all, it was an enjoyable conclusion to the series. "
— Burt, 3/21/2009 -
" Not as good ss the first 2 in the series - far more military strategy detail. Ending was a version of the real war end, though earlier and at a different location. So not as "altered" as the first 2 books. "
— Margaret, 12/19/2008 -
" The first of this GREAT civil war sci-fi type book show all sorts of historical societies and how they would operate if they exisited at the same time. "
— Paul, 10/31/2008 -
" An alternative history novel – third of a trilogy – excellent read "
— Dmcconkey, 1/8/2008
About the Authors
Newt Gingrich is a former Speaker of the US House of Representatives and 2012 presidential candidate. He is chairman of Gingrich 360, a multimedia production and consulting company based in Arlington, Virginia. He is also a Fox News contributor and author of forty-two books, including many New York Times bestsellers.
William R. Forstchen has a PhD from Purdue University with specializations in Military History and the History of Technology. He is a Faculty Fellow and Professor of History at Montreat College. He is the author of fifty books, including the New York Times bestselling John Matherson series, the Lost Regiment series, and the award-winning young adult novel We Look Like Men of War. He has also authored numerous short stories and articles about military history and military technology.
About Boyd Gaines
Boyd Gaines is an Earphones Award–winning narrator and an actor whose many film credits include Second Best, I’m Not Rappaport, Heartbreak Ridge, Fame, and Porky’s. He’s won two Tony Awards for performances in the The Heidi Chronicles and the musical She Loves Me. On television he has appeared in A Woman Called Jackie, A Son’s Promise, and in the popular series One Day at a Time.