The Boys Crusade: The American Infantry in Northwestern Europe, 1944-1945 Audiobook, by Paul Fussell Play Audiobook Sample

The Boys' Crusade: The American Infantry in Northwestern Europe, 1944-1945 Audiobook

The Boys Crusade: The American Infantry in Northwestern Europe, 1944-1945 Audiobook, by Paul Fussell Play Audiobook Sample
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Read By: Joel Leffert Publisher: Recorded Books, Inc. Listen Time: at 1.0x Speed 2.83 hours at 1.5x Speed 2.13 hours at 2.0x Speed Series: The Modern Library Chronicles Release Date: January 2008 Format: Unabridged Audiobook ISBN: 9781449801519

Quick Stats About this Audiobook

Total Audiobook Chapters:

21

Longest Chapter Length:

27:42 minutes

Shortest Chapter Length:

43 seconds

Average Chapter Length:

11:53 minutes

Audiobooks by this Author:

5

Other Audiobooks Written by Paul Fussell: > View All...

Publisher Description

National Book Award Winner Paul Fussell tells the breathtaking story of WWII from the young soldiers' points of view. WWII was not the glorified picture it is often depicted to be. For the American soldier it was a tiring, emotional, and gruesome experience. Fussell's extensive details and insight help to make this story come alive.

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"I really enjoyed this book, short and to the point (like a good song may I add). I was surprised that it talked about some of the less glamorous action taken by our boys during the war, which was refreshing yet disheartening. Easy read, full of facts, and some truly gruesome stories. "

— Joe (4 out of 5 stars)

Quotes

  • “Riveting.”

    — New York Times
  • “No one writes about war with greater authenticity and eloquence than Paul Fussell. The Boys’ Crusade is an extraordinarily powerful account that is at once poignant and searing. It is a truth-telling of a very high order from one of our finest men of letters.” 

    — Rick Atkinson, Pulitzer Prize–winning author of An Army at Dawn 
  • “Fussell writes vividly and sardonically…painting extraordinary scenes at every turn…A bracing corrective…and just right for a new season of war.”

    — Kirkus Reviews (starred review)
  • “Written with passion and fidelity, The Boys’ Crusade is a book that will not leave you after you have put it down. If there is a more powerful personal account of the ground war in Western Europe I have yet to encounter it.”

    — Donald L. Miller, author of The Story of World War II

The Boys' Crusade Listener Reviews

Overall Performance: 3.55555555555556 out of 53.55555555555556 out of 53.55555555555556 out of 53.55555555555556 out of 53.55555555555556 out of 5 (3.56)
5 Stars: 1
4 Stars: 10
3 Stars: 5
2 Stars: 2
1 Stars: 0
Narration: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5 (0.00)
5 Stars: 0
4 Stars: 0
3 Stars: 0
2 Stars: 0
1 Stars: 0
Story: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5 (0.00)
5 Stars: 0
4 Stars: 0
3 Stars: 0
2 Stars: 0
1 Stars: 0
Write a Review
  • Overall Performance: 3 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 5

    " Short essays on the US and British infantry in Europe during World War II. Bitter and pessimistic, but perhaps we need the occasional reminder that the war was not easy and that there were mistakes, deserters, and scared young men on our side as well. "

    — Robert, 12/23/2013
  • Overall Performance: 3 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 5

    " I thought this was ok. It gave some interesting information about the war from the perspective of a young soldier. It wasn't particularly well written (in my opinion) but it was easy to understand how things happened during the war when so many of the soldiers were young, naive men. "

    — Debbie, 12/19/2013
  • Overall Performance: 3 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 5

    " Rather than try to retell the history of the European Campaign, Mr. Fussell concentrates on stories about the GIs fighting the battles. The stories are organized chronologically. Interesting read. "

    — David, 12/6/2013
  • Overall Performance: 2 out of 52 out of 52 out of 52 out of 52 out of 5

    " Not much to this book. "

    — John, 11/12/2013
  • Overall Performance: 3 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 5

    " Fussell holds nothing back here. The book is fresh, honest, well done. I feel like he may have overdone it here and there, but since I can't quite put my finger on what he overdid I can't say much about it. It's a quick read, but a good one for anyone interested in WWII. "

    — Emily, 7/10/2013
  • Overall Performance: 4 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 5

    " I really enjoyed this book, short and to the point (like a good song may I add). I was surprised that it talked about some of the less glamorous action taken by our boys during the war, which was refreshing yet disheartening. Easy read, full of facts, and some truly gruesome stories. "

    — Joe, 6/1/2013
  • Overall Performance: 5 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 5

    " Quick read, yet ranks among the most powerful depictions of the horrors of war that I've ever encountered. "

    — José, 10/17/2012
  • Overall Performance: 3 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 5

    " A really good look at what it was like to fight in WWII. "

    — Troy, 11/20/2011
  • Overall Performance: 4 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 5

    " Adds a whole new dimension to "war". The thought that WWII was some sort of justified war may or may not be true, but the fact is that both sides made some horrible mistakes that lend to the idea that all war is nasty. Gave me a different perspective. "

    — Mike, 10/3/2011
  • Overall Performance: 2 out of 52 out of 52 out of 52 out of 52 out of 5

    " Too short, too anecdotal, too reflective of Fussell's bitterness. His own Wartime is a far superior treatment of the same issues. "

    — Stephen, 9/7/2011
  • Overall Performance: 4 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 5

    " Short, but makes its point. War is hell and not good and not the heroism that Ambrose portrays it to be. Very difficult to write a chapter by chapter review because it's vignette/essay style. "

    — Amy, 7/22/2011
  • Overall Performance: 4 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 5

    " This was an iteresting read, but too short, and oddly titled. Many of the chapters didn't really deal with the youth of the combatants. Also, it didn't really address the whole campaign. It read like a set of essays titled by the editor. Good, but too short. "

    — Tom, 5/3/2011
  • Overall Performance: 4 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 5

    " Unromantic portrayal of the infantryman's life in WWII, in northwestern Europe 1944-1945. A must read for anyone called to the warrior's vocation. "

    — Steve, 4/15/2011
  • Overall Performance: 4 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 5

    " A really good look at what it was like to fight in WWII. "

    — Troy, 4/11/2011
  • Overall Performance: 4 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 5

    " Short, but makes its point. War is hell and not good and not the heroism that Ambrose portrays it to be. Very difficult to write a chapter by chapter review because it's vignette/essay style. "

    — Amy, 8/31/2010
  • Overall Performance: 4 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 5

    " Unromantic portrayal of the infantryman's life in WWII, in northwestern Europe 1944-1945. A must read for anyone called to the warrior's vocation. "

    — Steve, 1/17/2010
  • Overall Performance: 4 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 5

    " Adds a whole new dimension to "war". The thought that WWII was some sort of justified war may or may not be true, but the fact is that both sides made some horrible mistakes that lend to the idea that all war is nasty. Gave me a different perspective. "

    — Mike, 1/9/2010
  • Overall Performance: 4 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 5

    " This was an iteresting read, but too short, and oddly titled. Many of the chapters didn't really deal with the youth of the combatants. Also, it didn't really address the whole campaign. It read like a set of essays titled by the editor. Good, but too short. "

    — Tom, 9/2/2009

About Paul Fussell

Paul Fussell is Donald T. Regan Professor of English at the University of Pennsylvania and the author of several books. His Companion to Wartime, The Great War and Modern Memory won the National Book Award in 1976 as well as the National Book Critics Circle Award and the Ralph Waldo Emerson Award from Phi Beta Kappa. He has taught at Connecticut College, the University of Heidelberg, and Rutgers University. Mr. Fussell lives in Philadelphia.

About Joel Leffert

Joel Leffert is a professional actor, stage performer, and director. He toured Europe playing Salieri in Amadeus and premiered at the National Theater in London in the newly discovered Tennessee Williams play Not About Nightingales. His television appearances include Law & Order and Third Watch, and he had roles in the Woody Allen films Deconstructing Harry and Celebrity. Leffert is the artistic director of the Salamander Repertory Theater in New York City.