The classic account of the Allied invasion of Normandy
The Longest Day is Cornelius Ryan’s unsurpassed account of D-day, a book that endures as a masterpiece of military history. In this compelling tale of courage and heroism, glory and tragedy, Ryan painstakingly re-creates the fateful hours that preceded and followed the massive invasion of Normandy to retell the story of an epic battle that would turn the tide against world fascism and free Europe from the grip of Nazi Germany.
This book, first published in 1959, is a must for anyone who loves history, as well as for anyone who wants to better understand how free nations prevailed at a time when darkness enshrouded the earth.
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"Loved this book as a kid and found is just as engaging as an adult. Had to reread it after reading Unbroken and admiring those who fought in WWII. Another great book to round out my Memorial Day weekend reading spree!" — Jamie (4 out of 5 stars)
"Loved this book as a kid and found is just as engaging as an adult. Had to reread it after reading Unbroken and admiring those who fought in WWII. Another great book to round out my Memorial Day weekend reading spree!"
“Fifty years from now, the history of D-day, I am sure, will lean heavily on this book.”
“A dramatic, moving masterpiece, a living memorial to the men who died, and as suspenseful as the most gripping mystery story.”
“A true classic of World War II history…Not only is The Longest Day a pleasure to read, but subsequent historians, dutifully noting its accuracy, have relied heavily on Ryan’s research for their own accounts. In short, the book is a ‘must read’ for anyone interested in the D-day invasion.”
“Classic.”
“Besides being a solid history of the event, this is also a portrait of the people who lived it. One of the best books on the subject, this is essential for all academic and public libraries.”
“If you have read all the accounts of D-day or none of them, if you were in the fighting or on the sidelines, you will be spellbound, as I was, by this magnificent retelling of a glorious and tragic story.”
“When you read The Longest Day you will know why I chose, despite great difficulties, to turn this story of heroism, tragedy, and humor into a motion picture.”
" one of my favorite books ever, shows the decisions that influenced the outcome of the war from both sides of the conflict "
" A true history classic. The Longest Day gives a detailed look at the invasion of Normandy, from both the US and German perspectives. "
" The author weaves personal stories of D-Day participants (American, British, German, and French; civilians and military) into a well-researched account of how the military leaders on both sides handled the attack. "
" Classic, must read for anyone interested in the amazing events of June 6, 1944. "
" It is worth your read. The author does a fantastic job of telling the story of D-Day through eyewitness accounts. Although it is all history, it is very easy to read. "
" Great account of the D-Day invasion on June 6, 1944 from both the German and Allies point of view. It is incredible what these men went through in these first 24 hours. "
" Very interesting! I picked this up because I was born on d-day years later and I always wanted to know more. Very easy read. "
" Classic book made into a classic war movie. Story was good, but could have been better with a more detailed epilogue for some of the main characters. I was also surprised by a lack of maps to help follow where everything was taking place. Liked A Bridge Too Far better. "
" Read this when I was shifted from the Southeast Asia Division to the WWII Division. It is truly a classic among those books that are about D-Day. "
" The most amount of material and research one could pack into a tiny book. The definitive account of how DDay happened, written in 1959 when the memories were still fresh. An amazing little book. "
" A fantastic account of the day of days. "
" I first read this book in High School and consider it one of the most influencial books I've read in that it really did codify my passion for history. "
" I read this years ago, and forgot how powerful it was. How those boys and men found the strength to go into battle, and the debt we owe their tremendous sacrifice, is beyond words. "
" One of the best books about D-Day. A must-have ! "
" Not a book I would choose on my own, but it was reading for the WEM club I'm in. It was actually quite interesting and done in a style that was easy to read. No plodding in this book! It truly amazed me in parts. "
" Incredible detail makes this classic a must-read for D-Day. "
" I like Cornelius Ryan and this is perhaps the best of his books. "
" Best book about D-Day, bar none. Great history, incredibly dramatic. "
" I read this in high school. It was probably the first real understanding I had of WWII. "
" Good anecdotes. My only issues were that we didn't get much of the overall goings-on, and the end kind of fizzled out also. "
" One of the greatest books about WWII and D-Day. I've read it and seen the movie many times. Always good to go back and reread the stories of our hero WWII soldiers for inspiration and gratitude. "
" Very detailed account of the hours leading up to the D-Day invasion. It is based on interviews with hundreds of soldiers from both sides of the war. VERY interesting. "
" So far a very approachable narrative of the Normandy Invasion. "
Cornelius Ryan (1920–1974), born in Dublin, Ireland, became one of the preeminent war correspondents of his time, flying fourteen bombing missions with the US Eighth and Ninth Air Forces. He is the author of numerous books, including several classics of military history, which have appeared throughout the world in nineteen languages. He was awarded the Legion of Honor by the French government in 1973.
Clive Chafer is a professional actor, director, producer, and theater instructor. Originally from England and educated at Leeds and Exeter universities, he has performed and directed at many theaters in the San Francisco area, where he makes his home, and elsewhere in the US. In 1993 he founded TheatreFIRST, Oakland’s professional theater company, where he served as artistic director until 2008.
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