The Longest Day: June 6th, 1944 Wordsworth Military Library: Amazon.co.uk: Cornelius Ryan: Books

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9 Reviews

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4.9 out of 5 stars (9 customer reviews)

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9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An outstanding book, 11 Jun 2004

By A Customer

I first read this many years ago (it's an old book (1959)), but prodded by the 60th anniversary celebrations, I bought another copy and re-read it. It retains its hold even over 40 years after it was written. Ryan presents the story simply and well, often letting the participants tell their own story (and back then the invasion had "only" been 25 years before and many more of the participants were still alive and their memories were fresh).

One of the most amazing things for me was how ordinary guys, placed in extraordinary situations, can do extraordinary things. Like the young, inexperienced Americans, caught in the bloody shambles of Omaha Beach, who nevertheless fought their way off that beach and gained a beachhead. Or the British paratroopers, dropped to take a heavily-defended German artillery strongpoint of over 250 men, and having lost all but 150 of their 700 men and all their heavy equipment, nevertheless did it. Or the US Army Rangers who scaled the nine-story cliffs of Pointe du Hoc in the face of intense small arms and grenade bombardment to take out big German guns (which turned out not to be there yet!).

To emphasise this, Ryan presents in the end a list of his interviewees and what they were doing then (when the book was published). "Bricklayer", "shop assistant", "chemical worker", "male nurse". These extraordinary heroes of the greatest amphibious operation ever undertaken against the foulest tyranny ever seen had simply disappeared back into ordinary life.

Ryan also tells the story from the German side, dispassionately and with sensitivity, reflecting the fact that these other ordinary guys were also only doing their job.

In the end, what shines through is the human qualities of all the participants, on both sides. If only our various governments would use these properly, and not misuse them, as Adolf Hitler did, we could have a much better world

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9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Highly readable, balanced account of a single day in history, 15 May 2001

By	Mr. A. P. Johnson "rilasata" - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This is a superb book, for both the serious historian and casual reader alike. Ryan's well researched account of perhaps the most important single day in the 20th Century draws together a vast amount of factual data from the archives of both side, and hundreds of eye witness accounts collected by Ryan himself. He then presents them to the reader in a extremely readable and balanced style, presenting the thoughts, feelings, horrors as well as the orders of the day. From the generals on both sides to the infantry and civilians on the beaches who lived through it, Ryan brings it all together. An excellent, highly addictive read.

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17 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Definitive Guide from an accomplished historian, 25 Jun 2001

By	rogthedodge@hotmail.com (London) - See all my reviews

Written before memories faded or were tainted by politics and self-interest this book provides the definitive guide to D-Day.

Later writers (such as Steven Ambrose) rely very heavily on Ryan and fail to capture the sheer scale of the exercise, the range of experiences and the extraordinary circumstances individuals found themselves in while still conveying the sheer tatical and strategic sweep of the operation. (Interestingly enough a few modern authors claim to be 'definitive' and yet do not credit Ryan in their sources, draw your own conclusions)

Also pleasing is Ryan's inclusion of the different nationalities involved on all sides. One gets a true picture of the fantastic common effort of troops (ordinary people before and after the war) from many countries allied against the Axis. Later writers tend to write for one audience / marjet and by concentrating on one nation / army overlook perhaps the most important factor of the day - the fantastic and selfless co-operation and courage fielded against tyranny.

Higly recommended for all - especially those squandering money on recent and less accomplished histories.

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Most Recent Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars Yet another classic!
Cornelius Ryan is a worthy spokesman for the people who's stories he tells so well. Stories that most certainly are based on interviews with, verbal and/or written accounts by the... Read more

Published on 13 Nov 2003 by Steen Lykke Laursen

5.0 out of 5 stars A book worthy of the people whose story it tells.
I wrote a review of another Cornelius Ryan book, "A Bridge Too Far" in 2000 and I'm going to unashamedly plunder my own review for the purposes of "The Longest Day"... Read more

Published on 15 Jan 2003

5.0 out of 5 stars excellent
I am 14 years old and I have just finished reading it, it was excellent, a great book, I wish I had more books like it. Read more

Published on 9 Jun 2002 by m18_hellcat@hotmail.com

5.0 out of 5 stars D-Day in their words.
Ryan wrote what many consider the definitive account of D-Day way back in 1959. Don't let this fool you. Read more

Published on 6 May 2002 by Mr. A. J. P. Brouard

5.0 out of 5 stars An informative and exciting account
Cornelius Ryan assembles the usual vast army of facts to present a compeling account of one of historys pivotal moments. Read more

Published on 3 Nov 2000 by chrismunnings@hellerfin.com

4.0 out of 5 stars A great and thought provoking read
Having been to the D-Day beaches on several occasions and also having seen the film the book was very useful in awnsering the many questions which I had. Read more

Published on 19 Jul 2000

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	55% buy the item featured on this page: The Longest Day: June 6th, 1944 (Wordsworth Military Library) 4.9 out of 5 stars (9)
	18% buy A Bridge Too Far (Hodder Great Reads) 4.8 out of 5 stars (29) �5.99
	12% buy The Last Battle 4.5 out of 5 stars (11) �13.50
	8% buy Overlord: D-Day and the Battle for Normandy, 1944 (Pan grand strategy series) 4.3 out of 5 stars (13) �5.99


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The Longest Day: June 6th, 1944 (Wordsworth Military Library) (Paperback)

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