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  • Normandy ‘44

  • D-Day and the Battle for France
  • By: James Holland
  • Narrated by: John Sackville
  • Length: 24 hrs and 20 mins
  • 4.8 out of 5 stars (875 ratings)

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Normandy ‘44

By: James Holland
Narrated by: John Sackville
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Summary

Random House presents the audiobook edition of Normandy '44 by James Holland, read by John Sackville.
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Renowned World War Two historian James Holland presents an entirely new perspective on one of the most important moments in recent history. Unflinchingly examining the brutality and violence that characterised the campaign, it's time to draw some radically different conclusions.
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D-Day
and the 76 days of bitter fighting in Normandy that followed have come to be seen as a defining episode in the Second World War. Its story has been endlessly retold, and yet it remains a narrative burdened by both myth and assumed knowledge.

In this reexamined history, James Holland presents a broader overview, one that challenges much of what we think we know about D-Day and the Normandy campaign. The sheer size and scale of the Allies’ war machine ultimately dominates the strategic, operational and tactical limitations of the German forces.

This was a brutal campaign. In terms of daily casualties, the numbers were worse than for any one battle during the First World War.

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·Drawing on unseen archives and testimonies from around the world

·Introducing a cast of eye-witnesses that includes foot soldiers, tank men, fighter pilots and bomber crews, sailors, civilians, resistance fighters and those directing the action

·An epic telling that will profoundly recalibrate our understanding of its true place in the tide of human history

©2019 James Holland (P)2019 Random House Audiobooks
  • Unabridged Audiobook
  • Categories: History
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What listeners say about Normandy ‘44

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excellent modern review

should be read by everybody,gives a correct review of the battles,and shows allies in true light.

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1 person found this helpful

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Couldn’t have been better!

Well written, meticulously researched and narrated superbly. I’ve read criticism of a “corny” series of accents. Nothing could have been further from my assessment. The separation of different accents hugely improved my understanding of the perspectives of the protagonists. We’ll done indeed.

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Another excellent James Holland book

Excellent book and well narrated. Thoroughly recommend to anyone interested in WW2 history. James Holland always puts a different side to the story and this is no different.

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2 people found this helpful

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A great new perspective on the Normandy Battle.

This is a fantastic book with lots of eyewitness accounts from both sides. It looks at the battle from new and different angles.

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We owe them so much!

Vigorously researched, a strong human element which often allowed the listener to feel they were there.Brutal, relentless so much loss of life by such young men on both sides who often forged strong friendships only to have it destroyed by a bullet or an explosion. These soldiers often saw what only can be described as hell.

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1 person found this helpful

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Fantastic listen

Really enjoyed this book. It’s a great combination of accounts from those who fought on both sides documents from the time and commentary by the author. Really recommended.

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Simply brilliant account

I have now read several James Holland books. He is excellent in his story telling of great events weaving as he does facts, personal perspectives of participants, tactics, strategy, logistics etc. He manages to give such a full appreciation from all sides of the momentous events, including of course the horror which is important no glorification of war here. A brilliant read all school children should be given a glimpse of what previous generation’s endured to allow us to enjoy the freedoms we now enjoy.

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Well researched. Well told.

Brilliant narrative telling of the Normandy campaign seen from the view of the soldiers on the ground and all the way up to the politicians.

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Excellent !!!

Went to Normandy and listened to this book whilst there really brought it to life

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great content

great content, some new material, and the author has a knack of tying up facts that any ww2 would have heard before, but the narration or the poor choice in the actor made for irritating listening, the actor was too breathy and inappropriate

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5 people found this helpful