Normandy '44

D-Day and the Epic 77-Day Battle for France

By: James Holland

Narrated by: John Sackville

D-Day, June 6, 1944, and the 76 days of bitter fighting in Normandy that followed the Allied landing, have become the defining episode of World War II in the west - the object of books, films, television series, and documentaries. Yet as familiar as it is, as James Holland makes clear in his definitive history, many parts of the OVERLORD campaign, as it was known, are still shrouded in myth and assumed knowledge.

Drawing freshly on widespread archives and on the testimonies of eye-witnesses, Holland relates the extraordinary planning that made Allied victory in France possible; indeed, the story of how hundreds of thousands of men, and mountains of materiel, were transported across the English Channel, is as dramatic a human achievement as any battlefield exploit. The brutal landings on the five beaches and subsequent battles across the plains and through the lanes and hedgerows of Normandy - a campaign that, in terms of daily casualties, was worse than any in World War I - come vividly to life in conferences where the strategic decisions of Eisenhower, Rommel, Montgomery, and other commanders were made, and through the memories of paratrooper Lieutenant Dick Winters of Easy Company, British corporal and tanker Reg Spittles, Thunderbolt pilot Archie Maltbie, German ordnance officer Hans Heinze, French resistance leader Robert Leblanc, and many others.

For both sides, the challenges were enormous. The Allies confronted a disciplined German army stretched to its limit, which nonetheless caused tactics to be adjusted on the fly. Ultimately ingenuity, determination, and immense materiel strength - delivered with operational brilliance - made the difference. A stirring narrative by a pre-eminent historian, Normandy ‘44 offers important new perspective on one of history’s most dramatic military engagements and is an invaluable addition to the literature of war.

©2019 James Holland (P)2019 Random House Audiobooks

Great insight

Great inclusion of peoples stories. What I like best was his exploration into stats and details like how many cars per person before the war and all these other factors that made a difference in the war.

A fantastic listen!

I love how broad and yet how detailed this audio book is. I believe this is one of the most balanced and well told accounts of the Normandy story. For me personally it is the best! Well done James Holland. And as for the narration it was was easy to listen to and I will look for John Sackville again!!

Sedated narrator

It’s like he’s laying down next to me trying not to wake the kids. As this narrator is neither my wife nor a cool friend that reads to me in bed, this is off-putting.

Why the Allies won

An important course correction that dispels many of the false Wehraboo narratives that surround the campaign.

Normandy 44

A great book about the the period up until the. allies breakout with both. allied and German input. Suggest it to any WWII students.

Some problems

Narrator was good but often voice was so soft it was hard to hear. I’m not an expert on WW2, but have read a lot. I struggle with leaders who are to into power. The author was soft on Montgomery based on a wide variety of other things I have read. He seems to have been very bossy and full of himself like McArthur.

outstanding in every way

Magnificent research, writing, and narration. It is the most personal of the many recent books written about the 1939-1945 War in Europe. One can only hope that the final chapter from August 1944 to May 1945 is forthcoming. It is meticulous in its research, beautifully written and the narrator deserves a position in the hall of fame.

Detailed account - honest assessment.

A history everyone knows - told not only from the Allied and German perspectives but also from the US, British, Canadian and French perspectives. Lots of shades of gray - not much black and white. Time gives perspective - understanding brings honesty.
Excellent book and performance.

War as seen from the ground level

An outstanding tale exquisitely presented about the horrors of war as seen from the ground level. An outstanding presentation of an epic battle and a great allied victory. The listener is almost there.

Thorough, informative, incisive ww2 history.

Narration is good but falls short of inspirational owing to excessively soft, understated voice and frequently garbled enunciation. To some extent, the narrator varies inflection speech rate, rhythm, and cadence, so if he would only speak more loudly and with energy, then the listening experience would be more engaging.

The material is well organized and exhaustively researched.

Owing to the shoddy narration, I recommend reading the book rather than listening to the audio.



Nonetheless, recommended.