Seven Roads to Hell

A Screaming Eagle at Bastogne

By: Donald R. Burgett

Narrated by: David Guion

In December 1944, Hitler launched a desperate massive counterstrike at the Allies, with 38 German divisions slamming through American lines. Then the 101st Airborne was thrown into the fight. Fresh from 72 brutal days of combat in Holland, with little food and ammunition, the Screaming Eagles struck back - and stunned the German forces. Then the real battle for the town of Bastogne - and its seven key roads - began...

This powerful, action-packed memoir puts us in the middle of the legendary fighting force known as the Screaming Eagles. Along the way, Donald R. Burgett, just 19 years old at the time of the battle, vividly captures some of the most horrific action of World War II. From point-blank tank assaults to hand-to-hand combat, Private Burgett and his cold, hungry, and wounded fellow paratroopers stood against an overwhelming enemy force - and won the battle that secured victory for the Allies in World War II.

©1999 Donald R. Burgett (P)2001 Random House Inc., Bantam Doubelday Dell Audio Publishing, a Division of Random House Inc.

Best abridged mistake I've ever made

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

Very entertaining, I never buy abridged books, somewhat glad I made that mistake. I would really like the full book on audio.

Which character – as performed by David Guion – was your favorite?

Donny boy, the author.

Should be Required Reading for Any Infantryman

Personal account of a 101st Airborne survivor (aged 19 at the end - and by then one of the 'older ones' in the platoon, meaning wars are games played by old men with young boys) from D-Day and leading up to and during their defense of Bastogne ('Nuts") during the Battle of the Bulge.

A Great Listen for the WWII History Buff.

5 stars isn't enough. You'll feel the whine of the bullets and feel the thump of the explosions as Narrator David Guion takes you through some of the bloodiest combat in World War II. Writing as a survivor of the Bulge, author Donald Burgett gives us a "you are there" dimension to the daily life and experience of the combat soldier in the European Theatre. This is some of the finest historical writing of the combat experience in WWII. If you've ever wondered what combat is like, get this book.

Gripping

Would you listen to Seven Roads to Hell again? Why?

Gripping account of a few critical weeks of the second world war, told with remarkable honesty and poise by a 19 year old soldier. Puts you directly in a fox-hole with bullets zipping over your helmet

Recommended in American Rifleman

The NRA interviewed Mr Donald Burgett in The American Rifleman. I very much enjoyed the interview article and Mr Burgett's first hand accounts of his war experiences. I immediately purchased both his books. Really like!

Excessive Abridgement

Would you say that listening to this book was time well-spent? Why or why not?

Yes, spending time to listen to this book was worthwhile because the book, even though abridged, supplied extra information to what I know about the Battle of the Bulge.

How would you have changed the story to make it more enjoyable?

I didn't realize the book was abridged until I started listening to it.

Which scene was your favorite?

It's such a sad story - as every war story is supposed to be - that it's difficlut to say that the book has a "favorite" scene. A very disturbing one, though, is that where a German soldier surrenders to the author but someone else shuts him in the belly, and someone else, possibly the author himself, shuts him in the head to end his agony.

Do you think Seven Roads to Hell needs a follow-up book? Why or why not?

No, it doesn't, because it has a battle as its subject, battles have a start and an end, and the author covers its participation in the battle from start to end.

Any additional comments?

The book was excessively abridged, to the point where one loses almost all the context wherein the Battle of Bulge too place. Very little is said about the parties and actors involved. It could and should have been more enlightening. Other aspect to consider is that this is the kind of book whose story requires the use of maps so it can be properly followed and interpreted. This certainly applies to almost all war stories.

Why Abridged???

Great book, I’ve read the print version a couple of times years ago. Why abridged? There is so much more to the story.

Not for me

This wasn’t bad, it just wasn’t my thing. I found it to be boring. I do think it will be a good listen for somebody who is more hardcore interested in history and war.

what happened?

I have read this book numerous times and I'm curious as to why the narration is missing/omitting part of the story? of all the books Don wrote, this run time seems really short for the length of the book.