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A Bridge Too Far cover art

A Bridge Too Far

By: Cornelius Ryan
Narrated by: Clive Chafer
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Summary

The classic account of one of the most dramatic battles of World War II.

A Bridge Too Far is Cornelius Ryan’s masterly chronicle of the Battle of Arnhem, which marshaled the greatest armada of troop-carrying aircraft ever assembled and cost the Allies nearly twice as many casualties as D-day.

In this compelling work of history, Ryan narrates the Allied effort to end the war in Europe in 1944 by dropping the combined airborne forces of the American and British armies behind German lines to capture the crucial bridge across the Rhine at Arnhem.

Focusing on a vast cast of characters - from Dutch civilians to British and American strategists to common soldiers and commanders - Ryan brings to life one of the most daring and ill-fated operations of the war. A Bridge Too Far superbly recreates the terror, suspense, heroism, and tragedy of this epic operation, which ended in bitter defeat for the Allies.

About the author: 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.

©1974 Cornelius Ryan (P)2012 Blackstone Audio, Inc.
  • Unabridged Audiobook
  • Categories: History

Critic reviews

“I know of no other work of literature of World War II as moving, as awesome, and as accurate in its portrayal of human courage.” (General James M. Gavin)
“Ryan masters a spare, strong style to deliver a battle that has much of the majesty and beauty of classic tragedy. ( Kirkus Reviews)

What listeners say about A Bridge Too Far

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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    1 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

Narration is subtle but overall good. Great story

the story is well known. the narration is spoken too fast and is tone less. The narrator has no apparent sense of drama or storytelling

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Great story.

Having seen the film about market garden and read this book, I am in awe of what the allies achieved, particularly the British 1st airborne division, with the excellent leaders in John frost and Roy urquhart. There respective divisions fought with extreme bravery in near impossible conditions, lightly equipped and out classed in armament. Ultimately it is seen as unsuccessful and indeed it was as its aim was to shorten the war. However in my opinion had the German panzer divisions not been in the Arnhem area, a pure fluke, I feel market garden would have been a success, there would still have been casualties, how many I wouldn’t dare hazard a guess.
I also will not Offer any opinion on how market garden came into being, or how it was planned, I as not alive then and as such have no experience of the feelings of the day, so I will not criticise anybody involved as many seem to want to do, retrospective points of view are mostly a waste of time and for some a vanity project.
Market garden was not conceived with malice of purpose or with disregard for the men who would do the fighting, and this book in the most part deals with chronicling the operation without criticising the belligerents.
As for other reviews of the narrator, I found him ok, although his attempts at accents for certain individuals was maybe a little hammish.
Well worth my time listening.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
  • GT
  • 19-11-15

Very Comprehensive Account

Would you listen to A Bridge Too Far again? Why?

Yes - there's too much information for one reading.

Who was your favorite character and why?

This is not a novel and the 'characters' were real people. I don't think anyone comes out of the event in a good light apart from the troops themselves. The failings of the 82nd are brought to light in the book and glossed over in the film.

Any additional comments?

The narrative was a bit dead-pan but the textual information is staggering and very well crafted. A 'must listen' to all war historians, especially if planning a visit to Arnhem - listen to it on the way there...

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Great story - but why the accents?!

A great book, one I have read myself and enjoyed very much.
This audiobook was okay and on the whole well-read with specific credit for the pronunciation of some Dutch words and names which I appreciate is not an easy undertaking.
One thing which does grate IMHO is the use of accents, especially Scottish for General Urquhart. Yes he was a Scot, however, he sounded more English than Scottish and to use the same accent for Brian Urquhart as well was daft and potentially confusing. The Polish accent for General Sosabowski was also pretty poor. That said I did enjoy the overall audiobook.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Very detailed

Enjoyed the book.
You can’t help but relate the military figures to those casted in the movie.
Interesting to hear what actually happened to certain people compared to the movie.
I’ve visited Arnhem a number of times and enjoy battlefield studies whilst stood on the battlefield.
Our bitter experiences in Arnhem have shaped current British doctrine when operating in Urban centres…

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
  • EJ
  • 16-07-17

Appalling Narration

Any additional comments?

Why do Audible not vet their narrators before they put their books up for sale. The monotonous and boring narration completly spoilt the book for me. I wasted my money in purchasing this book.

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6 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    1 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

very poor voice reading

the person reading this book has a constant monotone voice, with little or no pronunciation. It made listening to this book arduous.

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars

Classic WW2

A good book on one the greatest episodes of WW2. Had to knock a star off for the monotonous narration which grated on me a bit. Every sentence read with the same intonation distracted from the writing.

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4 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

A tale of true Heroism

What did you like most about A Bridge Too Far?

Easy to follow, with a unique insight into a story that even now we find fascinating.

What was one of the most memorable moments of A Bridge Too Far?

1st Airborne’s plight in Arnhem - magnificent.

What does Clive Chafer bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you had only read the book?

easy to listen to and captures the moments perfectly

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

The soldiers that were left behind. The effective end of the 1st Airborne who so desperate to see action before the war ended had a terrible ordeal.

Any additional comments?

Proud to be British!!

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    2 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Great story, shame about the narration

They just got the narrator wrong for this one. It comes across like the shopping forecast, and perhaps to some, that is preferable to an orator that uses dynamics and subtle drama to deliver a book about history.
For me, although I thoroughly enjoyed the book, there were times I felt I was listening to a dalek invasion as opposed to an account of the allied invasion.

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