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The Paras cover art

The Paras

By: Max Arthur
Narrated by: Max Arthur, Luke Thompson, Michael Fenner, Peter Noble
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Summary

The soldiers of one of the world's most famous fighting forces, the Paras, tell the gripping story of the regiment in their own words.

Published to coincide with the 75th anniversary of its formation, this is the definitive history of the iconic Parachute Regiment, told through the voices of more than 200 of the soldiers themselves.

From the daring raids of World War Two through Northern Ireland, the Falklands, Bosnia and Afghanistan, the Paras have a reputation for being where the fighting is fiercest and the odds of survival are often stacked heavily against them. The gripping, visceral first-person narrative makes this book stand apart from conventional regimental histories.

©2017 Max Arthur (P)2017 Hodder & Stoughton

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awsome book. it was hard to pause it

Great stories from the paras! Looking forward to selection in the Autumn. They really are an outstanding group of soldiers.

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Worth the listen

Was good. Would recommend. Easy to listen to, brings tears to the eyes with laughter, pride and sorrow.

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excellent book

full of personal stories and portrays real human emotion from elation to shock, fear, depression and aggression.

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An outstanding book

A fantastic book of the regiments key conflicts through their history. Told by many serving and previously served paras.

Brilliantly put together.

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Great look into PARA history

If you are remotely interested in the military or in the PARA’s specifically, this is a great book and hearing their history from all different guys points of view is a really good touch too.

Great book would definitely recommend.

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A fantastic and awe inspiring book

How can I write an objective review as an ex para? I completed 22 years in the army mostly with 2 para, and knew some of the soldiers highlighted in the book. I also served 4 years in the welsh guards and although proud of my service with them, there is a unique and completely different ethos with the parachute regiment. I cannot explain the difference and don’t believe anyone can. One has to experience it in order to understand. This audio book may go some way in explaining the culture, ethos and the make up of a para soldier. But to fully understand one must have served not along side them, ... but as one of them. Only fellow Paras and ex paras will know what I mean. The book could have gone further with service in N Ireland, as well as mentioning our crudest side. The humour in the book has no doubt been carefully selected to appease a bigger audience and may well have been censored by the top brass for publicising has been constrained. But still had it no been the case, the book still would have been unable to fully present to the listener our makeup and a para DNA. We are the most arrogant, sons of bitches one will ever encounter...and it is little wonder that on the seventh day when god created the parachute regiment, the devil stood to attention. God bless them all.

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inspiring stuff

this is a excellent collection of really varied stories. I enjoyed list to these first hand accounts.

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Very Good

Very good history of the Regiment through the decades, recommend a read for military buffs

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