Publication
New York : Random House Large Print, c2008.
Collection
Call number
Large Print Fiction S
Physical description
XIX, 793 p.; 24 cm
Status
Available
Call number
Description
Fiction. Literature. Thriller. Historical Fiction. HTML:BONUS: This edition contains an excerpt from Jeff Shaara's No Less Than Victory. Jeff Shaara, America�??s premier author of military historical fiction, brings us the centerpiece of his epic trilogy of the Second World War. General Dwight Eisenhower once again commands a diverse army that must find its single purpose in the destruction of Hitler�??s European fortress. His primary subordinates, Omar Bradley and Bernard Montgomery, must prove that this unique blend of Allied armies can successfully confront the might of Adolf Hitler�??s forces, who have already conquered Western Europe. On the coast of France, German commander Erwin Rommel fortifies and prepares for the coming invasion, acutely aware that he must bring all his skills to bear on a fight his side must win. But Rommel�??s greatest challenge is to strike the Allies on his front, while struggling behind the lines with the growing insanity of Adolf Hitler, who thwarts the strategies Rommel knows will succeed. Meanwhile, Sergeant Jesse Adams, a no-nonsense veteran of the 82nd Airborne, parachutes with his men behind German lines into a chaotic and desperate struggle. And as the invasion force surges toward the beaches of Normandy, Private Tom Thorne of the 29th Infantry Division faces the horrifying prospects of fighting his way ashore on a stretch of coast more heavily defended than the Allied commanders anticipate�??Omaha Beach. From G.I. to general, this story carries the reader through the war�??s most crucial juncture, the invasion that altered the flow of the war, and, ultimately… (more)
User reviews
LibraryThing member meegeekai
Just about to finish and I have to admit, not being a big fan of the style J.Shaara writes in, this book is really quite good. Just finished new biography about Eisenhower the bits about Ike were quite good. Embellishment and fiction, as no one can really tell us what he was thinking, but true to
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form. Good perspective of on the para drops and landings at Omaha. Would have like to see more ground level views at Omaha, instead got one grunts perspective of the landing. Still was good and it was obvious the author did his research. Will be interesting to see how this series of books unfolds. Show Less
LibraryThing member Helm
This was a very enjoyable book. I do not typically gravitate to historical novels, preferring non-fiction. This work, however, was well done and filled in the unknown conversations in a manner that was entertaining and true to actual events. The juxtaposition of Eisenhower and Rommel was a good
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structural choice. I also appreciated the use of character names in lieu of chapter numbers. Show Less
LibraryThing member RobertKearney
Interesting portrayal of the key personalities involved in D day landing from an American viewpoint. I particularly enjoyed the description of how Eisenhower dealt with the conflicts between the various generals under him.
The book would have been improved by the addition of more, and more detailed,
The book would have been improved by the addition of more, and more detailed,
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maps. Show Less
LibraryThing member andrew1918
Maybe I'm alone in this, but I really found this book to be rudimentary and frustrating, although I found The Rising Tide to be okay. The characters were shallow - I just did not really care about them at all. How much of his research included watching famous films? I really felt like numerous
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scenes were lifted - almost word for word - from award-winning movies such as Patton, The Longest Day and the mini-series Band of Brothers. He retold one of the most famous stories in world history while adding NOTHING to it. I really cannot recommend this book at all. Show Less
LibraryThing member jhillman
If you've read hid novels about the Civil War, you'll recognize and enjoy his style in this most recent trilogy of WWII. This is the second part of it and focuses on the invasion at Normandy -- D-Day. Like his other novels there are both historical and fictitious characters. Shaara breaths life
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into both. Show Less
LibraryThing member ZoharLaor
This is the second book of a trilogy by Jeff Shaara (the first being "The Rising Tide) of what's being called "fictional history". The topic for this book is the events leading up and after D-Day (January thru September 1944) seeing through the eyes of the aggressor (Eisenhower), the defender
The beauty of these books is the way the author weaves the contrasting day-to-day activities of the people he writes about, how he gets into their mindsets and "dares" guessing what they were thinking through huge amounts of research.
Another interesting aspect of this book is how Mr. Shaara explores the political struggles that pulled at both sides. Eisenhower by trying to control his generals as well as appease politicians, while Rommel is trying to get Hitler to defend the whole coast of France while trying to remove himself from being implicated in the failed assassination attempt on the Fuhrer.
You don't have to be a history buff to love it because..it's not history but "historical fiction". If you're buying this book hoping for a history lesson you are better off buying the engaging WWII books by Stephen Ambrose et al.
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(Rommel), generals (Bradley, Patton, von Rundstedt) and an ordinary soldier (Sergeant Jesse Adams, a paratrooper of the 82nd Airborne.).The beauty of these books is the way the author weaves the contrasting day-to-day activities of the people he writes about, how he gets into their mindsets and "dares" guessing what they were thinking through huge amounts of research.
Another interesting aspect of this book is how Mr. Shaara explores the political struggles that pulled at both sides. Eisenhower by trying to control his generals as well as appease politicians, while Rommel is trying to get Hitler to defend the whole coast of France while trying to remove himself from being implicated in the failed assassination attempt on the Fuhrer.
You don't have to be a history buff to love it because..it's not history but "historical fiction". If you're buying this book hoping for a history lesson you are better off buying the engaging WWII books by Stephen Ambrose et al.
Show Less
LibraryThing member Karlstar
A good personal history of the war in Europe in 1944, focusing exclusively on the invasion of France and the weeks after. Like all Shaara novels, this more of a story told from the first person perspective of actual historical figures, based on their writings or writings about them. It is light on
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facts and details, but the personal viewpoint is very illuminating. Good stuff if you are not looking for lists, figures, tactical analysis. It also focuses almost exclusively on the infantry and very little on the air or naval forces. I enjoyed it as I do all of his, but I wished for more detail. Show Less
LibraryThing member bkinetic
Compelling reading. It brings the reader directly into the key scenes, on the battlefield and in the war rooms, of D-Day. Figures like Eisenhower, Patton and Rommel are well characterized and emerge as flesh and blood individuals.
LibraryThing member creighley
The story of WWII is told through the eyes of the many "players" who took part . The politics involved among the nations trying to be allies is also presented through the personalities of the generals leading the fight. The common solider's part is told by focussing on individuals who were actually
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there. Great writing ..... a true picture of the horror, fear, and suffering of war.... Show Less
LibraryThing member brainella
Part two of the trilogy on WWII. This novel sees D-Day from the perspectives of Eisenhower, Patton, Rommel and Jesse Adams (a paratrooper in the 82nd Airborne). I very much enjoy seeing the various areas of the war through the eyes of these men. They have different objectives, personalities and
I like reading about the good and the bad, on both sides of the war, throughout the D-Day invastion and beyond. The accounts are fascinating and informative, and makes me want to read more.
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roles to play. Frustrations and triumphs are covered well, and the research needed to write these men is solid. I like reading about the good and the bad, on both sides of the war, throughout the D-Day invastion and beyond. The accounts are fascinating and informative, and makes me want to read more.
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LibraryThing member JGolomb
Author Jeff Shaara incorporates two real-life quotes in the early pages of his World War II novel, "The Steel Wave", that help set the tone for their respective country's approach, aims and well-known results:
"In war, there is no prize for runner-up."
U.S. General Omar Bradley
"We Germans have far
Friedrich Von Bernhardi
"Steel Wave" is the second in Shaara's World War II trilogy and it excites me on two levels. The first is that it's simply good story-telling. The plots move steadily and the battle 'ambience' is three-dimensional. The second is that Shaara's successfully managed to blend narrative and real-world history. I feel more knowledge about the time period, and my horizons are broadened, without feeling the damning weight of a very dense period in time.
Shaara does a capable job of describing the vibes and aura of war and how it encapsulates an individual: the smells, the sites, the emotions. The fictional Jesse Adams, a paratrooper who's dropped behind the German lines on D-Day, and who made his first wartime jump in Shaara's 'The Rising Tide', is about to step into the airplane that will introduce he and his unit to this phase of World War II: "Across the field, the engines began to fire, a growing roar, and he put a hand out against the cold metal of the plane, and put his foot on the bottom step of the ladder. The engines had filled every space in his brain, no room for voices, for music or fears. He looked up, high overhead, and realized the sky had filled with stars. He stared for a brief moment -- cold perfection, vast emptiness -- then took another breath, touched the Thompson (machine gun) again, and pressed one hand against the reserve chute on his chest, and climbed up into the plane."
D-Day is the center-point of the plot that provides focus for "The Steel Wave". The invasion at Omaha beach is told through the eyes of grunts on the ground (on both sides of the lines). The staccato narrative builds an undeniable tension, and evokes what can only be imagined for those of us who've never experienced something like it.
Shaara has an eye for the resource management conflicts that must face any scaled wartime effort, and the personalities and relationships that often drive decision making. World War II had a full slate of big personalities, ranging from the overstated arrogance of Britain's General Montgomery to the brashly outspoken U.S. General Patton. Many of these personality 'difficulties' drive smaller elements of the stories' plot, but Shaara certainly conveys that unique individuals and their respective relationships gave General Eisenhower more than a few tightropes to walk.
Through the stress and very real life-threatening fear that pervades the wartime experience, Shaara expresses how many soldiers could simply 'let go' even when given the chance. In an exchange with one of his men while recuperating in England, following 30 straight days in the field starting on D-Day, Adams discusses what's next:
Unger nodded again. "Awful darned quiet in that barracks." He paused. "You think they''ll send us to France again? I really wanna go back, Sarge. I think I miss it."
Adams absorbed the words, saw the dark in Unger's eyes. 'That's it, kid. You miss it. So do I."
Shaara's characterizations are not the strength of the book, but the plot and the seamlessly interwoven history and story-telling is was makes "Steel Wave" a terrific and edifying read.
"In war, there is no prize for runner-up."
U.S. General Omar Bradley
"We Germans have far
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greater and more urgent duty towards civilization to perform...WE, like the Japanese, can only fulfill it by the sword. War is a biological necessity."Friedrich Von Bernhardi
"Steel Wave" is the second in Shaara's World War II trilogy and it excites me on two levels. The first is that it's simply good story-telling. The plots move steadily and the battle 'ambience' is three-dimensional. The second is that Shaara's successfully managed to blend narrative and real-world history. I feel more knowledge about the time period, and my horizons are broadened, without feeling the damning weight of a very dense period in time.
Shaara does a capable job of describing the vibes and aura of war and how it encapsulates an individual: the smells, the sites, the emotions. The fictional Jesse Adams, a paratrooper who's dropped behind the German lines on D-Day, and who made his first wartime jump in Shaara's 'The Rising Tide', is about to step into the airplane that will introduce he and his unit to this phase of World War II: "Across the field, the engines began to fire, a growing roar, and he put a hand out against the cold metal of the plane, and put his foot on the bottom step of the ladder. The engines had filled every space in his brain, no room for voices, for music or fears. He looked up, high overhead, and realized the sky had filled with stars. He stared for a brief moment -- cold perfection, vast emptiness -- then took another breath, touched the Thompson (machine gun) again, and pressed one hand against the reserve chute on his chest, and climbed up into the plane."
D-Day is the center-point of the plot that provides focus for "The Steel Wave". The invasion at Omaha beach is told through the eyes of grunts on the ground (on both sides of the lines). The staccato narrative builds an undeniable tension, and evokes what can only be imagined for those of us who've never experienced something like it.
Shaara has an eye for the resource management conflicts that must face any scaled wartime effort, and the personalities and relationships that often drive decision making. World War II had a full slate of big personalities, ranging from the overstated arrogance of Britain's General Montgomery to the brashly outspoken U.S. General Patton. Many of these personality 'difficulties' drive smaller elements of the stories' plot, but Shaara certainly conveys that unique individuals and their respective relationships gave General Eisenhower more than a few tightropes to walk.
Through the stress and very real life-threatening fear that pervades the wartime experience, Shaara expresses how many soldiers could simply 'let go' even when given the chance. In an exchange with one of his men while recuperating in England, following 30 straight days in the field starting on D-Day, Adams discusses what's next:
Unger nodded again. "Awful darned quiet in that barracks." He paused. "You think they''ll send us to France again? I really wanna go back, Sarge. I think I miss it."
Adams absorbed the words, saw the dark in Unger's eyes. 'That's it, kid. You miss it. So do I."
Shaara's characterizations are not the strength of the book, but the plot and the seamlessly interwoven history and story-telling is was makes "Steel Wave" a terrific and edifying read.
Show Less
LibraryThing member piersanti
I never studied a great deal about World War II, so much of what this book covers was very new to me. The characters in the book are real people (many having left personal journals or having been interviewed by the author) and so there is always the sense that nothing is being exaggerated and
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everything is described pretty much as it actually happened. The book covers the events that happened around D-Day, in June 1944, as the Allied troops struggled to gain a foothold in France. However, the story is told from the perspective of actual people, like General Eisenhower and other soldiers from the US and Britain, and Rommel and others from Germany, so it reads like a novel, not a history textbook. Show Less
LibraryThing member jamespurcell
Good research and a quite compelling story. Shaara does a good job of capturing Eisenhower's key role of getting the best out of generally a bad lot of general officers among the Allied Commanders. Fortunately, there were "a few good men" supported by an incredible lot of citizen soldiers that made
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it work. Shaara aptly portrays several of them as the US Army evolved into a potent fighting force. Mistakes such as not closing the Falaise Gap will redound later in the Hurtgen Forest but we were moving ahead. Show Less
LibraryThing member dasam
An enjoyable fictionalized account of the Normandy invasion of WWII.
Awards
RUSA CODES Reading List (Winner — Historical Fiction — 2009)
Language
Original publication date
2009
ISBN
9780739327845