From the acclaimed author of A Bridge Too Far comes the unparalleled, classic work of history that vividly recreates the battle that changed World War II—the Allied invasion of Normandy.
The Longest Day is Cornelius Ryan’s unsurpassed account of D-Day, a book that endures as a masterpiece of military history. In this compelling tale, Ryan painstakingly recreates the fateful hours before and after the massive invasion of Normandy. He retells the story of an epic battle. This battle turned the tide against world fascism and freed Europe from the grip of Nazi Germany.
This book, first published in 1959, is a must for anyone who loves history. It’s also essential for anyone who wants to better understand how free nations prevailed when darkness enshrouded the earth.
Editorial Reviews
Amazon.com Review
A true classic of World War II history, The Longest Day is more than a book. It is an in-depth account of a pivotal moment. The story unfolds with the massive Allied invasion of Normandy on June 6, 1944. Journalist Cornelius Ryan began working on the book in the mid-1950s. At that time, the memories of the D-day participants were still fresh. He spent three years interviewing D-day survivors in the United States and Europe. When his book was first published in 1959, it was tremendously successful. It established many of the legends of D-day that endure in the public’s mind. Ryan was enormously skillful at weaving small personal stories into the overall narrative. Later, he used the same technique to depict the airborne invasion of Holland in A Bridge Too Far. The Longest Day is a pleasure to read. Subsequent historians have noted its accuracy. They have relied heavily on Ryan’s research for their own accounts. In short, the book is a “must read” for anyone interested in the D-day invasion. –Robert McNamara
Review
“A dramatic, moving masterpiece, a living memorial to the men who died and as suspenseful as the most gripping mystery story.” — J. H. Thompson, Chicago Sunday Tribune
“Fifty years from now, the history of D-Day, I am sure, will lean heavily on this book.” — John Toland, The New York Times Book Review
“If you have read all the accounts of D-Day or none of them, if you were in the fighting or on the sidelines, you will be spellbound, as I was, by this magnificent retelling of a glorious and tragic story.” — Lt. Gen. James Gavin
“If you have read all the accounts of D-Day or none of them, if you were in the fighting or on the sidelines, you will be spellbound, as I was, by this magnificent retelling of a glorious and tragic story.” — Lt. Gen. James Gavin
From the Publisher
6 1.5-hour cassettes
About the Author
Cornelius Ryan was born in 1920 in Dublin, Ireland, where he was raised. He became one of the preeminent war correspondents of his time. He flew fourteen bombing missions with the Eighth and Ninth US Air Forces. He covered the D-Day landings and the advance of General Patton’s Third Army across France and Germany. After the end of hostilities in Europe, he covered the Pacific War. He wrote numerous other books in addition to his classic works The Longest Day, The Last Battle, and A Bridge Too Far. These books have appeared throughout the world in nineteen languages. Awarded the Legion of Honor by the French government in 1973, Mr. Ryan was hailed at that time by Malcolm Muggeridge as “perhaps the most brilliant reporter now alive.” He died in 1976.
Book Reviews by the Reluctant Retiree 