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The Great Escape

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The Great Escape

Written by: Paul Brickhill
Narrated by: Robert Whitfield
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About this listen

 It was a split-second operation as delicate and as deadly as a time bomb. It demanded the concentrated devotion and vigilance of more than six hundred men for every hour, every day, and every night for more than a year. With only their bare hands and crude homemade tools, they sank shafts, built underground railroads, forged passports, drew maps, faked weapons, and tailored German clothes. They developed a fantastic security system to protect themselves from the Germans who tenaciously prowled the compounds. And against all odds, they pulled off a daring mass escape from a German POW camp.©1978 Paul Brickhill (P)1997 Blackstone Audio, Inc. Military Military & War Veteran Creators Wars & Conflicts World War II Veteran War

What the critics say

"The timing, cadence, vocal quality, and even melody of Whitfield's reading add to the suspense." ( AudioFile)
All stars
Most Relevant
Appropriately paced
Well articulated
Combined storytelling with wit fact narrative
The contained both necessary and ugly truths

Matched my expectations

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Well told and a most engenious planning to achieve an escape of that level. I'm flabbergasted why they didn't knock out the lone guard, gagged him and tied up, that intervened their prognosis of the great escape. It wouldn't have made the end result any better but might have given the 76 an extra couple hours to clear out.

Amazing read. 10/10

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This jawdropping chronicle of the efforts of Allied POWs (downed Airmen in this case) to escape from the Germans is well-written by Australian pilot Paul Brickhill - who participated but didn't get through the tunnel. The story is all-encompassing, described vividly, and made "real" with depictions of eccentric Allied officers, select "penguins"/"stooges"/"diggers"/"forgers"/etc., and German "goons"/"ferrets".
The incredible conviction that the prisoners have both a desire and a *duty* to escape comes through nicely - as does the thought-provoking challenge of figuring out the mechanics of conducting a mass escape with a reasonable chance of success (76 men made it - 73 recaptured).. while simultaneously dodging German efforts to uncover the plot and conducting psy-ops ("fakeouts") to distract them (dummy tunnels, for example). The plans & execution of this daring endeavor are nail-bitingly intriguing.

Blackstone Audio Inc. do an excellent job providing technical support to reader Robert Whitfield - a great choice to bring this Classic exposé to life. Whitfield's narration is by no means perfect (too slow, for example), but quite a bit above-average (with spot-on professional diction, timbre, cadence, and tone).. and is equally easy to consume with earbuds or on the speakers of a device/car.

This is a 9/10 star recording. If - as I did - you can get it as a 'Plus' selection.. DO NOT HESITATE - it would make for outstanding entertainment during a long drive or a quiet night shift.
Even if Audible asked for a Credit, this version of 'The Great Escape' would be worth it.

[Yes, executing POWs for escape attempts is against the Geneva Convention. Hitler's order to murder 50 of the recaptured prisoners was yet another legitimate War Crime]

Astounding Dedication.. and Ingenuity

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It is amazing that this really went down. Such a will to keep going by these men. I'm glad to have heard this. Well read also.

great

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probably my most watched movie and now, after listening to the audible, makes me want another viewing.
you appreciate the deep and dedicated research that went into the book in memory of these extreme times behind the brutality of war.
excellent narration brings out the physical and mental strength of the individuals who sacrificed so much.

excellent and moving dedication

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