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To Hell and Back

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About this listen

 The time is 1943, the place is Sicily, and the event is the start of the most remarkable career of any American infantryman in the war. Audie Murphy was a desperately poor eighteen-year-old orphan when he joined the Army, nineteen when he first saw a buddy die from an enemy bullet and an enemy die from one of his own. During the next two years, he fought in Italy, France, and Germany. By VE-day, he had killed at least 240 Germans, had single-handedly destroyed a German tank in one battle and held off six tanks in another, and had become the most decorated soldier in American history, winning every medal his country offered, including the Congressional Medal of Honor.

Four years later he was living in Hollywood trying to get an acting career off the ground when he and a friend decided to turn his story into a book. Instantly recognized for its grim authenticity and its unblinking accounts of some of the most terrible fighting in the war, To Hell and Back became a best seller and, in 1955, the basis for one of the most successful WWII films ever made, with Murphy playing himself.

©1949 Audie Murphy (P)1998 Blackstone Audiobooks Americas Historical Military Military & War Wars & Conflicts World War II War Italy Inspiring Career Biography

What the critics say

"Audie Murphy hit the big time with this simple, compelling narrative....It is a book of raw honesty, clipped descriptions and simple courage." (AudioFile)
"Tom Parker brings this terse yet vivid and articulate memoir to life....Parker's clear and well-paced reading is a joy." (Library Journal)

All stars
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This book gives me so much gratitude. Thankful that there are/were people like Audi Murphy in this world. Greatness with grace and humility.

An amazing recollection.

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Wild how the author writes a single sentence with so much mayhem that is just glanced over like nothing. If you’re not paying close attention you can easily miss massive moments. Takes a second listen to get it all! Wow

Great book

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A very gritty down to earth story about war. I highly recommend this book. Amazing courage.

Great book

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If author Audie Murphy hadn't been so highly decorated (including earning the CMoH), I would take this unapologetically heavily-dramatized account - undoubtedly embellished to an extent - as fictionalized. The book reads more like a screenplay than a War Memoir (co-author David "Speck" McClure's artistic license mandate is on full display).
The fact is, however, that the contained combat exploits are extensively documented to have occurred. I had to repeatedly remind myself of that fact while listening to Murphy's 'Band Of Brothers'-script-clone narrative (including love scenes and comic-relief playful camaraderie). The incongruity between content and style in this book is striking.

Reader Tom Parker is likewise imperfect but believable. He reads too slowly (listen at 1.10X), and his upbeat reading timbre/tone is great for the between-action encounters.. but too lighthearted for the death & destruction events. On the other hand, Parker's diction is impeccable, his reading cadence is natural, and his voice-acting is cinematic (with realistic accents and easily distinguishable characters).

Altogether, this obvious audition for a soon-to-be-made motion picture (book published 1949->movie filmed 1954) is worthy of 8/10-stars. As a 'Plus' selection, it was a fantastic diversion for a couple of snowy afternoons. It would even rate a Credit for listeners satisfied with buying what amounts to a "based-on-a-true-story" WWII radioplay.

Just don't expect - as I did - a war diary from a genuine hero, and you'll do fine.

Great - Somewhat Confusing - Read

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This book made me cry and sad many times, as someone who fought in a war, I totally understand what those brave men sacrificed and get the struggles after the war is over, personally I would not listen to this book again as it’s too close to home, but I definitely recommend reading it to anyone who is interested in the history and price of freedom. Always remember “ALL GAVE SOME AND SOME GAVE ALL”.

Courage, sacrifice and guardian angel!

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