Back Over There

One American Time-Traveler, 100 Years Since the Great War, 500 Miles of Battle-Scarred French Countryside, and Too Many Trenches, Shells, Legends and Ghosts to Count

By: Richard Rubin

Narrated by: Richard Rubin

Based on Richard Rubin's wildly popular New York Times series, Back Over There is a timely journey, in turns reverent and iconoclastic but always fascinating, through a place where the past and present are never really separated.

In The Last of the Doughboys, Richard Rubin introduced readers to a forgotten generation of Americans: the men and women who fought and won the First World War. Interviewing the war’s last survivors face-to-face, he knew well the importance of being present if you want to get the real story. But he soon came to realize that to get the whole story, he had to go Over There, too. So he did, and discovered that while most Americans regard that war as dead and gone, to the French, who still live among its ruins and memories, it remains very much alive.

Years later, with the centennial of the war only magnifying this paradox, Rubin decided to go back Over There to see if he could, at last, resolve it. For months he followed the trail of the American Expeditionary Forces on the Western Front, finding trenches, tunnels, bunkers, century-old graffiti and ubiquitous artifacts. But he also found an abiding fondness for America and Americans, and a colorful corps of local after-hours historians and archeologists who tirelessly explore these sites and preserve the memories they embody while patiently waiting for Americans to return and reclaim their own history and heritage. None of whom seemed to mind that his French needed work.

This program is read by the author.

excellent

Loved it. Richard Rubin is as likeable and knowledgeable as they come. I just wished I'd read this before I took my own tour of the Western Front.

Fascinating and enjoyable

I learned a lot of new things about France and World War I. The author made me feel like I was walking right beside him. It’s a very long book, but the time seemed to fly. Highly recommended.

Great Book

Author gave great descriptions of people and places. There were a few French phrases he didn't explain but still would highly recommend this book!!

Truly Interesting

What did you love best about Back Over There?

Sometimes the past seems too distant to grasp on any human level. This work brings a chapter in the Great War to life through the actions of American Doughboys. The geography, history and rememberances of generations after the events.

What did you like best about this story?

I'm a fairly avid History buff. I remember when a child, meeting an uncle of my father who had been gassed in World War I. He was a grumpy, mean spirited man probably in his early 60's and I could never imagine him as a young man, with aspirations and his whole life ahead of him. This work brings the people to life. And brings that Time to life.

What does Richard Rubin bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

Passion, thoroughly familiar. He is, afterall, the author of the work. And actually he's a fairly decent narrator. Actually, my research says he has done voice talent for NPR. Among lots of other things.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

To tell the truth, I wasn't sure what to expect. I had some extra AUDIBLE credits and as I hunted around, this and Rubin's other audio book work " Thr Last of the Doughboys" showed up in my search. So I'm pleased! Both are interesting, educational and historical but written in a personable way.

Any additional comments?

This has been an eye opening listen. I've learned quite a bit and it wasn't even painful! lol. If you have an interest in World War I, history, etc. you might give this a listen.It's worth both the Audible credit and my listening time investment. And I can see myself relistening sometime in the future.

Very glad I read this book

A little different from anything else I have read about WW 1. Totally enjoyable. I wish I would have been with him as he traveled through all the sites. While stationed in Germany I traveled to the more popular sites and cemeteries, after reading this book I realize how much I missed. I was moved by his description of how empty the memorials and cemeteries were. his interviews with the last of the survivors was moving. It’s been 100 years and sadly it’s become largely forgotten