Band of Brothers

E Company, 506th Regiment, 101st Airborne, from Normandy to Hitler's Eagle's Nest

By: Stephen E. Ambrose

Narrated by: Cotter Smith

Stephen E. Ambrose’s classic New York Times bestseller and inspiration for the acclaimed HBO series about Easy Company, the ordinary men who became the World War II’s most extraordinary soldiers at the frontlines of the war's most critical moments. Featuring a foreword from Tom Hanks.

They came together, citizen soldiers, in the summer of 1942, drawn to Airborne by the $50 monthly bonus and a desire to be better than the other guy. And at its peak—in Holland and the Ardennes—Easy Company was as good a rifle company as any in the world.

From the rigorous training in Georgia in 1942 to the disbanding in 1945, Stephen E. Ambrose tells the story of this remarkable company. In combat, the reward for a job well done is the next tough assignment, and as they advanced through Europe, the men of Easy kept getting the tough assignments.

They parachuted into France early D-Day morning and knocked out a battery of four 105 mm cannon looking down Utah Beach; they parachuted into Holland during the Arnhem campaign; they were the Battered Bastards of the Bastion of Bastogne, brought in to hold the line, although surrounded, in the Battle of the Bulge; and then they spearheaded the counteroffensive. Finally, they captured Hitler's Bavarian outpost, his Eagle's Nest at Berchtesgaden.

They were rough-and-ready guys, battered by the Depression, mistrustful and suspicious. They drank too much French wine, looted too many German cameras and watches, and fought too often with other GIs. But in training and combat they learned selflessness and found the closest brotherhood they ever knew. They discovered that in war, men who loved life would give their lives for them.

This is the story of the men who fought, of the martinet they hated who trained them well, and of the captain they loved who led them. E Company was a company of men who went hungry, froze, and died for each other, a company that took 150 percent casualties, a company where the Purple Heart was not a medal—it was a badge of office.©1998 Stephen E. Ambrose, All Rights Reserved; (P)1998 Simon & Schuster Inc., All Rights Reserved; AUDIOWORKS is an Imprint of Simon & Schuster Audio Division, Simon & Schuster Inc.

Good companion to the show

I didn't realize this was the abridged version, but still a great listen. A good companion to the show, it gives some more details that aren't shown in the series.

excellent story

This is an excellent story! Stephen Ambrose makes the reader, or listener in this case, feel like they are actually one of these men. You feel all the tragedy, the fog of war, the heartbeat pounding in your ears as you run with Easy company across a field of fire. Amazing men at a terrible time in world history. This would have gotten 5 stars from me, but the narrator lacked a bit of enthusiasm in reading. I listened to this at the gym and found myself unable to turn it off after my workouts! If you've seen the HBO series, then you have to read or hear the book. It really makes the whole experience come to life.

Fantastic read

I have read this book a handful of times. It is a fascinating and entertaining story.

Superb

A superior work telling the story of ordinary men becoming superior through circumstance. I just wish that there was an unabridged version as there was a lot of detail left out compared to the ful; text. Still a great listen with first class narration.

Great book for road trip

This is band of brothers..that alone makes it worth listening too. The narrator's voice is right on, it makes it so easy to listen too and "fits" the subject matter. I have had other books where the narrator didnt sound like he was the guy or girl performing the action or that he was there. This leaves the impression that the narrator was there with the soldiers. I really enjoyed this book while driving from Atlanta to Tallahassee FL. Thanks!