D-DAY The Oral History

THE NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER

This is one of the greatest war stories ever told. Through the words of the people who made D-Day happen or bore the brunt, Garrett Graff has crafted a masterpiece of oral history. Stirring, surprising, grim, joyous, moving and always riveting. Evan Thomas, NY Times Bestselling historian and author
A sprawling history of D-Day from the point of view of participants on both sides. . . . [and] a timely reminder of the cost of war, as well as the bravery of those who stormed the beaches all those decades ago. Kirkus reviews
This is truly an excellent read. Unique, in many ways, and thoroughly recommended. Matt Johnson, LoveReading
The author of The Only Plane in the Sky has a knack for finding fresh ways to consider exhaustively rehashed historical episodes. . . . The oral-history template lends the tale a striking immediacy, and he excavates stories from a wide swath of people from both sides of the war whose testimonies recall immense bravery and utter devastation while reminding readers of the capriciousness of victory, not to mention survival. As one U.S. Navy veteran put it: 'Call it luck, divine providence, call it what you please, but here I am. The Washington Post, "Seven Historical Books to Read This Summer"
Absolutely gripping. . . . Graff, who was a Pulitzer finalist last year for Watergate, has collected thousands of short statements from soldiers, nurses, pilots, children, neighbors, sailors, politicians, volunteers, photographers, reporters and so many more and then woven them together to create a contemporaneous narrative of the Allied invasion on June 6, 1944. . . . Given the political situation in the United States today, when some of our leaders are so complacent, even enthusiastic, about the resurgence of fascism, the power of this story feels spiked with foreboding. . . . Never before have I approached Memorial Day in a state of such somber awe." Ron Charles, The Washington Post Book Club Newsletter
A new, complete portrait in time for the 80th anniversary commemorations [...] Graff uses a wide array and diversity of voices that give a fuller picture of the lead-up to the invasion, as well as the fighting itself... His skills at sifting through the accounts and documents propel the action throughout the book. [...] A testimony to the value in preserving memories from grand historical events, demonstrating how much can be unearthed from even the most familiar stories. Associated Press

Bestselling historian and Pulitzer Prize finalist Garrett M. Graff has spent nearly two decades covering politics, technology, and national security, and is now recognized as one of America's most prolific and wide-ranging journalists and historians. He is the former editor of POLITICO Magazine, a regular writer for publications from Rolling Stone to Esquire to the Washington Post, a contributor to WIRED and CNN, and a regular voice and analyst on NPR, PBS NewsHour and the History Channel. He is the author of a half-dozen award-winning books, including the international bestseller The Only Plane in the Sky: An Oral History of 9/11.

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