October 12, 2008

Eleventh Month, Eleventh Day, Eleventh Hour

Rating:
Awards:
Author: Joseph E. Persico
Narrator: Harry Chase
Category: History Biography
Publisher: Random House Audio
Release Date: 2004
Length: 6 hrs and 3 mins
Abridged

An Overview:
Eleventh Month, Eleventh Day, Eleventh Hour: Armistice Day, 1918, World War I and Its Violent Climax: Many people know Armistice Day as the end of World War I, but perhaps not so many understand what happened on that day, and how many men died after peace had already been decided on.

In his book Eleventh Month,Eleventh Day, Eleventh Hour: Armistice Day, 1918, World War I and Its Violent Climax author Joseph E. Persico brings these facts to light.Joseph E. Persico fills the pages of his book with the stories of men from all ranks and all sides of the war, covering biographies of specific individuals who died only minutes before the Armistice agreement was signed to end World War I.

In Eleventh Month, Eleventh Day, Eleventh Hour we see a poignant personification of the war as true stories of the men who fought until the last minute are discussed in biographical fashion. Each story is pieced together with facts gleaned from family, friends and comrades in arms for a truly vivid history.

I love history, I love biographies, and this book illustrates the best of both worlds from the reader's standpoint. Persico really knows how to reel in an audience and keep the story moving from the first page to the last. If you've ever wanted to learn more about Armistice Day, even if you normally don't like non-fictions because so many are dry and dull, this is a definite must-have. Eleventh Month, Eleventh Day,

Eleventh Hour will keep you on the edge of your seat as the tragic tales of each man is told beginning with a short synopsis of what kind of life he came from and then his life in the army up to the moment of his death. Whether you're a history buff or a casual learner, believe me when I say that you will not be disappointed with this engaging work.

The Narration:
Veteran reader Harry Chase does an exceptional job in bringing this story to life with his full voice and varied accents. Chase accomplishes what few readers could: he successfully reads the stories in accents that match the soldiers whose stories he's reading, making this audio sound like a "letters home" presentation that really evokes emotion for the subjects.