“These letters build up a picture of war, piece by piece, until the total effect is almost unbearable…Every American should read them at least once a year.” Indiana Magazine of History
Letters from the Greatest Generation : Writing Home in WWII
12-05-16
16hrs 1min
Description
Victory and defeat, love and loss are the prevalent realities of Letters from the Greatest Generation, a remarkable and frank collection of World War II letters penned by American men and women serving overseas.
Here, the hopes and dreams of the greatest generation fill each page, and their voices ring loud and clear. “It’s all part of the game but it’s bloody and rough,” wrote one soldier to his wife. “Wearing two stripes now and as proud as an old cat with five kittens,” marked another. Yet, as many countries rejoiced on V-E Day, soldiers were “too tired and sad to celebrate.” While visiting a German concentration camp, one man wrote, “I don’t like Army life but I’m glad we are here to stop these atrocities.” True to the everyday thoughts of these fighters, this collection of letters can be as amusing as it is worrying. As one soldier noted, “I know lice don’t crawl so I figured they were fleas.”
A fitting tribute to all veterans, this book is one every American should own.
Praise
“These letters build up a picture of war, piece by piece, until the total effect is almost unbearable…Every American should read them at least once a year.” Indiana Magazine of History
“An intimate portrait of the mundane and remarkable, of heroism and terror, of friendship and loss.” Matthew L. Basso, author of Men at Work
“These letters give voices to the men and women who served, letting them tell their own stories of loss, heartbreak, and hope. A fitting honor for all veterans.” Ray Boomhower, author of John Bartlow Martin
Details
| Language | English |
|---|---|
| Release Day | Dec 4, 2016 |
| Release Date | December 5, 2016 |
| Release Date Machine | 1480896000 |
| Imprint | Blackstone Publishing |
| Provider | Blackstone Publishing |
| Categories | History, Military, Nonfiction - Adult, Nonfiction - All |
Author Bio
Howard Peckham (1910–1995) was a professor emeritus of history at the University of Michigan. Aside from writing several books for both children and adults, he was also a founder and early editor of American Heritage.
Shirley A. Snyder (1924–1999) was an editor for the Indiana Historical Society. She edited for the Indiana Historical Bureau for thirty-one years.
James H. Madison is the Thomas and Kathryn Miller Professor of History Emeritus at Indiana University–Bloomington.
Narrator Bio
Donald Corren is an audiobook narrator and a New York actor with leading credits on and Off-Broadway, as well as numerous television appearances. On Broadway, he costarred with Judy Kaye in the critically acclaimed production of Souvenir, and replaced Harvey Fierstein in the seminal production of Torch Song Trilogy. His Off-Broadway appearances include The Soap Myth, Dietrich & Chevalier, The Last Sunday in June, Stephen Sondheim’s Saturday Night, and the original New York production of Tomfoolery. His television credits include eight seasons as forensic tech Medill on NBC’s Law & Order, as well as his current role as Dr. Kurian on Syfy’s Z Nation.
Overview
Victory and defeat, love and loss are the prevalent realities of Letters from the Greatest Generation, a remarkable and frank collection of World War II letters penned by American men and women serving overseas.
Here, the hopes and dreams of the greatest generation fill each page, and their voices ring loud and clear. “It’s all part of the game but it’s bloody and rough,” wrote one soldier to his wife. “Wearing two stripes now and as proud as an old cat with five kittens,” marked another. Yet, as many countries rejoiced on V-E Day, soldiers were “too tired and sad to celebrate.” While visiting a German concentration camp, one man wrote, “I don’t like Army life but I’m glad we are here to stop these atrocities.” True to the everyday thoughts of these fighters, this collection of letters can be as amusing as it is worrying. As one soldier noted, “I know lice don’t crawl so I figured they were fleas.”
A fitting tribute to all veterans, this book is one every American should own.
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