The Winds of War Audiobook By Herman Wouk cover art

The Winds of War

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The Winds of War

By: Herman Wouk
Narrated by: Kevin Pariseau
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A masterpiece of historical fiction, this is the Great Novel of America's "Greatest Generation".

Herman Wouk's sweeping epic of World War II, which begins with The Winds of War and continues in War and Remembrance, stands as the crowning achievement of one of America's most celebrated storytellers. Like no other books about the war, Wouk's spellbinding narrative captures the tide of global events - and all the drama, romance, heroism, and tragedy of World War II - as it immerses us in the lives of a single American family drawn into the very center of the war's maelstrom.

Also listen to War and Remembrance.©1971 Herman Wouk (P)2011 Audible, Inc. Classics Fiction Genre Fiction Historical Fiction Jewish Heritage Literary Fiction War & Military War Military Imperialism Soviet Union Middle Ages Middle East Imperial Japan Socialism Self-Determination Russia Holocaust Interwar Period
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Critic reviews

"Wouk's real genius lies not just in the narrative power of his books, but in his empathy with the people and the times of which he writes…. The genius of The Winds of War and War and Remembrance is that they not only tell the story of the Holocaust, but tell it within the context of World War II, without which there is no understanding it." ( The Washington Post)
Masterful Storytelling • Compelling Characters • Masterful Voice Acting • Historical Authenticity • Engaging Perspective

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I read Winds of War 40 years ago when it came out & have reread it at least once since. It has always remained one of my all time favorites. The audio version is just wonderful with great narration that brings the characters to life. As with the book, I lived the story for the last several days as I listened every minute available.
The depth of the story, large cast of characters that Herman Wouk handles like a master so you never think, "now who is this?" & the way he paints visual images of people, places & events fully immerses the reader from page 1.
There is never a boring minute. Even with the length of this book, I was ready for more as it finished, not glad it was done.
I would recommend this audiobook to everyone & only hope War & Remembrance will come next & soon.

Still a fantastic work

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I seem to fit in the same demographic as many other reviewers of this book. I first read it about 40 years ago when it was released and then saw the made-for-TV movie. In the intervening years I had forgotten how well Herman Wouk wrote (as of today he is still alive but no longer writing) and how well drawn and compelling the main characters of the book are.

The story, of course, is that of a naval family drawn into the start of World War II up to the point of America's entry into the war. As a vehicle for telling the story of the period up to the Pearl Harbor attack the main character, "Pug" Henry, ends up being assigned to posts that have him, or members of his family, at important places during important times. Thus we get to see vignettes of Franklin Roosevelt, Winston Churchill, Joesph Stalin and Adolph Hitler as well as those around all of them.

The characters are compelling, the events were real, the story well-drawn and important and the family large enough to have members scattered around the globe and seeing events from many different perspectives. This is a first class book, extremely well read and highly recommended.

I had forgotten

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Where do I begin on this audiobook? Hmmm.

It's hard, as there's so much that's already been stated in other reviews.

Ok, I'll keep this one very short and to the point.

Good historical novels engage you. They pull you into a maelstrom of events that will define future history, if you will. You'll relate it to where our nation is today. The sign that you've an excellent historic novel is that you'll want to read another excellent one. And Wouk's novel does exactly that, and much more.

Be prepared to have a better understanding of exactly WHY we went to war, and I mean the PERSONAL why. Why individuals chose to put their life on the line. You'll see how events came together to move the war as it did. You'll also gain a fantastic insight on how this war affected people on a gut level. Not just the news and facts, but how the news and facts shaped individuals as well as nations.

And again, I do NOT give spoilers or reveals in my reviews. The journey of an excellent audiobook shouldn't be ruined in a review of the work.

So, if you want fluff, then do NOT select this audiobook.

However, if you're looking for a thought-provoking, challenging, stirring and entertaining listen, you must have this audiobook.

Enjoy!

An Epic Worthy of Your Hard-Earned Audible Credit

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Everything in this book superior; the character development and descriptions, from the hairs on an old woman's chin to the strong smell of garlic and tobacco on a peasant, relationships between spouses, lovers, children, rivals, nationalities shows a real knowledge and understanding of people. Exploring the mindset of the German, Russian, Italian, British, US, Japanese, Philipino groups fascinating. What led up to the mass murder of Jews and the deaths of millions of other people explained. Much preventable bloodshed due to inaction, indifference, selfishness, fear, hatred, prejudice, ignorance, and stupidity.

Learned A LOT. The length a bargain; I was sorry when it was over, it flew by and am very glad there is a sequel.

The narrator EXCELLENT; different accents of the different nationalities, socio-economic groups, male and female, always right.

Best fictionalized novel re WWII

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Being able to blend pure fiction with actual historical events takes something akin to genius. It's done here perfectly. IF you love WWII, and you are in need of a compelling story about that time in history, then this is an absolute gem. It's a commitment, but well worth it. To echoe a few other reviews...I NEVER would've thought an audiobook could hold my interest for over 50 hours, but this one did!

One of the BEST ficticious/histories out there

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