David Marantz's staccato delivery works well for this American counterpart to John Keegan's classic of European war history, THE FACE OF BATTLE. Looking at the American soldier in battle at Bunker Hill (1775,) Gettysburg (1863,) and Iwo Jima (1945,) we see war not as the generals present it in memoirs but as the common "grunt" experienced it. Drawing on numerous diaries and personal accounts, the author goes into great detail describing the equipment, unit organization, tactics, wounds, and overall experience of being a soldier in each of these engagements. This may seem to be a bit much, but Marantz ably keeps the listener's attention with a narration that is quite expressive. He makes the production seem more like a conversation, albeit one-way, directed at the individual listener, than a performance to a large audience. M.T.F.
Pub Date: Jan. 22, 2015
Duration: 14 hrs, 30 mins
Publisher: Audible, Inc./ Brilliance
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
A brilliant piece of work that proves love can survive war.
Journalists are trained to look for and deliver facts, and Irish reporter Hayden did that, but she also did something more: She looked for love amid war. Narrator Aoife McMahon, with her delightful Irish accent, brings us the stories Hayden found while reporting the news. She explores war's impact on people and their relationships. She tells stories of the courageous soldier in Ukraine who confesses discomfort during his home visits and queer people in Ghana, where their love could have deadly consequences. From battle-scarred countries the world over, including Uganda, Iraq, and Rwanda, McMahon relates these stories with a beautiful dignity. They reveal terror and horror but also unexpected love, compassion, and survival.
A brilliant piece of work that proves love can survive war.Pub Date: June 16, 2026
Duration: 9 hrs, 41 mins
DD ISBN: 9781797198644
Publisher: Simon & Schuster Audio
Review Posted Online: July 21, 2026
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Sept. 1, 2026
Addis delivers a satisfying performance that will keep listeners engaged in this commendable history.
Matt Addis narrates Bayliss’ detailed but straightforward history of Sparta, from prehistory to the destruction of the Spartan hegemony in the 360s B.C.E., both ably and amiably. His resonant voice is likeable, if sometimes scratchy. And his manner is so thoroughly friendly that the program seems like history as narrated by a kindly uncle—but an astute one. His understanding and interpretation of the text are precise, and his tones and emphases are correct and helpful. Addis’ pacing is slightly slow, with notable pauses between text blocks, but given the complicated interurban politics of the ancient Greek city-states, moderate pacing is helpful rather than distracting.
Addis delivers a satisfying performance that will keep listeners engaged in this commendable history.Pub Date: May 19, 2026
Duration: 11 hrs, 27 mins
DD ISBN: 9798899749254
Publisher: Recorded Books Inc.
Review Posted Online: June 30, 2026
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Aug. 1, 2026
© Copyright 2026 Kirkus Media LLC. All Rights Reserved.
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