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Band of Brothers: E Company, 506th Regiment, 101st Airborne from Normandy to Hitler's Eagle's Nest
by Stephen E. Ambrose
Product Group: Book
Publisher: Simon & Schuster (1992-06)
ISBN: 0671769227
EAN: 9780671769222
Dewy Decimal #: 940.5421
Hardcover: 335 pages
SKU: 27376
Condition: New
Comments: THE HARDBACK BOOK! SCHUSTER, 1992, 2001. THE UNABRIDGED 1ST EDITION. REPRINT. HARDCOVER W/GILT LETTERING, DUST JACKET AND PAGES ARE NEW! RAPID SHIPPING W/FREE TRACKING. GREAT PACKAGING. AIR MAIL.
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Editorial Reviews
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Product Description
A look at the men of E Company describes how they parachuted into France early D-Day morning, parachuted into Holland in the Arnhem campaign, and captured Hitler's Bavarian outpost. 35,000 first printing.
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Amazon.com Review
The men of E Company, 506th Regiment, 101st Airborne, volunteered for this elite fighting force because they wanted to be the best in the army--and avoid fighting alongside unmotivated, out-of-shape draftees. The price they paid for that desire was long, arduous, and sometimes sadistic training, followed by some of the most horrific battles of World War II. Actor Cotter Smith--a veteran of numerous TV movies and Broadway plays--spins Stephen Ambrose's tale with almost laconic ease. Anecdote by anecdote, he lets the power of the story build. By the time the company has gotten through D-day and seized Hitler's Eagle's Nest in Bavaria, we feel we know as much about the men and their missions as we do about our own brothers. (Running time: 5 hours, 4 cassettes) --Lou Schuler
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Customer Reviews
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Review: Band of Brothers - Simply Excellent
Rating  (5)
Date: 2008-11-28
Stephen Ambrose's Band of Brothers has been much praised and I want to add my praise to that chorus. It is the story of Easy Company, 2nd Battalion of the 506th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 101st Airborne Division, from their training at Camp Toccoa, Georgia to the capture of Hitler's Eagle's Nest in Bavaria.
They were at the tip-of-the-spear in numerous key engagements of the European Theater of Operations - Normandy, Operation Market Garden, the Battle of the Bulge, and beyond.
By the end of the war, Easy Company had spent well over 120 days on the very front lines in combat conditions. The size of the company at full-strength was 140 men. Of the men who fought in the unit, 48 were killed in action, and over 100 wounded, some wounded multiple times.
Several themes run through the story. One of them is the tight camaradery of soldiers fighting side-by-side: "Comrades are closer than friends, closer than brothers" (p. 19). Another is the vital role of leadership in battle. Lt. Harry Welsh's opinion was: "officers go first" (p. 36). That was Capt. Dick Winters style as well-the story revolves a great deal around him-and it was recognized by all: "'Follow me' was his code. He personally killed more Germans and took more risks than anyone else." (p. 155).
One should not assume that Ambrose is denigrating any other unit that saw action in the key battles Easy Company participated in. Rather, understand that he is providing a view into the experiences and actions of combat for the American fighting men of the Second World War through the eyes of a small-unit that fought in numerous key engagements of the war and proved their mettle in battle through their leadership, comradeship, lives, and blood.
Band of Brothers renewed and deepened my appreciation and thanksgiving for the men and women who fought to end the evil that was the Nazi Empire. There is a reason that the Nazi Swastika does not fly over the capitols of Europe today and it is in large part due to the willingness of warriors like the men of Easy Company. Citizens who loved peace and yet responded to the call to arms. They were willing to pick up a rifle and learn to stop the enemy and drive him back. And in battle, when home was distant and ideals driven from the mind, they always found a reason to stand, fight, and sacrifice if for nothing else but the brother standing next to them.
I commend to you, Band of Brothers, it is well-written, flows easily, and is a wonderful testament to the American fighting men of the Second World War.
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One of the best!
Rating (5)
Date: 2008-11-10
I first got into Band of Brothers (BoB) after the DVD set was released. But I decided I wanted to read the book version to get more of the details (and there is A LOT left out). However, I picked up the audio version so I could listen to in during my commute to and from work. And it REALLY passes the time. Keeps you districted from the horrible traffic but not so much from driving itself. Definitely recommended for that purpose.
My only gripe is that this is the abridged version and I still feel like I missed a lot of the details I was looking for. So if you want to get the full effect...read the book. But if you want something more entertaining that talk radio or the same 20 songs over and over again - this is a GREAT fit!!
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Great story...
Rating  (4)
Date: 2008-09-23
I highly recommend this book. I bought it because of the Band of Brothers TV series. I got hooked with the story. I enjoy reading novels and documentaries about WWII, but this book is different than a novel. It is plain record of events that took place in real life. Amazingly told and related. Greatly structured and written in a fashion that is pretty easy to read. The story evolves like the best of the novels. You really get attached to the characters and get to know them prety well. Great job by Ambrose.
This is a must if you like army stories, want to read a good book, and by the way learn some history about one of the greatest soldier group and events of the greatest of wars in history.
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Tony Bate's Review Right On!
Rating  (1)
Date: 2008-08-30
2 out of 6 customers found this reveiw helpful
Anthony Bates couldn't have said it better. It's shocking that so many readers out there just gobble up Ambrose's "feel good history" as unquestionable fact, when in reality what Ambrose writes little more than entertainment for ignorant readers. Everything Bate's mentions is true...the fact that other less fabled, yet equally brave and crucial formations that served in Bastogne get ignored by Ambrose is shameful. Also, his knowledge of the German Army in all of his writings is down right pathetic and revolves more around old 'folk lore' than any type of dedicated research. Ambrose does know how write an compelling story, I'll give him that...although there is a lot of better academic history out there, and it is not very hard to find.
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Real American Heroes
Rating (5)
Date: 2008-08-21
Band of Brothers is the kind of stories I used to hear from my father and uncles of their experiences in World War Two. Stephen Ambrose has a particular talent for making the reader feel all the emotions these very brave men went through. I read the book before I saw the HBO mini-series, and I bought the autdo book for when I am traveling. I never want to forget, and I hope the country never forgets what these citizen soldiers did to change the world we live in.
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