NPR American Chronicles--World War II

To mark the sesquicentennial of the start of the Civil War, NPR and HighBridge Audio have assembled this collection of stories about the conflict, originally broadcast over several years. The pieces touch on the people (not just the generals but also frontline soldiers), the places, and the issues. Highlights include Sam Waterston reciting the Gettysburg Address and author Shelby Foote talking about his books on the war and about growing up in the South with a grandfather who fought for the Confederacy at Gettysburg. The episodes are uniformly engaging and create a "you-are-there" atmosphere. Occasional music--including a piece on the song "Dixie"-- adds to mood. The episodes aren't long, making them ideal for listening while running errands. R.C.G. Winner of AudioFile Earphones Award (c) AudioFile 2011, Portland, Maine


This production is a compilation of four previously released NPR audio documentaries on the Civil War, WWI, WWII, and the Vietnam War. They are all a smorgasbord of reports that have been presented in the past on various NPR programs such as "All Things Considered" and "Morning Edition." Each report is itself a snapshot of a person, an incident, a topic, or perhaps a campaign or battle during one of these conflicts. They vary in length from just a few minutes to almost a half-hour and could serve as something of an introduction to each of these conflicts. These technically flawless productions are especially valuable for reference and history buffs. M.T.F. � AudioFile 2017, Portland, Maine

March 1, 2012

Nearly 70 years after its conclusion, World War II continues to capture the American imagination, its well of tales seemingly inexhaustible. National Public Radio has compiled interviews, remembrances, and excerpts that chronicle a variety of war experiences, from reflections on the atomic bombing of Nagasaki to more commonplace stories of those on the home front; a segment on the "kitchen sisters," for example, examines the sense of separation felt by wives and girlfriends of active-duty soldiers. Of note is an excerpt from Laura Hillenbrand's best seller Unbroken. VERDICT The stories compiled by NPR depict a wide range of people affected by the war, concentrating on both lesser-known stories and those of the average person caught in a historical flash point. Neal Conan provides the introduction, but the excerpts are generally told from the perspective of journalists, participants, or family members recounting stories they were told. Strongly recommended as a supplement to textbook representations of World War II.--Christopher Rager, Irvine, CA

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