Discover Legally Popular Titles Full Audiobooks in History, Military

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Title: The Irish Soldiers of Mexico

Author: Michael Hogan

Narrator: Emil Nicholas Gallina

Format: Unabridged

Length: 6 hrs and 50 mins

Language: English

Release date: 01-15-15

Publisher: Dr. Michael Hogan

Ratings: 4.5 of 5 out of 8 votes

Genres: History, Military

Publisher's Summary:

The Irish Soldiers of Mexico tells the story of the Irish immigrants who joined the Mexican Army in the War of 1846-48 and were later hanged by the U.S. Army. The University Press original sold out four editions in English and two editions in Spanish from 1997 to 2001. It was the basis for an MGM feature film and two documentaries; it has also been used in many history classes both in the United States and abroad.

This updated edition includes new historical material, such as the location of what purported to be a death certificate for John Riley located in a church in Veracruz. The edition includes updated "After the War" and "Commemorations" sections. Many positive changes in public perception of the San Patricios have taken place since the first publication of this book in 1997. In addition, there have been a number of new vehicles for dissemination of the history, not the least of which was the production of One Man's Hero starring Tom Berenger, three novels on the San Patricios, a new sculpture in Mexico City of John Riley donated by the people of Ireland, and the Chieftains new CD with songs commemorating the Irish battalion.

Members Reviews:

OMG!!! A MUST READ!!! I can't stop listening!!

So much information tgat I didn't know snd I grew up in Mexico, I went to school there and I didn't know about the" San Patricios". It is part of history we need to know, I am a College here in my Country and I make sure that I spread what I've learned. I love Audible because I can take my history and political books wherever I go!!! This is a must read book. I highly recommend it!

Compelling overlooked chapter in American, Mexican, and Irish history.

The war between Mexico and the USA really does not get enough coverage in American history classes. The Irish battalion that for that other side of Mexico is an example of the charge times of the 1840s, when Irish immigrants were treated very poorly in the United States. The Irish immigrants were held in absolute contempt-a little thing that gets overlooked sometimes. And these politically charged times, I think a lot of people in United States would do well to read this particular book.

didn't know

it was enlightening. I'm sorry to say I didn't know a lot of my own history. An this book gives me a glimpse of the complexity of my history.

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Title: The Unsubstantial Air

Subtitle: American Fliers in the First World War

Author: Samuel Hynes

Narrator: Sean Runnette

Format: Unabridged

Length: 11 hrs and 21 mins

Language: English

Release date: 12-30-14

Publisher: Tantor Audio

Ratings: 4.5 of 5 out of 55 votes

Genres: History, Military

Publisher's Summary:

The Unsubstantial Air is the gripping story of the Americans who fought and died in the aerial battles of World War I. Much more than a traditional military history, it is an account of the excitement of becoming a pilot and flying in combat over the Western Front, told through the voices of the aviators themselves. A World War II pilot himself, the memoirist and critic Samuel Hynes revives the adventurous young men who inspired his own generation to take to the sky. The volunteer fliers were often privileged - the sorts of college athletes and Ivy League students who might appear in an F. Scott Fitzgerald novel. Hynes follows them from the flying clubs of Harvard, Princeton, and Yale to training grounds in Europe and on to the front, where they learned how to fight a war in the air.

By drawing on letters sent home, diaries kept, and memoirs published in the years that followed, Hynes brings to life the emotions, anxieties, and triumphs of the young pilots. They gasp in wonder at the world seen from a plane, struggle to keep their hands from freezing in open air cockpits, party with actresses and aristocrats, rest at Voltaire's castle, and search for their friends' bodies on the battlefield. Their romantic war becomes more than that - a harsh but often thrilling reality.

Critic Reviews:

"Intimate and memorable portraits of these idealistic, daredevil young men are contained in a marvelously fluid narrative." (

Kirkus)

Members Reviews:

Great info poorly arranged

The author did a good job researching the book, but it fails to gel into a solid connected work. It feels like a collection of different sources.

Add in a very "breathy" narrator who makes ever fact and event sound like call to emotion, and the whole becomes less than the sum of its parts.

It's still a good nonfiction reference on the first air war, it's just not the page turner it might have been.

Wonderful Book

I have read and re-read (listened to) this book. It's a marvelously well crafted story of the young pilots who bravely fought that first war in the air. Not just an historical recollection, this book draws on letters and diary entries from the pilots themselves, woven together with a narrative that keeps the reader fully engaged. A masterful book coupled with an outstanding audio performance. A must read for any aviator, aviation enthusiast, or student of history.

A realistic view of WW1 pilot life

I read and listen to a ton of aviation literature and this one was memorable. Samuel Hynes is very sympathetic to the young men he documents and his compassion comes through.

Maybe 10 years ago I read a book called THE CANVAS FALCONS. While that book had some factual inaccuracies it did provide a strong understanding of what the WW1 pilot's life was really like. It really affected me. THE UNSUBSTANTIAL AIR does the same, with a particular focus on American pilots (I recommend reading / listening to these two titles in sequence).

It seems that a lot of aviation history has been written by people who aren't pilots. That's not the case with this book. Samuel Hynes was a WW2 aviator and his experiences color his writing in this book. That background works well. (BTW, Mr.

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Title: First to Jump

Author: Jerome Preisler

Narrator: Tom Perkins

Format: Unabridged

Length: 7 hrs and 29 mins

Language: English

Release date: 12-02-14

Publisher: Tantor Audio

Ratings: 3.5 of 5 out of 5 votes

Genres: History, Military

Publisher's Summary:

The first into combat and the last out, their advance jumps into enemy territory were considered suicide missions by those who sent them into action. World War Two's special operations commandos, the U.S. Army Pathfinders relied on their stealth, expert prowess, and matchless courage and audacity to set the stage for airborne drops and glider landings throughout Europe. After the invasion of Sicily almost ended in disaster, General Jim Gavin was determined to form an all-new unit of specialized soldiers who would jump ahead of the airborne forces without any additional support, stealing across enemy terrain to scout and mark out drop zones with a unique array of homing equipment. Sporting Mohawk haircuts, war paint, and an attitude of brash confidence, they were the best of the best. Their heroic feats behind the lines were critical to nearly all of the Allies' major victories from Normandy to Bastogne - where they saved the day for thousands of besieged American troops.

Members Reviews:

Short Read

I had read a lot of this info in other book s including Jake McNiece's book called "The Filthy Thirteen." It is a good read but a condensed covering of the pathfinder involvement in the airborne battles with some info thrown in on general airborne experiences.

The story of the Airborne Pathdinders of World War II

Outstanding story about the Airborne Pathfinders of WWII and their courageous exploits in Europe. Very quick

reading and it was very well researched. Very well worth the read.

Path to victory

Preisler brings a novelist's eye for detail and story-telling to a neglected part of history in this small gem of a book. It's about time the dramatic role of the Pathfinders and their heroism in WWII has been told in one place. Highly recommended for anyone interested in how WWII was fought, or for anyone looking into the history of special operations forces. Heck, read it for the stories and to see what it takes to be a hero. The gear has changed, but the essential part - the men, their courage, and will power - has not. It's a pretty quick and very enjoyable read.

Another facet of the European theater that most people don't know about

A very informative and exciting read. Another small group that did a lot to help the bigger cause of the war that so few know about.

These men and their revolutionary thinking help set up today's forward observers and special forces.

Amazing group of individuals.

but might be better is more other types of drops were included--but then ...

Interesting aspect of paratroops, but a story which could be told with much less padding and many less words, which meant it included lots of rehashed WWII. Not sure there's a book here, but might be better is more other types of drops were included--but then again it would be more rehashing.

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Title: Thirteen Soldiers

Subtitle: A Personal History of Americans at War

Author: John McCain, Mark Salter

Narrator: John McCain

Format: Unabridged

Length: 13 hrs and 43 mins

Language: English

Release date: 11-11-14

Publisher: Simon & Schuster Audio

Ratings: 3.5 of 5 out of 26 votes

Genres: History, Military

Publisher's Summary:

John McCains evocative history of Americans at war, told through the personal accounts of 13 remarkable soldiers who fought in major military conflicts, from the Revolutionary War of 1776 to the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.

As a veteran himself, a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, and a long-time student of history, John McCain brings a distinctive perspective to this subject. Thirteen Soldiers tells the stories of real soldiers through the years who personify an essential characteristic of combat, from valor, savagery, and terror to obedience, enterprise, and love. Youll meet Joseph Plumb Martin, who at the tender age of 15 fought in the Revolutionary War; Charles Black, a freeborn African American sailor in the War of 1812; and Sam Chamberlain, of the Mexican American War, whose life inspired novelist Cormac McCarthy. Then theres Oliver Wendell Holmes, an aristocratic idealist disillusioned by the Civil War, and Littleton Tony Waller, court-martialed for refusing to massacre Filipino civilians.

Each account illustrates a particular aspect of war, such as Mary Rhoads, an Army reservist forever changed by an Iraqi scud missile attack during the Persian Gulf War, and Monica Lin Brown, a frontline medic in rural Afghanistan who saved several lives in an ambushed convoy. From their acts of self-sacrifice to their astonishing bravery, the 13 soldiers profiled here embody the best America has to offer.

Members Reviews:

Stories of courage

John McCain, a Senator from Arizona and a former Navy aviator wrote this book about thirteen soldiers. The author identifies a single soldier, sailor, airman, or marine from each of Americans thirteen major wars to eulogize for courage under fire. The chapters follow the books basic format, setting the world stage, recalling the principal persons prewar life and then describing the persons performance of duty.

For example, the Civil War the authors chose Oliver Wendell Holmes Jr. For the 1898 Spanish American war Edward Baker, a Buffalo Soldier cavalryman and Medal of Honor recipient. Persian Gulf War Mary Rhoads a reservist and the Afghanistan War medic Monica Lin Brown. The war of 1812 a black seaman named Charles Black. From the Viet Nam war Leo Thorsness an F-105 wild Weasel pilot, prisoner of war and Medal of Honor recipient.

The Wide variety of characters from different race and gender from each military service makes for many fascinating stories. The book as a whole offers insights into life during battle. The authors cover ordinary soldiers going through difficult experiences. The story I enjoyed the most was of Medic Monica Lin Brown. I was familiar with most of the other story told. John McCain narrates the book.

Fascinating and Insightful

I found the history of various individuals who fought in America's wars to be insightful and tragic as well as moving. I served as a nurse at the 91st Evac Hospital in Chu Lai, South Vietnam. I heard the stories and saw the results of men who gave all to save their comrades. The stories in this book moved me deeply. Two stood out for me, the story of the African American sailor who served so gallantly in the war of 1812 and the story of Corporal Red Cloud in Korea. Men who in their own country were often despised and faced terrible discrimination but gave their all to serve that country.

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Title: First SEALs

Subtitle: The Untold Story of the Forging of America's Most Elite Unit

Author: Patrick K. O'Donnell

Narrator: John Pruden

Format: Unabridged

Length: 7 hrs and 3 mins

Language: English

Release date: 10-28-14

Publisher: Blackstone Audio, Inc.

Ratings: 4 of 5 out of 33 votes

Genres: History, Military

Publisher's Summary:

From best-selling author Patrick K. O'Donnell comes the untold story of World War II's first special operations combat swimmers - the forerunners of today's Navy SEALs.

In the summer of 1942, an extraordinary group of men - among them a dentist, a medical student, a Hollywood star, an archaeologist, a British commando, and even former enemies of the Allies - formed an exceptional unit that would later become the US Navy's Sea, Air, and Land (SEAL) Teams. Known as the Maritime Unit, it comprised America's first swimmer-commandos, an elite breed of warrior-spies who were decades ahead of their time when they created the tactics, technology, and philosophy that live on in the Navy SEALs and shape the battlefield of today.

During the war, the unit conducted some of the most daring operations behind enemy lines, but after the war its astonishing record was classified, lost, and buried - until now. In First SEALs, Patrick K. O'Donnell tells the remarkable story of World War II's Maritime Unit - one of the greatest untold stories of World War II.

Members Reviews:

really great storytelling slightly confusing

great story with amazing tales only complaint is that its not very linear and is somtimes hard to follow

History of the OSS MU

This was an outstanding listen, the work done to bring together all of these stories is nothing short of astonishing. I enjoyed it a lot!

Audible download corrupted; trying to download for third time

This is fantastic story of how the Navy SEALs were formed from the OSS Maritime Unit. Only wish I could listen to this book without these technical problems. This will be my third attempt to download this book. If this continues to happen, I'll be forced to stop my subscription & find another more reliable source for audiobooks. I've listened to books on audible.com for over 3 years & never had this problem. Could it be due to the latest upgrade?

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Title: Kiss the Boys Goodbye

Subtitle: How the United States Betrayed Its Own POWs in Vietnam

Author: Monica Jensen-Stevenson, William Stevenson

Narrator: Bernadette Dunne

Format: Unabridged

Length: 14 hrs and 53 mins

Language: English

Release date: 10-07-14

Publisher: Audible Studios

Ratings: 5 of 5 out of 11 votes

Genres: History, Military

Publisher's Summary:

As the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan seem to be winding down, for many it brings back memories of the Vietnam war, particularly on one issue: American policy on the rescue and negotiation for American prisoners.

Kiss the Boys Goodbye convincingly shows that a legacy of shame remains from Americas ill-fated involvement in Vietnam even though that conflict ended over 35 years ago. Until US government policy on POW/MIAs changes, it remains one of the most crucial issues for any American soldier who fights for home and country, particularly when we are engaged with an enemy who doesn't adhere to the international standards for the treatment of prisoners - or any American hostage - as the graphic video of Daniel Pearls decapitation on various Jihad websites bears out. As the authors of Kiss The Boys Goodbye point out, videos of Sergeant Bergdahl's captors graphically illustrate the distinct possibility that Bergdahl could suffer the same fate as Daniel Pearl.

In this explosive book, Monika Jensen-Stevenson and William Stevenson provide startling evidence that American troops were left in captivity in Indochina, victims of their government's abuse of secrecy and power. The book not only delves into the world of official obstruction, missing files, censored testimony and the pressures brought to bear on witnesses ready to tell the truth, it reveals the trauma on patriotic families torn apart by a policy that, at first, seemed unbelievable to them.

First published in 1990, Kiss the Boys Goodbye has become a classic on the subject. This new edition features an afterword, which fills in the news on the latest verifiable scandal produced by the Senate Select Committee on POWs. The reason it has taken so long to bring out this second edition, which was produced and briefly available in 1999, the publishers leave to the listeners imagination.

Members Reviews:

God Grant Them Peace

I'm really torn not giving this a 5-star review because I listened to this start to finish. When I was a kid, POWs were my heroes: My first grade teacher would show us pics of them in the newspaper coming home from Vietnam (so I thought they all came home, right?), and I just thought they were the greatest. So this book has special meaning to me, special horror.

First, I thought it was as well-researched as it could be, given the paranoia, and the cutthroat, you-do-that-we'll-do-this atmosphere. Some scary things happened to all individuals who investigated these situations. Scary? Hell, devastating! It was also interesting who stepped up to the plate, who got "bored" (Ed Bradley), who knuckled under, who got annihilated.

Second, I learned A LOT about the war! Yeesh, more than I can hold my head up about. Knew about Cambodia, didn't know Laos was as bad as Cambodia, but Thailand could've been? I'm glad to know. It's horrifying, but it helps to broaden my knowledge of what went on with the hunt for POWs.

Third, and I have to smile when I say this, I had no idea Ross Perot, yes Ross Perot, did so much, cared so much for the POWs and really, really tried to bring them home. More than our government did, with far less red tape and BS.

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Title: With Zeal and with Bayonets Only

Subtitle: The British Army on Campaign in North America, 1775-1783

Author: Matthew H. Spring

Narrator: John Skinner

Format: Unabridged

Length: 13 hrs and 41 mins

Language: English

Release date: 10-02-14

Publisher: University Press Audiobooks

Ratings: 3 of 5 out of 9 votes

Genres: History, Military

Publisher's Summary:

The image is indelible: densely packed lines of slow-moving Redcoats picked off by American sharpshooters. Now Matthew H. Spring reveals how British infantry in the American Revolutionary War really fought.

This groundbreaking audiobook offers a new analysis of the British Army during the American rebellion at both operational and tactical levels. Presenting fresh insights into the speed of British tactical movements, Spring discloses how the system for training the army prior to 1775 was overhauled and adapted to the peculiar conditions confronting it in North America.

First scrutinizing such operational problems as logistics, manpower shortages, and poor intelligence, Spring then focuses on battlefield tactics to examine how troops marched to the battlefield, deployed, advanced, and fought. In particular, he documents the use of turning movements, the loosening of formations, and a reliance on bayonet-oriented shock tactics, and he also highlights the army's ability to tailor its tactical methods to local conditions.

Written with flair and a wealth of details that will engage scholars and history enthusiasts alike, With Zeal and with Bayonets Only offers a thorough reinterpretation of how the British Army's North American campaign progressed and invites serious reassessment of most of its battles.

Members Reviews:

Wonderful book! Terrible editing and narration.

Would you recommend this book to a friend? Why or why not?

Yes, because this is a seminal book in understanding the actual functioning of the British army on campaign in North America during the revolutionary war. Excellent use of first person accounts. Some of the material is dense but it's written clearly. Unfortunately, the narrator was not up to the task of bringing this fascinating account to live. I urge the potential listener to persevere, the content is worth it.

What was one of the most memorable moments of With Zeal and with Bayonets Only?

There is no single memorable moment. Overall however, Matthew Spring smashes long-held (and erroneous) beliefs about how the British Army conducted warfare when on campaign during the Revolutionary War. The opening chapters and the contemporary accounts cited liberally throughout the book help the reader understand strategy and tactics employed by the British army, how the army adapted to warfare on the North American continent, and why suppression of the revolution was a doomed enterprise from the outset. I might add, that to me at least, there appear to be obvious parallels between the British strategy and tactics, the rebel response, the geographical and physical context of the war, and the US prosecution of the war in Vietnam.

How could the performance have been better?

This book deserves a better narrator. Non-fiction history requires oral reading skills that the narrator does not possess. The major flaw with this performance is that about the beginning of Chapter Nine (a couple of hours into the second download) the Editors were asleep at the wheel. As a result, the listener will hear 30-45 minutes of the narrator stopping, starting, repeating words and phrases, stumbling over names, trying several different inflections, clearing his throat, making side comments, and the like.

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Title: Titan II

Subtitle: A History of a Cold War Missile

Author: David Stumpf

Narrator: Douglas R. Pratt

Format: Unabridged

Length: 12 hrs and 5 mins

Language: English

Release date: 09-18-14

Publisher: University Press Audiobooks

Ratings: 3.5 of 5 out of 33 votes

Genres: History, Military

Publisher's Summary:

A comprehensive study of the missile system that formed a critical component of the United States' nuclear arsenal.

The Titan II ICBM (intercontinental ballistic missile) program was developed by the United States military to bolster the size, strength, and speed of the nation's strategic weapons arsenal in the 1950s and 1960s. Each missile carried a single warhead - the largest in U.S. inventory - used liquid fuel propellants, and was stored and launched from hardened underground silos. The missiles were deployed at basing facilities in Arkansas, Arizona, and Kansas and remained in active service for over 20 years. Since military deactivation in the early 1980s, the Titan II has served as a reliable satellite launch vehicle.

Titan II will be welcomed by professionals and laymen, and by the many civilian and Air Force personnel who were involved in the program - a deterrent weapons system that proved to be successful in defending America from nuclear attack.

Critic Reviews:

"The author breaks new ground on the history of the Titan II weapon system... [A] masterpiece of scholarly research." (Rick W. Sturdevant Staff Historian, USAF)

Members Reviews:

Abort the launch!!!!! This book is a no-go!

What could have made this a 4 or 5-star listening experience for you?

Just about anything would be an improvement. Sadly, almost the ENTIRE book is a list of dates and associated activities, such as one missile being removed from its silo and placed into another, or a new replacement part being installed in a given missile. It actually sounds like the narrator is just reading down a maintenance log.

What could David Stumpf have done to make this a more enjoyable book for you?

At the risk of repeating myself, the author could have written something that was far more pleasant to listen to than a seemingly interminable laundry list of missile maintenance, upgrades, movement, etc. I don't think the audio sample on Audible.Com was representative of what the rest of the audiobook is like.

You didnt love this book... but did it have any redeeming qualities?

No. I hate to say it, but I think I wasted a credit on this one. The audio sample sounded great.

Any additional comments?

Okay, I've never written a book, so I have no idea how difficult it is. I admit it. But, it almost sounds like the author just grabbed reams and reams of Air Force missile maintenance logs, placed them in chronological order, then called it a book.

Disappointing: Lacks a coherent story

I was really disappointed with this book - the subject matter is interesting, but it's almost a regurgitation of memos, rather conversion of memos and research materials into a book. There is constant ad-nausium list of the staff present at the time of various events - i.e. read direct from the memo. This just becomes tedious, repetitive and unhelpful - it doesn't add anything to the story. In fact, there is no story - the author should have taken the materials and converted them into a narrative and done additional research to provide other information and perspectives. Unfortunately, there is no analysis and critical review of the material. The narration was dry and monotonous, while I don't expect the narrator to understand the materials, it was a completely dry read - there are even sections that were supposed to be edited out which weren't.

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Title: Under the Red Sea Sun

Author: Edward Ellsberg

Narrator: David Baker

Format: Unabridged

Length: 18 hrs and 49 mins

Language: English

Release date: 08-25-14

Publisher: Audible Studios

Ratings: 4.5 of 5 out of 20 votes

Genres: History, Military

Publisher's Summary:

A gripping first-hand description of the salvage operations at the port of Massawa on the Red Sea coast of Eritrea during the early days of World War II. When forced from the region, Italian troops had scuttled many ships to block the important harbour, which was vital to the British war effort. Ellsberg, an American salvage officer, was placed in charge and a small group of workers under his direction accomplished an almost Herculean task with virtually no resources. The book paints a realistic picture of confusion and incompetence in the early days of the war.

Members Reviews:

Eritrea is an amazing story written by an amazing man

Commander Ellsberg's account of his work as Commander, US Naval Facility, Massawa, Eritrea is an amazing story written by an amazing man.

BUT EXCELLENT. HARD TO FIND

THIS BOOK IS A DEFINITIVE NARRATIVE OF SUBMARINE LIFE. EXCITING , EDUCATIONAL AND PACKED WITH ADVENTURE. IT IS SOMEWHAT TECHNICAL,BUT EXCELLENT. HARD TO FIND, BUT WELL WORTH THE HUNT. FOR NAVAL HISTORY BUFFS, A DEFINITE 10.

I love this book

I love this book, though I can't add anything to the other reviews except to say that I love the little period and cultural details that Ellsberg manages to recall and relate which make the events and settings sparkle.

WOW tougher than most us great read.

This is an unbelievable story of an Epic task taken on by Commander Elsburg

Five Stars

Read this book in Junior High and enjoyed it then, 60 years ago. Liked it then, liked it now.

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Title: On the Bottom

Subtitle: The Raising of the Submarine S-51

Author: Edward Ellsberg

Narrator: Stephen Hoye

Format: Unabridged

Length: 9 hrs and 31 mins

Language: English

Release date: 08-18-14

Publisher: Audible Studios

Ratings: 4.5 of 5 out of 10 votes

Genres: History, Military

Publisher's Summary:

On September 25, 1925, the S-51 tragically sank to the ocean floor, and Edward Ellsberg was the man whose courage and determination brought it back

The sinking of the submarine S-51 was one of the greatest tragedies in American naval history. Due to a miscommunication and subsequent collision between the sub and a passing steamship on a September night, the S-51, including 33 of its crew of 36, sank to the ocean depths. The tragedy of the S-51 captivated the nation, and was a fixture in the pages of American newspapers. The story took on a whole new dimension when the navy decided to take over the salvage of the 1,000-ton behemoth from a civilian company.

Heading the crew tasked with this impossible feat was Edward Ellsberg, at the time a lieutenant commander. On the Bottom is Ellsberg's account of the successes and failures he and his men experienced as they attempted an astonishing feat of engineering and bravery: the first salvage of a submarine from the open ocean.

Members Reviews:

FASCINATING!

An brilliantly written and narrated tale of men improvising and overcoming seemingly impossible conditions and odds.

an on the edge of your seat struggle at sea

I really enjoyed this story, being ex Navy and an ex Diver, I found the story riveting and exciting. A very tense story about a sub that is accidentally sunk and the men of iron will that struggled against all odds to raise her. I wish Audible had a greater selection of nautical stories like this.

Best hard hat diving book ever

I have had the hard back copy of this book in my collection for over 20 years only 10 years less than I have been diving and it's probably the best hard hat salvage story I have ever read and loses nothing as an audio book , true story real heroes with real skill and courage .

Amazing Courage & Determination At Sea

I've always been fascinated by submarines and so when I came upon this title I immediately downloaded it. I had looked around for years to find a book detailing the salvage of a submarine that had been lost in tragic circumstances and was delighted to see Audible had this book in its catalogue.

In short, this is the incredible story of the trials and tribulations of the long months of dangerous work it took to eventually raise the S-51 and the bodies contained within from the depths. What is more incredible is the courage and daring seen when the divers with their trailing life lines and air hoses actually ventured inside the pitch black interior of the flooded submarine. Perhaps it's just me but this story occurred some 90 years ago now between the first and second world wars and at a time when it appeared that people were made of sterner stuff than the overly risk averse society we live in now. Men were doing things that no one would dare attempt today and doing it with without fuss.

The key thing I drew from this account was how despite the failure after failure, more than their fare share of set backs and bad luck that they just kept going and would not give up as I'm sure would be done today if the circumstances were the same. Just when you believed that things were going the salvage teams way yet another blight would occur to throw a spanner in the works.