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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About this listen

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 Literary Fiction War & Military War Military Imperialism Self-Determination 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)

What listeners say about The Winds of War

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Compelling Saga Vivid Storytelling Excellent Narration Absorbing Fiction Seamless Blending Authentic Accents
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Wonderful

Please, where's the sequel. I did not want it to end. It is also provides an excellent behind the scenes account of World War II. Awesome listen.

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Great

All I can say is, I loved this novel. I read it 30 years ago and enjoyed it as much from Audible. Great performance.

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7 people found this helpful

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The Most Fleshed Out Character Of This Book Is WW2

Would you listen to The Winds of War again? Why?

Probably not. I listen to my books on the road, and it took me like a month to go through this behemoth. It's not that this was a bad book, or that I regret having heard it, it's just that it's not so UTTERLY AMAZING that I would spend another month on it. I'll definitely be getting the sequel.

What did you like best about this story?

I liked the vivid pictures Wouk gave of the time and place. I especially liked von Roon's fictional memoirs.

Which scene was your favorite?

Any scene with combat in it. Or a famous historical figure.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

At forty-five hours long, I would say no.

Any additional comments?

The narrator is excellent. He tells the story well, and manages to credibly pull off all the various accents.

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Modern Writers Should Take Note

Even after 30 years, The Winds of War stays strong with good storytelling, good history facts and good flow of the book. After 46 some hours, I am looking forward to the next saga of the series, War and Remembrance. Herman Wouk’s writing is wonderful crafted, where you are engaged with each characters and their journey in WWII.

As you get involve into the story, you also learn the history behind the war, fiction or not, it is very believable that Hittler's madness, background and his domination.

Unlike modern authors, Wouk’s doesn't fill the pages with ongoing sappy love making that increase the word count. Instead, he writes with a flow of good storytelling and get to the point without dragging on and on.

Also, Wouk doesn't tell you what happens with the different part of the war, like a preacher at church, but instead, he shows us from the character's point of view. For instant, Pearl Harbor and the main character's thoughts and choosing to go on at supporting the country.

Despite almost two equivalent days of reading, the book goes by fast because narration is superb with the content of this novel. I wished that all titles was written like this. Can't wait for War and Remembrance.

Thank you for bringing the classics.

I am looking forward of watching the old miniseries.

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2 Great books

Both books in this series had me not wanting to stop listening... I drive for 13 odd hours at a time in WA in what we call a roadtrain, and even after 13 hours I was wanting to keep on listening... need i say more... Herman Wouk grabs the history of the time and wraps it up in a gripping character study of different people both historically famous and fictional..

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Excellent! Would give it 10 stars if I could

The Winds of War is one of my "lifetime" books that I read again every few years. This year I chose to listen, and it was an excellent choice. Great story, great narration.
When I taught high school history, I often recommended this title (as well as War and Remembrance) to interested students, and i still recommend it to those who know little of WW2. It is such an interesting way to learn the fundamentals of the lead-up to US involvement in the war (this work ends at Pearl Harbor). And the Henry family, with all their flaws, are among the most memorable in fiction.
I highly recommend.

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A history lesson wrapped in a compelling story

I didn't know what to expect from this book, but I certainly didn't expect that I wouldn't be able to "put it down." In large part, that is because of the excellent narration. Narrators have a high hurdle to impress me, since men have a hard time voicing women without making them sound brainless and women voicing men often sound ridiculous. But this man voiced dozens of different characters, many of them historical, in a distinctive and almost perfect manner.

The book jumps into action almost right away, spending just a paragraph to establish the Henry family as our protagonists. Patriarch Victor "Pug" Henry, a staunch Navy man heading a Navy family, is almost too perfect, but he had to be in order to make him the device that takes the listener from America to Germany to London to Russia to the Pacific Theater - basically, to cover the second World War and give appropriate background and historical and military analysis in between characters' scenes. Oldest son Warren joins the Navy Air Force, giving us a window into the heady zeitgeist surrounding the military in the late 1930s. Middle child Byron falls for a Jew in Europe, ensuring that we glimpse the horrors of the Nazi Holocaust. Youngest daughter Madeline goes to New York to work at NBC, showing us America's pop culture at the time. And Pug serves as military attache in various hotspots, ensuring that we cross paths with Hitler, Moussellini, Churchill, Stalin, and FDR - with Pug's incisive and clear analysis of the men, their policies, their subordinates, and events and spirits of wartime Europe.

Of course WWII took place long before I was born - it was my great-grandfathers' war. So my education about 30s/40s technology and culture has been gleaned from old movies, Little Rascals reruns, and some textbooks. However, Wouk's prose makes me feel like I am there in the alcohol- and tobacco-wreathed 40s; I was so immersed that I barely giggled the first time Pug growls "we'll lick those Nazis!" and soon stopped noticing the novelty of the old slang altogether. Almost all of the characters were real, complex, understandable humans whose actions fit the story together neatly while still making sense. I've rarely been so impressed with a novel, nor so eager to learn about the historical analysis of bygone military strategy and the limitations that raw materials impose on a nation's actions. I felt exhilarated and somehow smarter after listening to this book.

I just found out there is a sequel. Please excuse me, I need to clear about 40 hours in my schedule next week.

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Superb!

The best historical fiction I’ve ever read,(or listened to). I’ve read many books about World War II, but never one with so much insight into how the US became involved. The narration was excellent. The story was intriguing. And even though I knew the ending I couldn’t wait to hear what happened next. Looking very forward to listening to War and Remembrance.

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Surprisingly Captivating!

What did you love best about The Winds of War?

Kevin Pariseau's narration turned a 45-hour story into an intriguing page-turner. Though some of the historical data made it slow in places, but the energetic and well rounded characters more than made up for it. I selected this book because I never had the attention span to read the long classics. A total departure from my typical suspense novels, I was totally drawn in to all of the intricate characters both real and fictional.

What did you like best about this story?

Pariseau's performance along with the author's descriptions brought historical figures like FDR, Hitler, Stalin and Mussolini to life. I actually felt like I was in their presence.

Have you listened to any of Kevin Pariseau’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

This was my first time to hear Kevin Pariseau's performance (that I am aware of).

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

It was impossible to have listened to it all in one sitting, but I did listen every chance I got.

Any additional comments?

I would recommend this book to anyone who thinks history is boring but loves a good story.

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Outstanding

I can’t even tell you how much I love this book. I am on my third go round listening to it. I love it that much! Do your self a favor and listen to it! You won’t regret it.

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