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  • Burma '44

  • The Battle That Turned Britain's War in the East
  • By: James Holland
  • Narrated by: Al Murray
  • Length: 9 hrs and 58 mins
  • 4.7 out of 5 stars (51 ratings)

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Burma '44

By: James Holland
Narrated by: Al Murray
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Publisher's Summary

Brought to you by Penguin.

This audio edition includes an exclusive Q&A between James Holland and Al Murray.

In February 1944, a rag-tag collection of clerks, drivers, doctors, muleteers and other base troops, stiffened by a few dogged Yorkshiremen and a handful of tank crews managed to hold out against some of the finest infantry in the Japanese Army and then defeat them in what was one of the most astonishing battles of the Second World War.

What became known as the Defence of the Admin Box, fought amongst the paddy fields and jungle of Northern Arakan over a 15-day period, turned the battle for Burma. Not only was it the first decisive victory for British troops against the Japanese, more significantly, it demonstrated how the Japanese could be defeated. The lessons learned in this tiny and otherwise insignificant corner of the Far East, set up the campaign in Burma that would follow, as General Slim’s Fourteenth Army finally turned defeat into victory.

Burma '44 is a tale of incredible drama. As gripping as the story of Rorke's drift, as momentous as the battle for the Ardennes, the Admin Box was a triumph of human grit and heroism and remains one of the most significant yet undervalued conflicts of World War Two.

©2020 James Holland (P)2020 Penguin Audio
  • Unabridged Audiobook
  • Categories: History

Critic Reviews

"A thrilling blow-by-blow account." (The Times)

What listeners say about Burma '44

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

Great book about a little known campaign

Another great book from Holland. Easy to listen to and well narrated. Fascinating story about a pivotal campaign.

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  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

Too much detail without a visual map

There was a good story, well researched underlying this audiobook. It’s more for a visual reader with a map laid out. The narration was too fast and the pronunciation of the Burmese areas stilted. The underlying story of heroism and fortitude under huge stress of impending death was worth it.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

brilliant

brilliant and riveting story that had me hooked from beginning to end, absolutely reccomend wholeheartedly

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  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
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    2 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars

So-so

I’m not sure if it was the narration or the writing, but I didn’t find myself engaged in this book at all.
I couldn’t tell you anything about the war in Burma following listening to this book. Not a thing. No part of this reading or book went in. I know there is General Slim, that would be about it.

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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
  • Leo
  • 20-01-2021

brilliant stir and narration

I just loved the story and the narrator's brilliant narration, good job to both of them

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