The Battle of the Atlantic cover art

The Battle of the Atlantic

How the Allies Won the War

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The Battle of the Atlantic

By: Jonathan Dimbleby
Narrated by: Jonathan Dimbleby
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About this listen

Penguin presents the unabridged, downloadable audiobook edition of The Battle of the Atlantic, written and read by Jonathan Dimbleby.

The Battle of the Atlantic was - though often overlooked - crucial to victory in the Second World War. If the German U-boats had prevailed, the maritime artery across the Atlantic would have been severed. Mass hunger would have consumed Britain, and the Allied armies would have been prevented from joining in the invasion of Europe. There would have been no D-Day.

Through fascinating contemporary diaries and letters from the leaders and from the sailors on all sides, Jonathan Dimbleby creates a thrilling narrative that uniquely places the campaign in the context of the entire Second World War.

Challenging conventional wisdom on the use of intelligence and on Churchill's bombing campaign, The Battle of the Atlantic tells the epic story of the decisions that led to victory and the horror and humanity of life on those perilous seas.

©2015 Jonathan Dimbleby (P)2015 Penguin Audio Military War Winston Churchill U-Boat Submarine Imperialism Royalty Imperial Japan Franklin D Roosevelt Russia Interwar Period Air Force
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The story is engaging, but needs to be re-recorded and better edited to fix times when paragraphs are restarted by the reader.

Needs fixing

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This book is a tribute to the bravery of the men, on both sides, who fort and died in largely horrific circumstances during the second world war on the Atlantic. It also touches on the stories of the civilians who became caught up in it. Written and read by Jonathan Dimbelby the presentation is in line with the standards of the writing and broadcasting traditions of the Dimbleby family.
It was disappointing to note that the audio was not edited thoroughly. Many reading errors were left uncorrected.

The Battle of the Atlantic

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Jonathan Dimbleby is an accomplished historian who has researched the subject well. The audio book is spoiled by misreadings and corrections which have been left in instead of being edited out. There are also several references to other pages which are entirely inappropriate to an audio book.

A great account ruined by some bad editing

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It tells the story over a broad spectrum making it a delightful account of a very treacherous battle. If you are interested in the Battle of the Atlantic this is a worthy read/listen. Good narration.

Delightful account from a variety of perspectives

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Repetition in reading was distracting and annoying. Needed better editing. On the whole well constructed narrative.

Overall good

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A well written and interesting history, well read but very badly edited. There were numerous instances of audio errors that could have and should have been corrected.

A good story badly edited

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This book is a thorough and sweeping treatment of the Battle of the Atlantic in its full wartime context. By covering the wider strategic situations impinging on the Atlantic theatre of war, the reader/listener is given a valuable broad perspective of the influences on and effects of the Atlantic struggle for supremacy in sea transport - the Allied forces seeking to protect it and the Kriegsmarine's efforts to interrupt it. Yet the big picture view does not leave out important, intimate snapshots from participants on both sides, and at all levels of the command structure - seamen, passengers, ships' officers, and even high-ranking diplomats and politicians. A masterful work, read very well.

Thorough and sweeping

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Great account of an enthralling campaign of WW2.

Slight Production value issues, recall about 10 mistakes/reading errors that were not edited out.

New insights

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a very good listen, and a detailed account of the Atlantic war. Would reccomend to anyone with an interest in War history

very good Audiobook

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it meanderd around we did not need to go to the desert or Moscow enough happened in the Atlantic battle to fill out the book

could have been a lot better

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In the spirit of reconciliation, Audible acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of country throughout Australia and their connections to land, sea and community. We pay our respect to their elders past and present and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples today.