Behind The Lines: Revealing and uncensored letters from our war-torn world by Andrew Carroll (6-Jul-2006) Paperback

by Andrew Carroll

For three years Andrew Carroll traveled throughout the United States and around the world to seek out the most powerful and unforgettable letters ever written during US wars. Behind the Lines is the result of that extraordinary trip and represents the first audiobook of its a dramatic, intimate, and revealing look at warfare as seen through the personal correspondence of US and foreign troops and civilians who have experienced major conflicts firsthand. From handwritten missives penned during the American Revolution to e-mails from Afghanistan and Iraq, Behind the Lines captures the full spectrum of emotions expressed in times of war.Like Carroll's phenomenal national bestseller War Letters, Behind the Lines is part of a larger effort to preserve correspondence that is riveting, insightful, and historically significant. This audiobook is also about Carroll's journey across the globe to visit the fields of battle where so many of these letters were written, meet with veterans and active duty troops who generously agreed to share their private correspondence, and speak with the family members who have lost their loved ones to combat.Behind the Lines is a tribute to those who have fought for freedom, as well as a lasting reminder to present and future generations of the true nature of warfare and the sacrifices it demands of individuals, families, and entire nations.

Genres: Nonfiction, History, War, Military Fiction, Military History, World War II, Memoir

Paperback

First published May 10, 2005

Reviews

[Nikki · Rating 5 out of 5]

Letters from solders in war and their correspondents, a selection going back centuries from every corner of the globe and every culture - including recent email correspondences.
There are common themes in all the letters that examine the psychological struggles and effects of war.
They carry from hearted letters which were escapism from the daily grind, and the pleads, despair and prayers of families at home. A mother from India pleading for the financial support and return of her son, saying she could survive without him - this letter was found on his body. It leaves you thinking about the real price of war.

[Deborah · Rating 5 out of 5]

excellent editing in bringing together letters from different places and periods of time

[Caryn Picarillo · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not as good as War Letters, but still eye opening.

[Ice · Rating 3 out of 5]

After it was released in June of 2001, Carroll's War Letters shot onto bestseller lists as the U.S. entered its first major war in 10 years. That collection selected 150 letters from 50,000 Carroll received after a Dear Abby mention of his Legacy Project, founded in 1998 to preserve soldiers' letters home; the book ranged from the Civil War to Bosnia. This follow-up reaches from the American Revolution to the war in Iraq and offers 200 letters along with 72 b&w photos and illustrations. All the letters were written "during major American wars," but not necessarily by soldiers or by Americans; Carroll culled many of them globe-trotting through 35 countries, from Poland to Iraq, over the past year (he tells the story of his journey in a moving introduction).

As for the letters themselves, Carroll has made the very wise editorial decision of printing them as they were written, with misspellings, odd line breaks and regional references intact; letters in translation reproduce idioms and distinctive grammatical turns word for word. The letters are, almost without exception, arresting in their earnestness, sincerity and passion, and diverse in their sentiments—brave, fearful, amorous, angry, resigned, conniving, unbalanced, stoical. The result is captivating in its immediacy. Short head notes provide succinct context, but most speak for themselves. 50-state author tour.

A compilation of soldiers' letters home sounds maudlin on the face of it, but Behind the Lines is touching and tastefully recorded. A cast of readers with appropriate accents brings to life the voices of veterans of the Revolutionary and Civil Wars, both World Wars, and even those serving abroad today. Even foreign soldiers--enemies at the time--are given fair time.

Short bios inform listeners as to the outcomes of each soldier's tour of duty. There is a universality, as all the soldiers miss their homes, families, and sweethearts. Though their convictions and loyalties may be diametrically opposed, many retain a perky gallows humor through it all. The humor and sorrow are ably voiced. Oddly, the audiobook, if anything, serves as an antiwar paean and a fascinating insight into the unintentional literature of war.

[Brett · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am sucker for letters as a genre in the first place, but I am especially intrigued by war time letters. War will always be controversial. Even when two people believe war justifiable, there is still the question over whether a given war fits into that category. War and its various aspects can easily be studied and analyzed with a certain amount of detachment, but letters touch on the humanity, heroism, and tragedy of war in a way that no philosophical or historical study can. This is a great collection of letters stretching from the American Revolution to the present-day conflicts in Afghanistan and Iraq.

(I listened to this as an audiobook and recommend it!)

[A.S. Johnson · Rating 3 out of 5]

Book was a gift from my niece. Bascially letters from people who served in various wars back and forth to family, lovers, etc. Nice layout, not too informal, a good read, and the personal side of humanity displayed well. More for people who might be more "patriotic" or like reading other peoples love letters, etc.
I'm sure a lot of research was done by the writers part in getting all the various letters and putting them into a coherant order was done.
Overall a nice book. Good coffee table book.

[Chris · Rating 5 out of 5]

Just got it for Christmas already addicted. Im putting off other reading for it. Thanks Kim! Not for the faint hearted all war letters that express the families, and soldiers point of view. Its about as real as you could get to getting close to the effects of war on the phsyche. Dating from the French and Indian War, American Revolution, all the way through to Afghanistan.

[TC · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm not usually one for "war stories" but this book is actually a collection of real war letters ranging from the American Revolution all the way to the current war Iraq. I got teary eyed several times and a couple times I laughed almost hysterically. It is a very moving book and is a revealing and unique view of history. This is a MUST READ!

[Christine]

Thank you "Book Rack" once again! Zipped in really quickly this morning, and found this! Was SO excited! I already have his "War Letters" and "Letters of a Nation", which I LOVED!! Now I see he edited a book called "Women's Letters"! Must get!

[christina white]

Sorry about that earlier review! I was confused!

[Kandis · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting and unique (more for my husband than for me) If your into war history--this book is for you

[Shannon T.L. · Rating 4 out of 5]

a really wonderful collection of letters and emails from soldiers and civilians in wars all over the world. this book was really touching and interesting.

[Tiffany · Rating 5 out of 5]

I had the audio book and it was awesome. I laughed so hard at some parts and had to fight to keep the tears away on others. Wonderful book!

[Dean Thompson · Rating 4 out of 5]

I found it a bit tough to get into. Not really a letters fan, however on the whole I liked it a lot.

[Karen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Should be required reading in all schools.

[Bill · Rating 4 out of 5]

Letters from men & women in the military from colonial to modern times. Nothing captures history so well as first person accounts.