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When the Sea Came Alive: An Oral History of D-Day
Goodreads Choice Award
Nominee for Readers' Favorite History & Biography (2024)Runtime: 19 hours and 33 minutes, read by the author, Edoardo Ballerini, and a full cast
From the New York Times bestselling author of The Only Plane in the Sky and Pulitzer Prize finalist for Watergate comes the most up-to-date and complete account of D-Day—the largest seaborne invasion in history and the moment that secured the Allied victory in World War II.
D-Day is one of history’s greatest and most unbelievable military and human triumphs. Though the full campaign lasted just over a month, the surprise landing of over 150,000 Allied troops on the morning of June 6, 1944, is understood to be the moment that turned the tide for the Allied forces and ultimately led to the defeat of the Axis powers in World War II. Like September 11th, it is a human drama that fundamentally changed the trajectory of history—and now, When the Sea Came Alive covers it all, exploring the full impact of this world-changing event.
From the secret creation of landing plans by top government and military officials and organization of troops, to the moment the boat doors opened to reveal the beach where men fought for their lives and the future of the free world, historian and bestselling author Garrett M. Graff recounts the dramatic moments and heroic acts of bravery that led the Allies to victory in World War II.
Fascinating, action-packed, and filled with impressive detail, When the Sea Came Alive captures the true essence of D-Day and is both an important work of military history and a fitting tribute to the soldiers of the Greatest Generation.
From the New York Times bestselling author of The Only Plane in the Sky and Pulitzer Prize finalist for Watergate comes the most up-to-date and complete account of D-Day—the largest seaborne invasion in history and the moment that secured the Allied victory in World War II.
D-Day is one of history’s greatest and most unbelievable military and human triumphs. Though the full campaign lasted just over a month, the surprise landing of over 150,000 Allied troops on the morning of June 6, 1944, is understood to be the moment that turned the tide for the Allied forces and ultimately led to the defeat of the Axis powers in World War II. Like September 11th, it is a human drama that fundamentally changed the trajectory of history—and now, When the Sea Came Alive covers it all, exploring the full impact of this world-changing event.
From the secret creation of landing plans by top government and military officials and organization of troops, to the moment the boat doors opened to reveal the beach where men fought for their lives and the future of the free world, historian and bestselling author Garrett M. Graff recounts the dramatic moments and heroic acts of bravery that led the Allies to victory in World War II.
Fascinating, action-packed, and filled with impressive detail, When the Sea Came Alive captures the true essence of D-Day and is both an important work of military history and a fitting tribute to the soldiers of the Greatest Generation.
20 pages, Audiobook
First published June 4, 2024
739 people are currently reading
16738 people want to read
About the author
Garrett M. Graff
19 books830 followersGarrett M. Graff, a distinguished magazine journalist and historian, has spent more than a dozen years covering politics, technology, and national security. He’s written for publications from WIRED to Bloomberg BusinessWeek to the New York Times, and served as the editor of two of Washington’s most prestigious magazines, Washingtonian and POLITICO Magazine, which he helped lead to its first National Magazine Award, the industry’s highest honor.
Graff is the author of multiple books, including "The First Campaign: Globalization, the Web, and the Race for the White House," which examined the role of technology in the 2008 presidential race, and "The Threat Matrix: The FBI At War," which traces the history of the FBI’s counterterrorism efforts. His next book, "Raven Rock," about the government’s Cold War Doomsday plans, will be published in May 2017, and he's currently on an oral history of September 11th, based on his POLITICO Magazine article, "We're The Only Plane in the Sky."
His online career began with his time as Governor Howard Dean’s first webmaster, and in 2005, he was the first blogger accredited to cover a White House press briefing. Today, he serves as the executive director of the Aspen Institute’s cybersecurity and technology program.
Graff is the author of multiple books, including "The First Campaign: Globalization, the Web, and the Race for the White House," which examined the role of technology in the 2008 presidential race, and "The Threat Matrix: The FBI At War," which traces the history of the FBI’s counterterrorism efforts. His next book, "Raven Rock," about the government’s Cold War Doomsday plans, will be published in May 2017, and he's currently on an oral history of September 11th, based on his POLITICO Magazine article, "We're The Only Plane in the Sky."
His online career began with his time as Governor Howard Dean’s first webmaster, and in 2005, he was the first blogger accredited to cover a White House press briefing. Today, he serves as the executive director of the Aspen Institute’s cybersecurity and technology program.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 479 reviews
June 3, 2024
One thing I hear very often when history comes up is that there are too many World War II books coming out. I have always found this curious as the most important war in history which entangled most of the globe is going to produce stories for a very long time. Admittedly, there are plenty of books which just crib off of better works and those should rightfully be criticized. Then there are books like Garrett Graff's When the Sea Came Alive and show a different way to take on the material.
I am having a very tough time rating this one. On the one hand, Graff has done a tremendous amount of work to turn this into a readable book with an understandable narrative. He takes excerpts from real people involved in D-Day from the generals to the lowest of privates. They are all sequenced to tell the story of D-Day through different perspectives. I want to give the book 5 stars merely for the difficulty level of making the story make sense.
On the other hand, oral histories can often run into the problem this book illustrates. Some of these quotations are only a line long. Some are longer but rarely more than a quarter of a page. This goes on for nearly all 500 pages with only Graff's short explanations of greater actions in the war.
I couldn't help but wondering who the audience for this is. If you are well-read in World War II, the first 200 pages of D-Day planning are not necessary. If you don't know World War II, you need way more than is provided by these short quotations.
That said, once you start getting those first-person accounts of the D-Day landings, the book becomes intoxicating. The point-of-view of the Germans on the defensive are a wonderful touch. However, I would read a great citation and then think, "No, don't move on, give me more of this."
In the end, I think it is only fair to give this book four out of five stars. The work done by Graff is phenomenal. Hearing the voices of men who were there on D-Day is powerful. However, I have to warn readers that oral histories are not for everyone and your mileage may vary.
(This book was provided as an advance copy by the publisher.)
I am having a very tough time rating this one. On the one hand, Graff has done a tremendous amount of work to turn this into a readable book with an understandable narrative. He takes excerpts from real people involved in D-Day from the generals to the lowest of privates. They are all sequenced to tell the story of D-Day through different perspectives. I want to give the book 5 stars merely for the difficulty level of making the story make sense.
On the other hand, oral histories can often run into the problem this book illustrates. Some of these quotations are only a line long. Some are longer but rarely more than a quarter of a page. This goes on for nearly all 500 pages with only Graff's short explanations of greater actions in the war.
I couldn't help but wondering who the audience for this is. If you are well-read in World War II, the first 200 pages of D-Day planning are not necessary. If you don't know World War II, you need way more than is provided by these short quotations.
That said, once you start getting those first-person accounts of the D-Day landings, the book becomes intoxicating. The point-of-view of the Germans on the defensive are a wonderful touch. However, I would read a great citation and then think, "No, don't move on, give me more of this."
In the end, I think it is only fair to give this book four out of five stars. The work done by Graff is phenomenal. Hearing the voices of men who were there on D-Day is powerful. However, I have to warn readers that oral histories are not for everyone and your mileage may vary.
(This book was provided as an advance copy by the publisher.)
June 24, 2024
Garrett Graff is a treasure: a historian rather like Erik Larson with a vast curiosity. He's written some of the very best books out there on UFOs, Watergate, and 9/11. (THE ONLY PLANE IN THE SKY: AN ORAL HISTORY OF 9/11 is brilliant -- and not for the faint of heart.) Now he has turned his attention to D-Day, the invasion of Normandy on June 6, 1944, and again he has added so much to what we know and what happened that day (and in the months leading up to it). Using the words of the men and women who were there -- some famous, most not -- he has crafted a moment by moment and beach by beach narrative that is riveting. As the nephew of a member of the 101st Airborne, Easy Company, it was deeply moving to learn more specifically what my uncle experienced. But, the fact is, you don't need a personal connection to someone who was there to have "all the feels." This is the sort of book that is smart, inspiring, and powerful -- and adds so much to our knowledge of what that day was like and its historic importance forever.
January 7, 2025
The author’s other book, The Only Plane in the Sky: An Oral History of 9/11, was a much better read. I can personally relate to what happened on 9/11 as opposed to the Dday invasion of WWII. I felt this book had too much information being disclosed by too many people. The resulting stories became somewhat difficult to follow, therefore making the book a lot less interesting. I would not recommend this historical book unless you’re a serious WWII buff.
October 14, 2024
Absolutely remarkable. Graff draws from letters, books, magazines, and interviews to provide a full picture of that historic day. It's not a view-from-above but as-seen-through-the- eyes of the men and women who lived it: soldiers, sailors, paratroopers, nurses, intelligence analysts, officers -- including several voices from the German side. I had a fair bit of knowledge of the general history of June 6, 1944, but I had no idea of how much planning went into it, how limited the window of opportunity was, how susceptible to weather and tide, how a relatively small change in the German command structure might easily have caused the invasion to fail, how everything had to be coordinated minute by minute, and what subterfuge was needed to keep the operation secret. No mean trick, considering it was by far the largest single armada in history: more than 7,000 ships, almost 200,000 naval personnel, 133,000 troops, almost 12,000 aircraft.
I listened to the book so I can't comment on what the experience of reading it would be like (how many maps? photos?), but hearing those recreated voices recounting jumping into the ocean off the French coast and making their way toward the beach under heavy fire, of the terrible casualties, of parachuting behind German lines and holding a bridge of strategic value, and countless other stories, hearing some diary entry only to learn that the writer was killed just days later... I found myself wondering, how did they find it in themselves to do what they did? (I have to say, it made me think very differently of my father-in-law's experience as a medic in the war. He was the only survivor of a jeep that hit a landmine. He lost a leg and lived with shrapnel in his head for the rest of his life. Like many people who saw battle firsthand, he didn't talk about it.)
I finished the book in awe of what they accomplished. And what Graff did in bringing it all together.
I listened to the book so I can't comment on what the experience of reading it would be like (how many maps? photos?), but hearing those recreated voices recounting jumping into the ocean off the French coast and making their way toward the beach under heavy fire, of the terrible casualties, of parachuting behind German lines and holding a bridge of strategic value, and countless other stories, hearing some diary entry only to learn that the writer was killed just days later... I found myself wondering, how did they find it in themselves to do what they did? (I have to say, it made me think very differently of my father-in-law's experience as a medic in the war. He was the only survivor of a jeep that hit a landmine. He lost a leg and lived with shrapnel in his head for the rest of his life. Like many people who saw battle firsthand, he didn't talk about it.)
I finished the book in awe of what they accomplished. And what Graff did in bringing it all together.
November 8, 2024
One of the best books I've read in 5 years. From the generals to the privates, the voices in this book provide detailed and compelling retelling of the preparation and execution of D-Day.
November 24, 2024
Excellent collection of first hand accounts of D-Day.
June 10, 2024
Audiobook rec! When the Sea Came Alive is the new oral history of D-Day and its impact. from the author/historian that brought us The Only Plane in the Sky. Graff has woven together over 700 voices, each with a piece of the puzzle, to expertly craft a very human story of one of the world's biggest events. To get this many stories from a generation that didn't like to share them was no small feat.
There's not much else to say about this book. Whether you are a D Day historian yourself or only remember some highlights from HS Social Studies class, this is a book to check out. Graff has tried, and I think in most cases succeeded, to amplify as many human stories, no matter how big or small, here and gives us a full picture of this historic day with moments that will be seared into our minds forever. Oral histories are one of the most powerful ways to learn new truths, and this is one of the better ones.
There's not much else to say about this book. Whether you are a D Day historian yourself or only remember some highlights from HS Social Studies class, this is a book to check out. Graff has tried, and I think in most cases succeeded, to amplify as many human stories, no matter how big or small, here and gives us a full picture of this historic day with moments that will be seared into our minds forever. Oral histories are one of the most powerful ways to learn new truths, and this is one of the better ones.
May 25, 2024
Thank you NetGalley for an opportunity for me to an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review. This was such an amazing oral history of D-Day. I am amazed by the thoroughness and how in-depth this author went to capture the thoughts, feelings, suffering, and hope from D-Day. This book is entirely comprised of actual interviews, diaries, letters, journal entries, and speeches.
At the beginning of each chapter or change of scene, the author provides a short description of what is happening or occurring during the chapter or section. This is helpful to provide you with a guide about where the story going next and it also provides context for the following dialogues.
After the author’s heading of the section or capture. The chapter/section is filled with various snippets from people’s interviews, letters, journals, or speeches. The author compiles all of these dialogues into a story format that allows the reader to flow from one person to another providing the reader with a first-person view of D-Day.
The book starts with the planning and training for D-Day and follows the various leaders who planned the event. The planning involved was extensive, all the way to the materials and equipment needed, to the weather. The book then moves on to D-Day itself with the paratroopers landing behind the beaches, then to the attack on each various beach. After the initial invasion the book then covers the push up the beaches and covers the fighting done behind the beaches.
Quotes and speeches are given by Generals (such as General Eisenhower) Churchill, soldiers (Allies and Axis), and civilians (English, American, French and even Ann Frank).
I love the way the author complied all of these quotes and the amount of information that is in the book. I never realized how much planning and training was done before D-Day with the amount of secrecy involved.
I highly recommend this book to every history reader and to those who may want to take a jump into reading history. There is no better way to enjoy history than hearing first-hand accounts, and this author has provided a way for us to read these first-hand accounts and capture the fear, hope, and pain those involved experienced. I will definitely be on the lookout for other books this author writes and I have already bought The Only Plane in the Sky.
At the beginning of each chapter or change of scene, the author provides a short description of what is happening or occurring during the chapter or section. This is helpful to provide you with a guide about where the story going next and it also provides context for the following dialogues.
After the author’s heading of the section or capture. The chapter/section is filled with various snippets from people’s interviews, letters, journals, or speeches. The author compiles all of these dialogues into a story format that allows the reader to flow from one person to another providing the reader with a first-person view of D-Day.
The book starts with the planning and training for D-Day and follows the various leaders who planned the event. The planning involved was extensive, all the way to the materials and equipment needed, to the weather. The book then moves on to D-Day itself with the paratroopers landing behind the beaches, then to the attack on each various beach. After the initial invasion the book then covers the push up the beaches and covers the fighting done behind the beaches.
Quotes and speeches are given by Generals (such as General Eisenhower) Churchill, soldiers (Allies and Axis), and civilians (English, American, French and even Ann Frank).
I love the way the author complied all of these quotes and the amount of information that is in the book. I never realized how much planning and training was done before D-Day with the amount of secrecy involved.
I highly recommend this book to every history reader and to those who may want to take a jump into reading history. There is no better way to enjoy history than hearing first-hand accounts, and this author has provided a way for us to read these first-hand accounts and capture the fear, hope, and pain those involved experienced. I will definitely be on the lookout for other books this author writes and I have already bought The Only Plane in the Sky.
August 1, 2025
“..you can manufacture weapons, and you can buy ammunition, but you can’t buy valor and you can’t pull heroes off an assembly line.”
A superbly researched artifact future generations will lean on to learn what it used to mean to be an American and/or to fight for democracy and against evil. Reading When the Sea Came Alive will make your blood boil compared to today. Everyone in this book is in their grave rolling around. Every single one can’t believe they died for whatever hell this is. We truly are the dumbest country. The men memorialized in this book are heroes, and the chutzpah they show really reinforces how big a wuss I am.
Garrett Graff’s When the Sea Came Alive should be required reading for everyone. We can all learn something from these men. Thanks to Avid Reader Press for an advanced copy of When the Sea Came Alive: An Oral History of D-Day via NetGalley.
A superbly researched artifact future generations will lean on to learn what it used to mean to be an American and/or to fight for democracy and against evil. Reading When the Sea Came Alive will make your blood boil compared to today. Everyone in this book is in their grave rolling around. Every single one can’t believe they died for whatever hell this is. We truly are the dumbest country. The men memorialized in this book are heroes, and the chutzpah they show really reinforces how big a wuss I am.
Garrett Graff’s When the Sea Came Alive should be required reading for everyone. We can all learn something from these men. Thanks to Avid Reader Press for an advanced copy of When the Sea Came Alive: An Oral History of D-Day via NetGalley.
August 25, 2024
This book will stay with me for a LONG time. I knew next to nothing about D Day prior to this read and now I can’t stop thinking about it. The planning of operation OVERLORD, deciding when (considering tides, weather/cloud cover, time of year, etc.) and the execution (air, land, sea) is honestly beyond brilliant. I’m so incredibly grateful for the servicemen that took part in arguably the most famous invasion ever - especially those that stormed the beaches with courage and bravery while danger & death abounded 😭 (ok, I’m crying AGAIN). Anyway - Garrett Graff does it again. What a gift he has to compile SO much information and weave the story from firsthand accounts and experiences. I cannot get over this book. It’ll likely be my favorite this year, and easily a top-ten favorite OF ALL TIME for me.
May 6, 2024
Author Garrett M. Graff has been churning out critically acclaimed releases the last few years. Back in 2020, I read and reviewed his oral history of 9/11, THE ONLY PLANE IN THE SKY; a book I still think about often. Since then, he’s crafted a new and updated history of Watergate, an investigative look at UFOs and now, WHEN THE SEA CAME ALIVE, an oral history of D-Day just in time for that transformative day’s 80th Anniversary.
As nearly all those who had participated in the European land invasion are no longer with us, Graff had to comb through north of five thousand personal stories, memoirs and oral histories contained within established texts. The quotes contained within were lifted from – but not limited to – books, magazines, official reports, videos, and audio recordings. You get snapshots from the minds of combatants, generals and politicians alike. What really surprised me is that Graff made sure to include Axis voices whether it was from soldiers, commanders or speeches given by Hitler and his closest allies.
Despite having read so many books about the Second World War, I was not aware that the planning for D-Day began well over a year prior to its execution. It absolutely makes sense given how long it took to amass the sheer volume of humanity from across the Allied forces required to complete the task. Graff pulls from a treasure trove of material to lay out the logistics and hardships endured by the Allies throughout the process and the courage it took to take a run at the Third Reich as failure was not an option. Many of the stories told by those who ventured beyond enemy lines had my stomach in knots. It is simply unimaginable the courage it took to accomplish this, especially those in the “suicide wave” of Company A, the men first off the boats on Omaha beach.
There are moments in this book I will never forget.
I cannot speak highly enough of the work I’ve read to date from Graff. It’s one thing to collect all of this material for an oral history, but it is another entirely to assemble it as he has. I found this book nearly impossible to put down. For those who are fans of Graff’s earlier work as well as Erik Larson’s 2020 book, THE SPLENDID AND THE VILE, I cannot recommend this enough.
As nearly all those who had participated in the European land invasion are no longer with us, Graff had to comb through north of five thousand personal stories, memoirs and oral histories contained within established texts. The quotes contained within were lifted from – but not limited to – books, magazines, official reports, videos, and audio recordings. You get snapshots from the minds of combatants, generals and politicians alike. What really surprised me is that Graff made sure to include Axis voices whether it was from soldiers, commanders or speeches given by Hitler and his closest allies.
Despite having read so many books about the Second World War, I was not aware that the planning for D-Day began well over a year prior to its execution. It absolutely makes sense given how long it took to amass the sheer volume of humanity from across the Allied forces required to complete the task. Graff pulls from a treasure trove of material to lay out the logistics and hardships endured by the Allies throughout the process and the courage it took to take a run at the Third Reich as failure was not an option. Many of the stories told by those who ventured beyond enemy lines had my stomach in knots. It is simply unimaginable the courage it took to accomplish this, especially those in the “suicide wave” of Company A, the men first off the boats on Omaha beach.
There are moments in this book I will never forget.
I cannot speak highly enough of the work I’ve read to date from Graff. It’s one thing to collect all of this material for an oral history, but it is another entirely to assemble it as he has. I found this book nearly impossible to put down. For those who are fans of Graff’s earlier work as well as Erik Larson’s 2020 book, THE SPLENDID AND THE VILE, I cannot recommend this enough.
June 27, 2024
What a thrilling book! I read through lunch and dinner and on 'til dawn because I was so captivated by the stories of 700 who participated in some capacity in the battle that saved the world from Nazi rule.
The result is "an overwhelming sensual experience, one filled with explosive color-orange flames, green water, khaki uniforms, and seething red blood-vivid smells, from cordite to apple blossoms, and unforgettable sound, from the tiny clicks of the metal crickets given to paratroopers to recognize one another in the dark and the donging church bells of Sainte-Mère-Eglise to the overwhelming crescendo of the naval beach bombardment and the shells of the USS Texas at dawn."
Once I started reading, I could not put this gripping account down. Every history lover will want a copy, and When the Sea Came Alive should be in every school and library in the land. A triumph!
The result is "an overwhelming sensual experience, one filled with explosive color-orange flames, green water, khaki uniforms, and seething red blood-vivid smells, from cordite to apple blossoms, and unforgettable sound, from the tiny clicks of the metal crickets given to paratroopers to recognize one another in the dark and the donging church bells of Sainte-Mère-Eglise to the overwhelming crescendo of the naval beach bombardment and the shells of the USS Texas at dawn."
Once I started reading, I could not put this gripping account down. Every history lover will want a copy, and When the Sea Came Alive should be in every school and library in the land. A triumph!
September 30, 2024
Loved the first part on the planning & setting the historical scene. However, the style of giving the stage to the eyewitnesses didn’t really work for the actual D-day. It was like listening to a footy game on the radio “& then I shot Gerry & then Gerry was shooting at me”. I lost focus. But all in all worth reading, important to remember & the variety of eyewitnesses was super cool. The cast on the audiobook did a tremendous job of engaging the reader.
March 11, 2025
Really wonderful. Well-told and moving. Gave me a much greater appreciation for the organization, planning, and preparation for the largest amphibious invasion in world history. I leaned that they used dummy mock-ups, practice runs, and live-fire exercises to prepare- so interesting, and this book covered it all. Hearing the story through the eyes of those who lived it was riveting, and when it finished I found myself bummed that it didn’t go all the way through V-E day. So good.
September 10, 2025
As a white male who entered my mid 30s five days ago, it was imperative that I get back to what I do best: reading WWII books.
It's easy to fall into the trap of reading a new WWII book only to ask yourself at times, 'wait, did I read this one?'
That's not a problem you'll have with this book. Graff's work is so thorough, so enthralling, and filled with a shocking amount of information that was brand new to me, even as a Guy Who Reads These Books. From the contemporaneous to the memories recalled by participants decades later, it paints an incredible portrait of the days, weeks, and months leading up to the invasion.
Knowing what we do now, it's so easy to think that Overlord was a fait accompli before it began. It was not and with how warfare has changed, there's a good chance there will never be anything like it again.
It's easy to fall into the trap of reading a new WWII book only to ask yourself at times, 'wait, did I read this one?'
That's not a problem you'll have with this book. Graff's work is so thorough, so enthralling, and filled with a shocking amount of information that was brand new to me, even as a Guy Who Reads These Books. From the contemporaneous to the memories recalled by participants decades later, it paints an incredible portrait of the days, weeks, and months leading up to the invasion.
Knowing what we do now, it's so easy to think that Overlord was a fait accompli before it began. It was not and with how warfare has changed, there's a good chance there will never be anything like it again.
December 9, 2024
Very long read but very informative with interviews and facts long live DDAY RIP
December 1, 2024
I listened to the audio and read the hardback, for the maps and pictures, of this masterful survey of the events leading up to D-Day and the assault itself, told by those who participated, the mighty (Churchill, Eisenhower) and those participating on land, sea and air, military and civilian, British and American, hundreds of voices from thousands of hours of after-the-fact interviews. I learned so much I hadn’t known, discarded many mistaken notions, and was boggled by the sheer, bloody size of the effort and the scope of the carnage. (Saving Private Ryan just scraped the surface.)
October 5, 2025
When the Sea Came Alive is a recent book about D-Day. In its introduction, author Garrett Graff addresses the question why is another book about D-Day worthwhile when there are already a number of excellent books on the subject. In this book, Graff has compiled the actual words of many of those involved to tell the story of D-Day and, in this way, give better voice to those who may not have been represented before.
My primary reaction to When the Sea Came Alive is awe of the scale of the enterprise - thousands of vessels, aircraft and soldiers. Coordinating these massive numbers took incredible planning and organization. I’ve read other books that give an excellent overview of D-Day, but this book provides a the personal viewpoint of those involved, including the common soldier - a number of them would not survive the war.
There are a number of small details I could point out, but I’ll mention only one. Near the end of the book, Graff turns toward news coverage on D-Day. In contrast to today’s news, these instructions from CBS seem quite different!
“Paul White, news director, CBS News, memo, February 1944, on how to cover an invasion: Keep an informative, unexcited demeanor at the microphone.… Give sources.… Don’t risk accuracy for the sake of a beat.… Use care in your choice of words.… Don’t say “German defenses were pulverized.” Say “German defenses were hard hit.”… When you don’t know, say so. Locutions like “Allied troops were believed to be progressing, etc.” are out. Rather say “Nothing has been released during the past 24 hours, etc.”… Exaggeration and immoderate language breed dangerous optimism.… Respect the listener’s trust. Remember that winning the war is a hell of a lot more important than reporting it.”
Being subtitled as an “oral” history, I decided to listen to the audiobook, but also I was able to download the Kindle edition from the library. There are pluses and minuses to both versions. The audiobook provided many (almost 20) hours of enjoyable listening, but the constant introductions to each individual gives a “choppy” feel to the book which is not present in the print version where the reader can easily skim over these. There are also photographs introducing each chapter of the book which are nice (but not necessary) to see. I was glad I had both versions available.
My primary reaction to When the Sea Came Alive is awe of the scale of the enterprise - thousands of vessels, aircraft and soldiers. Coordinating these massive numbers took incredible planning and organization. I’ve read other books that give an excellent overview of D-Day, but this book provides a the personal viewpoint of those involved, including the common soldier - a number of them would not survive the war.
There are a number of small details I could point out, but I’ll mention only one. Near the end of the book, Graff turns toward news coverage on D-Day. In contrast to today’s news, these instructions from CBS seem quite different!
“Paul White, news director, CBS News, memo, February 1944, on how to cover an invasion: Keep an informative, unexcited demeanor at the microphone.… Give sources.… Don’t risk accuracy for the sake of a beat.… Use care in your choice of words.… Don’t say “German defenses were pulverized.” Say “German defenses were hard hit.”… When you don’t know, say so. Locutions like “Allied troops were believed to be progressing, etc.” are out. Rather say “Nothing has been released during the past 24 hours, etc.”… Exaggeration and immoderate language breed dangerous optimism.… Respect the listener’s trust. Remember that winning the war is a hell of a lot more important than reporting it.”
Being subtitled as an “oral” history, I decided to listen to the audiobook, but also I was able to download the Kindle edition from the library. There are pluses and minuses to both versions. The audiobook provided many (almost 20) hours of enjoyable listening, but the constant introductions to each individual gives a “choppy” feel to the book which is not present in the print version where the reader can easily skim over these. There are also photographs introducing each chapter of the book which are nice (but not necessary) to see. I was glad I had both versions available.
June 26, 2024
Narratively, this book is amazing. These sorts of personal-account books make it easier to understand what all happened in major operations such as Overlord by giving a ground-level view of the battles. The typical birds-eye view or general perspective that most books have can sometimes make it harder to visualize what was all happening as events unfolded. If there’s two issues I can present with this style of presenting history, it is this: the selective storytelling and the fact that dead men tell no tales. You obviously can’t tell everyone’s whole story of D-Day but the book takes the stories of people as they were happening, making you wonder how they got there or what became of them. Secondly, by mostly hearing from the words of survivors, it becomes harder to tell how brutal events were. The book gives accounts by people who were able to make it out in one piece or wounded but alive, rather than that of the men who were killed immediately and have no chance to speak. So, one can read of a savage attack on a pillbox thinking it was relatively successful only for the author to mention that half the platoon was wiped out in the process. However, these issues aren’t really the author’s own fault and more the faults of the method of storytelling as a whole. I recommend this new edition to D-Day history.
June 6, 2025
Today is the 81st anniversary of the invasion of Normandy, D-Day, when over 150,000 Allied troops stormed the beaches of occupied France during WWII. This marked the turning point in the war against Nazi Germany and the Axis powers.
Graff did extensive research pulling together quotes, speeches, and articles from leaders of the nations to first hand accounts by the soldiers on the ground. He used actual audio recordings when available as well as a full cast to make this book. Even though I knew the story of D-Day I learned a ton. The coordination required took a great deal of time to plan, to build enough landing crafts to stage this, and the cooperation of the weather at exactly the right moment for tides to allow two waves of forces in the first day of the invasion. The entire plan was in jeopardy because of bad weather that cleared at just the right moment. Without that clearing we would not have been able to send airborne troops into the area ahead of the invasion to take out defensive positions held by the Germans.
Some of the stories are heartbreaking as the casualties were heavy. I found myself fascinated with the planning efforts and in awe of what was accomplished. Had D-Day not succeeded our world could look very different today. I am eternally grateful for those that made such sacrifices to ensure democracy continued. I only hope we can continue their legacy. 5⭐️
December 19, 2024
I’ve read a lot of historical nonfiction, and I have to say that this might be one of the most well researched books I’ve ever read. To have the whole story be told by quotes and accounts of people who were there is completely insane in the best possible way. I genuinely had a blast reading this, it was such a fun experience.
October 22, 2025
I happen to listen to this book on the free Libby app. I loved it having a different voices made. It seem so real. I loved that he used quotes and did a lot of research. I highly recommend this book 2 people who don’t know much about D-Day and also people who know a lot. I kind of want to buy the book.
January 10, 2025
Sure, I’ve probably read a dozen books about D-Day over the years, but there’s always more to learn (and an insatiable appetite for it). I really enjoyed Graff’s oral history approach, very interesting to just read the story in the participants’ own words.
June 13, 2024
I give this five stars for the respect of the content but I could see the woke trying to come out of this author and I didn’t like that part.
March 7, 2025
Fantastic. Loved the audiobook with different narrators. I loved hearing all of the different perspectives in the soldiers own words. Such an incredibly difficult book to listen to, such brave and amazing men.
March 30, 2025
I learned a great many details about D-Day that were new to me while listening to this extremely well written and researched accounting of D-Day. The full cast used in the audiobook was especially effective. Be prepared to be fully immersed in the war experience as you delve into this book.
August 18, 2025
Extremely well researched and put together. I don’t feel like it flowed quite as well the 9/11 book he wrote, but it was still very good.
April 26, 2025
een van de beste boeken die ik de afgelopen tijd heb gelezen. een bizar complexe operatie, maar echt álles wordt uitgelegd, en het wordt niet langdradig.
August 28, 2025
in my dad era
garrett graff is the undisputed king of the oral history and you cannot change my mind.
garrett graff is the undisputed king of the oral history and you cannot change my mind.
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