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WWII #4
Liberation Road: A Novel of World War II and the Red Ball Express
With his acclaimed novels of World War II, David L. Robbins awakened a generation to the drama, tragedy, and heroism of some of history’s greatest battles. Now he delivers a gripping and authentic story set against one of our greatest wartime the Red Ball Express, six thousand trucks and twenty-three thousand men–most of them African-American–who forged a lifeline of supplies in the Allied struggle to liberate France.
June 1944. The Allies deliver a staggering blow to Hitler’s Atlantic fortress, leaving the beaches and bluffs of Normandy strewn with corpses. The Germans have only one chance to stop the immense invasion–by bottling up the Americans on the Cotentin Peninsula. There, in fields crisscrossed with dense hedgerows, many will meet their death while others will search for signs of life. Among the latter are two very different men, each with his own demons to fight and his own reasons to risk his life for his fellow man.
Joe Amos Biggs is an invisible “colored” driver in the Red Ball Express, the unheralded convoy of trucks that serves as a precious lifeline to the front. Delivering fuel and ammunition to men whose survival depends on the truckers, Joe Amos finds himself hungering to make his mark and propelled into battle among those who don’t see him as an equal–but will need him to be a hero.
A chaplain in the demoralized 90th Infantry, Rabbi Ben Kahn is a veteran of the first great war and old enough to be the father of the GIs he tends. Searching for the truth about his own son, a downed pilot missing in action, Kahn finds himself dueling with God, wading into combat without a gun, and becoming a leader among men in need of someone–anyone–to follow.
The the liberation of Paris, where a ruthless American traitor known as Chien Blanc–White Dog–grows fat and rich in the black market. Whatever the occupied city’s destiny, destroyed or freed, he will win.
The fates of these three men will collide, hurtling toward an uncommon destiny in which people commit deeds they cannot foresee and can never truly explain.
From the screams of German .88 howitzers to the last whispers of dying young soldiers, Robbins captures war in all its awful fullness. And through the eyes of his unique characters, he leaves us with a mature, brilliant, and memorable vision of humanity in the face of inhumanity itself.
June 1944. The Allies deliver a staggering blow to Hitler’s Atlantic fortress, leaving the beaches and bluffs of Normandy strewn with corpses. The Germans have only one chance to stop the immense invasion–by bottling up the Americans on the Cotentin Peninsula. There, in fields crisscrossed with dense hedgerows, many will meet their death while others will search for signs of life. Among the latter are two very different men, each with his own demons to fight and his own reasons to risk his life for his fellow man.
Joe Amos Biggs is an invisible “colored” driver in the Red Ball Express, the unheralded convoy of trucks that serves as a precious lifeline to the front. Delivering fuel and ammunition to men whose survival depends on the truckers, Joe Amos finds himself hungering to make his mark and propelled into battle among those who don’t see him as an equal–but will need him to be a hero.
A chaplain in the demoralized 90th Infantry, Rabbi Ben Kahn is a veteran of the first great war and old enough to be the father of the GIs he tends. Searching for the truth about his own son, a downed pilot missing in action, Kahn finds himself dueling with God, wading into combat without a gun, and becoming a leader among men in need of someone–anyone–to follow.
The the liberation of Paris, where a ruthless American traitor known as Chien Blanc–White Dog–grows fat and rich in the black market. Whatever the occupied city’s destiny, destroyed or freed, he will win.
The fates of these three men will collide, hurtling toward an uncommon destiny in which people commit deeds they cannot foresee and can never truly explain.
From the screams of German .88 howitzers to the last whispers of dying young soldiers, Robbins captures war in all its awful fullness. And through the eyes of his unique characters, he leaves us with a mature, brilliant, and memorable vision of humanity in the face of inhumanity itself.
480 pages, Paperback
First published December 28, 2004
58 people are currently reading
205 people want to read
About the author
David L. Robbins
40 books143 followersDavid L. Robbins was born in Richmond, Virginia, on March 10, 1954. He grew up in Sandston, a small town east of Richmond out by the airport; his father was among the first to sit behind the new radar scope in the air traffic control tower. Both his parents, Sam and Carol, were veterans of WWII. Sam saw action in the Pacific, especially at Pearl Harbor.
In 1976, David graduated with a B.A. in Theater and Speech from the College of William & Mary in Williamsburg, Virginia. Having little actual theatrical talent, he didn't know what to do for a living. David decided to attend what he calls the “great catch-basin of unfocused over-achievers”: law school. He received his Juris Doctorate at William and Mary in 1980, then practiced environmental law in Columbia, S.C. for precisely a year (his father demanded back the money for law school if David practiced for less than one year – he quit two weeks before the anniversary but got Sam to agree that the two weeks' vacation David had accumulated could be included). David decided to attend Psychology school, having an affinity for people's stories and a fascination with woe. However, while waiting for admisison in 1981, he began a successful freelance writing career. He began writing fiction in 1997, and has since published twelve novels. He's currently working on the thirteenth, the third in his U.S. Air Force Pararescuemen series, as well as several scripts for the stage and screen. He has won awards for his essays and screenplays, and has had three stage plays produced.
David is an accomplished guitarist, studying the works of James Taylor and Latin classical. At six feet six inches tall, he stays active with his sailboat, shooting sporting clays, weightlifting, traveling to research his novels. He is the founder of the James River Writers (Jamesriverwriters.org) a non-profit group in his hometown of Richmond that helps aspiring writers and students work and learn together as a writing community. He also co-founded The Podium Foundation (thepodiumfoundation.org), a non-profit which brings writing and critical reasoning programs to the students of Richmond’s city high schools, as well as support programs for city educators. He also teaches advanced creative writing as a visiting professor at Virginia Commonwealth University's Honors College. David resides in Richmond, near the James River.
In 1976, David graduated with a B.A. in Theater and Speech from the College of William & Mary in Williamsburg, Virginia. Having little actual theatrical talent, he didn't know what to do for a living. David decided to attend what he calls the “great catch-basin of unfocused over-achievers”: law school. He received his Juris Doctorate at William and Mary in 1980, then practiced environmental law in Columbia, S.C. for precisely a year (his father demanded back the money for law school if David practiced for less than one year – he quit two weeks before the anniversary but got Sam to agree that the two weeks' vacation David had accumulated could be included). David decided to attend Psychology school, having an affinity for people's stories and a fascination with woe. However, while waiting for admisison in 1981, he began a successful freelance writing career. He began writing fiction in 1997, and has since published twelve novels. He's currently working on the thirteenth, the third in his U.S. Air Force Pararescuemen series, as well as several scripts for the stage and screen. He has won awards for his essays and screenplays, and has had three stage plays produced.
David is an accomplished guitarist, studying the works of James Taylor and Latin classical. At six feet six inches tall, he stays active with his sailboat, shooting sporting clays, weightlifting, traveling to research his novels. He is the founder of the James River Writers (Jamesriverwriters.org) a non-profit group in his hometown of Richmond that helps aspiring writers and students work and learn together as a writing community. He also co-founded The Podium Foundation (thepodiumfoundation.org), a non-profit which brings writing and critical reasoning programs to the students of Richmond’s city high schools, as well as support programs for city educators. He also teaches advanced creative writing as a visiting professor at Virginia Commonwealth University's Honors College. David resides in Richmond, near the James River.
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Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews
August 11, 2016
LIBERATION ROAD is billed as a novel of World War II, but it's really a story of two men. Rabbi Ben Kahn is a Chaplain with the American Army in France - his personal crusade is to find out what happened to his son - a missing fighter pilot. Joe Amos is a black truck driver on the Red Ball, supplying the military machine, somehow not quite equal to those he is fighting with. Whilst Joe and Ben, in separate parts of the same theatre for most of the story, struggle with their own personal demons, an American man makes his fortune in the Black Market in Paris. Is this mysterious Chien Blanc Ben's missing son?
The concentration of LIBERATION ROAD is on Joe and Ben's individual wars. There's a very intimate, personal feeling to their stories which makes this the sort of book that the characters are absolutely central to. There's little by way of coverage of the full horror of the Second World War to the local people, or any acknowledgment of the rest of the Allies fighting. There are some small cameo's by two local French people in Joe's story - a romantic attachment in particular which could be seen as poignant on the face of it, but as it ends, there's little opportunity to understand what war has done to those locals trying to simply survive in such appalling circumstances. Whilst Joe and Ben struggle with the war that goes on around them - how to cope with the divide between white soldiers and black truck drivers; how to comfort the badly wounded and the dying; in Paris, Chien Blanc ruthlessly makes his money and lives as high a life as you possibly could under an occupation. The reader knows he is an American, but who is he really?
Ben and Joe slowly move towards each other (without knowing it), until a climax point of the book where the advance of the American Army is temporarily interrupted with profound results for both men. Ultimately, with LIBERATION ROAD the reader has to connect completely with Ben and Joe, be involved in their stories, their war; care whether Ben can ever find the truth about his son; whether Joe stays alive and gets home to his family; how their individual experience will affect both men for the rest of their lives.
The concentration of LIBERATION ROAD is on Joe and Ben's individual wars. There's a very intimate, personal feeling to their stories which makes this the sort of book that the characters are absolutely central to. There's little by way of coverage of the full horror of the Second World War to the local people, or any acknowledgment of the rest of the Allies fighting. There are some small cameo's by two local French people in Joe's story - a romantic attachment in particular which could be seen as poignant on the face of it, but as it ends, there's little opportunity to understand what war has done to those locals trying to simply survive in such appalling circumstances. Whilst Joe and Ben struggle with the war that goes on around them - how to cope with the divide between white soldiers and black truck drivers; how to comfort the badly wounded and the dying; in Paris, Chien Blanc ruthlessly makes his money and lives as high a life as you possibly could under an occupation. The reader knows he is an American, but who is he really?
Ben and Joe slowly move towards each other (without knowing it), until a climax point of the book where the advance of the American Army is temporarily interrupted with profound results for both men. Ultimately, with LIBERATION ROAD the reader has to connect completely with Ben and Joe, be involved in their stories, their war; care whether Ben can ever find the truth about his son; whether Joe stays alive and gets home to his family; how their individual experience will affect both men for the rest of their lives.
August 15, 2013
The shocking opening occurs 100 days after the allied invasion of Normandy, then the book backtracks to D-Day and follows the cast of characters as they slog through France. Unlike most war novels, which focus solely on the trigger pullers, the three main characters in this book are a rabbi, a truck driver, and a black market hoodlum, which gives a clue that perhaps this is not really a war novel at all. It’s a fast-paced, intriguing, character-driven story that just happens to be set during wartime.
September 12, 2024
lorem Ipsum...
November 22, 2016
Too often we think of war just in terms of statistics, loss of life, gunfire and camoflauge. But it is so much more. In this historical thriller you see the war through the eyes and life of a Rabbi Chaplain, a young american who runs the black market and some "colored boys" who prove that color does not really matter. He made this book to show honesty and reflection of the realities of warfare. While there is quite a bit of foul language, colorful humor and some harsh depictions of battle, you are left feeling like you are there witnessing it all. While this is based loosely on fact, I can say that a lot of it sounds very probable. And while I am not sure if it was this writers intention or not, but it is also the story of the prodigal son in an all new light that you won't get untill the very end. Worth reading.
June 20, 2016
The cover blurb says it's a novel of the Red Ball Express. It is not. Even if you count all of the parts about re-supply in general, it's only about a third of the book. The Red Ball itself is less than five per cent. As one who grew up during the war and whose father fought at Normandy, there are more nits to be picked than I care to count. Bottom line is I'm glad it came from the library and I didn't wate good money on to.
April 3, 2018
Once again, David Robbins creates a novel that's hard to put down. The battle scenes come to life and the characters' emotions are believable. As usual this book is superbly edited making it flow easily. The historical context helps to make this especially interesting for the history buff. One of the best novels I've read in a while.
June 21, 2012
Nooit doen: maar 1 boek meenemen op vakantie! Dit boek uit de 'bibliotheek' van het hotel gehaald en verslonden!
September 4, 2014
A great book about World War II and the massive supply lines that had to be established & expanded when the Americans landed in France, and fought to help liberate the French from the Germans.
March 27, 2020
An enlightening story of the “Red Ball Express,” when principally minority soldiers worked tirelessly to transport supplies to advancing troops following D-Day. We come to know Joe Amos, a driver who experiences racial bigotry in return for his herculean efforts, and Rabbi Ben Kahn, a man searching for redemption who must ultimately confront a shattering truth. I found myself invested in Joe’s story but, as the book read on, fascinated by the inner turmoil faced by Rabbi Kahn as he was forced to confront a reality no father would ever care to. Author Robbins puts us squarely in the middle of the mud, dangerous missions, uncommon bravery and demeaning encounters, and the musings of Joe and the Rabbi on their journeys to self-worth.
Was this review helpful? I am an avid world war based fiction reader and author. You can read more of my takes at https://brodiecurtis.com/curtis-takes/.
Was this review helpful? I am an avid world war based fiction reader and author. You can read more of my takes at https://brodiecurtis.com/curtis-takes/.
February 16, 2021
It was a bit hard to get into this book. Once past the 15th page I was hooked.
Robbins tells a realistic story about a chaplain, a black truck driver and a high living downed US pilot turned black market king in Paris.
Each has their burden to carry, their hopes and vision of the war and life.
The battle scenes are realistic. Certainly terrible.
Each of the three protagonists has a compelling story to tell.
A really good read
Robbins tells a realistic story about a chaplain, a black truck driver and a high living downed US pilot turned black market king in Paris.
Each has their burden to carry, their hopes and vision of the war and life.
The battle scenes are realistic. Certainly terrible.
Each of the three protagonists has a compelling story to tell.
A really good read
August 28, 2022
Surprisingly good read! I would have thought that all the tales about WWII would by now have exhausted the opportunities for a slightly different and engaging story, but this one was up to the challenge. The character development was quite good, the historical background well chosen to advance the storyline, and the human emotions at play were very convincing . . . Nicely done
January 24, 2018
I loved this book. I was hooked from the beginning. Beautifully written and a surprise til the end.
February 24, 2018
A little slower than some of his previous books, but still a good read if you like WWII books.
May 26, 2018
Lots of battle action. Story very informative. Probably should be 3.5.
November 27, 2023
To me this book was all over the place and ome sentence made no sense with the next
September 11, 2024
I love David's writing. I get sucked into the plot, and I care about the characters. The problem is that when I start one of his books, I neglect my chores.
December 18, 2019
Siamo lontani dal bellissimo libro "Fortezza Stalingrado" sempre di questo autore da cui è stato tratto anche l'incantevole film "Il nemico alle porte" e anche dal suo successore "La fine della guerra", ma ereditiamo comunque una vicenda godevole, ben strutturata e con alle basi un ampia ricerca storica.
Siamo in Francia, nei giorni successivi al D-Day (lo sbarco alleato in Normandia) in piena seconda guerra mondiale e come sempre ormai l'autore di questo libro ci racconta gli avvenimenti di questa immane tragedia tramite gli occhi di tre personaggi che si muovo nella trama di questa storia accavallando le loro vicende, i loro sentimenti, le loro storie.
Protagonisti assoluti sono i "Red Ballers" i ragazzi di colore che trasportarono quintali di materiali dalle spiagge dello sbarco ai ragazzi impegnati in prima linea durante l'avanzata alleata nel cuore della Germania nazista. Buoni i personaggi, buono l'intreccio e colpo di scena finale che non può non lasciare impressionato piacevolmente il lettore.
Tuttavia mi sento di consigliare questo libro agli appassionati del genere "guerra", perchè troppo impregnato e legato alle vicende storiche narrate per interessare un più etereogeneo pubblico.
Una prova minore dell'autore rispetto ai primi due scritti, che probabilmente appassionerà soltanto gli amanti del genere.
Siamo in Francia, nei giorni successivi al D-Day (lo sbarco alleato in Normandia) in piena seconda guerra mondiale e come sempre ormai l'autore di questo libro ci racconta gli avvenimenti di questa immane tragedia tramite gli occhi di tre personaggi che si muovo nella trama di questa storia accavallando le loro vicende, i loro sentimenti, le loro storie.
Protagonisti assoluti sono i "Red Ballers" i ragazzi di colore che trasportarono quintali di materiali dalle spiagge dello sbarco ai ragazzi impegnati in prima linea durante l'avanzata alleata nel cuore della Germania nazista. Buoni i personaggi, buono l'intreccio e colpo di scena finale che non può non lasciare impressionato piacevolmente il lettore.
Tuttavia mi sento di consigliare questo libro agli appassionati del genere "guerra", perchè troppo impregnato e legato alle vicende storiche narrate per interessare un più etereogeneo pubblico.
Una prova minore dell'autore rispetto ai primi due scritti, che probabilmente appassionerà soltanto gli amanti del genere.
August 28, 2012
Another great historical novel of the ETO during WWII. Robbins hit a home run again with his series of WWII novels.
December 29, 2012
...Not sure if this is the same one I read as a kid...Where's the synopsis?
April 12, 2015
David Robbins writes good stories of WW II. This one covers the invasion of Normandy to the Red Ball Express as the Allies chase the Germans out of France.
Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews