First Day at Gettysburg Audiobook By Warren W. Hassler Jr. cover art

First Day at Gettysburg

Crisis at the Crossroads

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First Day at Gettysburg

By: Warren W. Hassler Jr.
Narrated by: Gregg A. Rizzo
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"Hassler's history will survive as our most detailed narrative of the first day's battle, examining the day's action so minutely that no succeeding historian of Gettysburg will be able to ignore it. Hassler's book has solid virtues in addition to its thoroughness of detail: It offers a persuasive argument that the first day's events largely determined the eventual outcome of the battle; Hassler displays uncommonly complete knowledge of the battlefield terrain [and] makes uniquely good use of the information that can be gleaned from the monuments and markers on the battlefield." ( American Historical Review)

©1970 The University of Alabama Press (P)2013 Redwood Audiobooks American Civil War Military Wars & Conflicts Civil War War

Critic reviews

"Hassler, a noted Civil War authority, has concentrated on the terrible, crucial combat of the first day; students of the war will appreciate Hassler's good research and writing. The book is a clear presentation of a complex battle. Highly recommended." ( Choice)
"Hassler's forte is unit combat; he combines a thorough mastery of the terrain with concise and colorful accounts of the ferocious fighting of that bloody day. His creation of the clash of brigades is Civil War history at its best." ( Civil War History)
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Had no idea Doubleday was that crucial on field. When visiting one does not realize what happened at the seminary being all monuments are on McPherson’s ridge. Next time I will spend time there taking it in.

Great detail

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Would you recommend this book to a friend? Why or why not?

Not as an audiobook. I know from research that this is a great book on Gettysburg and the reviews on Audible support that view. However these are really Amazon reviews - not Audible reviews. That is, (I assume) reviews of the written book not of it's spoken counterpart. Having just listened to Allen C. Guelzo's 'Gettysburg' with wonderful narration by Robertson Dean I was very disappointed to move on to this work and find the narration so poor by comparison.

What didn’t you like about Gregg A. Rizzo’s performance?

For a start, it is so rushed! It is like he had been taking speed or that the narration was accidently on 'fast forward'! The slower, deliberate pace of Robertson Dean in Guelzo's work is much more appropriate to both the nature of the subject and the era that it is depicting.

In Rizzo's reading, swathes of facts or observations just keep rushing past you with much annoyance. In fact the very complexity of the unfolding of the battle, the topography, positioning of the elements of the two armies etc. almost demands a slower reading so that it can be better absorbed.

Equally irritating (in tandem with the rapid narration style), was the endless rising and falling pitch to emphasize the drama of certain aspects. This was just unnecessary and distracting. By contrast, Dean's more even pitch (and pace) showed how well the drama of certain points of time and decisions in the battle could be well highlighted without becoming almost shrill.

As Audible listener's know, the narration is as important as the book itself. In future, I will make a point of ensuring I am looking at audiobook reviews and not those of Amazon members who are referring to their experience of the written work (which might be in stark contrast to the listening experience).

Any additional comments?

Some time ago I had listened to Grover Gardner's narration of Shelby Foote's amazing volumes on the Civil War. While Gardner did a great job with narrating William L. Shirer’s 'The Rise and Fall of the Third Reich', his voice and tone, I thought, was less suited to the Civil War era. Robertson Dean narrating Foote's work would have been an amazing blend!

I guess what I am trying to say is that in historical works that are set in an era very different to our own, the choice of narrator takes on a greater importance. While I am sure Gregg Rizzo has narrated other books very well, I felt he was the wrong choice for this work.

Disappointing Narration

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informitive, paints a picture. I added this book to my libary after my trip to Gettysburg and walking portions of Mc pherson's ridge, oak hill and many other stop along my time there

Its alright

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As written by others the narrator struggles with pronunciation of common names of participants.

Good book! Poor Narration.

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difficult to follow. hundreds of names but no clear story on the hourly steps if day one battle. wasted my money.

waste of my money

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