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Title details for The Great Bridge by David McCullough - Available

The Great Bridge

The Epic Story of the Building of the Brooklyn Bridge

by David McCullough
Nelson Runger
Audiobook
1 of 3 copies available
Borrow Listen to a sample Listen to a sample
1 of 3 copies available
The dramatic and enthralling story of the building of the Brooklyn Bridge, the world's longest suspension bridge at the time, a tale of greed, corruption, and obstruction but also of optimism, heroism, and determination, told by master historian David McCullough.
This monumental book is the enthralling story of one of the greatest events in our nation's history, during the Age of Optimism—a period when Americans were convinced in their hearts that all things were possible.

In the years around 1870, when the project was first undertaken, the concept of building an unprecedented bridge to span the East River between the great cities of Manhattan and Brooklyn required a vision and determination comparable to that which went into the building of the great cathedrals. Throughout the fourteen years of its construction, the odds against the successful completion of the bridge seemed staggering. Bodies were crushed and broken, lives lost, political empires fell, and surges of public emotion constantly threatened the project. But this is not merely the saga of an engineering miracle; it is a sweeping narrative of the social climate of the time and of the heroes and rascals who had a hand in either constructing or exploiting the surpassing enterprise.

  • Creators

  • Publisher

  • Release date

    May 15, 2012

  • Formats

    • OverDrive Listen audiobook

      • ISBN: 9781442355606
      • File size: 789433 KB
      • Duration: 27:24:39

  • Languages

    • English

  • Reviews

    • AudioFile Magazine
      The building of the Brooklyn Bridge--at the time, the longest suspension bridge in the world--over 14 years took its toll on the men who built it. Among the casualties were the men who led the project --John Roebling, who died of lockjaw following an accident at the site, and his son Washington, who suffered from decompression sickness. Edward Herrmann brings the story alive by making it a human story of the Roebling family and the workers who executed their vision. Although constructed from dry sources, the account brings alive the sacrifices made for this engineering marvel. This emphasis on the human side makes the story a natural for audio. J.A.S. (c) AudioFile 2005, Portland, Maine
    • AudioFile Magazine
      Everything we ever wanted to know about the building of the Brooklyn Bridge is in this book, and we should be thankful for that. This is the kind of good, solid history that both informs and enlightens. Narrator Nelson Runger does an excellent job with this mammoth work. His stately delivery and authoritative baritone lend credence to the author's words and keep the story moving toward its exultant end. Runger is a master of understatement, and that works here. He puts McCullough's ideas front and center, where we can digest them and analyze their depth. The only drawback is that because of its length, the book and Runger's voice can wear us down. The reward at the end, though, is well worth the effort. R.I.G. (c) AudioFile 2006, Portland, Maine
    • Publisher's Weekly

      Starred review from September 6, 2004
      This outstanding audio adaptation brings to life the Herculean struggles behind the creation of one of this country's most recognizable and enduring landmarks. Herrmann's rich, expressive voice perfectly complements McCullough's stately language, and the combination of their talents—coupled with the impressiveness of the engineering marvel that is the Brooklyn Bridge—makes this a compulsive listen. Subtle changes in Herrmann's tone clearly set off quotations without interrupting the flow, and though this audiobook is abridged, the deleted segments are briefly summarized by an unobtrusive second narrator so that listeners never feel as if they're missing part of the story. While there are some descriptions of the 13-year construction process that would have benefited from illustrations, the production as a whole is superb. Listeners cannot help being moved by the grandeur of the structure and by the spectacular risks taken by the men who worked on it, particularly chief engineer Washington Roebling, who remained the driving force behind the bridge despite being crippled by the bends and bedridden for many years. Drama of every kind can be found here: political scandals, intense rivalries, extreme loyalty, a charming love story, heroism, spectacular near-disasters, death, illness and war. Once called the eighth wonder of the world, the Brooklyn Bridge still inspires artists and photographers, tourists and natives alike, and it is the only stone-towered, steel-cabled bridge in the world. In this excellent production, listeners will be inspired anew. Based on the S&S hardcover.

Formats

  • OverDrive Listen audiobook

subjects

Languages

  • English

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