What a Ripping Yarn.

Not Gibson or Richard Todd narrating but well told nevertheless. Miss this book and you miss a real Ripping Yarn.

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Fantastic Story of True RAF Hero Desecrated by Worst Narrator Ever!

Ok, so Guy Gibson is probably one of the most famous aviators of the 20th Century, and rightly so, his skills and leadership allowed a sizeable and notable personal contribution to the British and later Allied war effort that surpasses many others.

Whilst, as it was written without the benefit of historical reflection and by Gibson himself who was under considerable stress at the time, it’s factual accuracy must be taken with a pinch of salt, it’s a very insightful and enjoyable personal account of life in a Bomber Command squadron during the darkest and hardest days of that organisation’s war.

However, whoever cast Nigel Gair to narrate this deserves to lose their job! There are absolutely no positives to his narration of this book whatsoever! From the sluggish cadence, the poor tonality, the lacklustre inflection, the poor pronunciation of places and personalities, the clumsy breath control, it’s awful! There are some points in the story where it seems as if he almost forgets how to read! He manages to suck any drama and tension out of, what should be, a rip roaring yarn of daring-do!

I’m not saying avoid it, it’s a very good book, but prepare to be monumentally disappointed by its delivery!

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1 person found this helpful

Dire narration.

A truly magnificent work from a superb pilot and leader of men totally ruined by Nigel Gair.
This mans ruins the book, he sounds drunk at times and regularly runs out of breath at the end of a sentence.

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1 person found this helpful

excellent book. completely unsuitable narrator.

an excellent book written by one of my childhood heroes but absolutely ruined by the choice of narrator. if ever a book needed to be recorded it's this one.

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3 people found this helpful

Editing Issues

Considering the importance of the topic (and author), you would expect the narration and the editing to be of a higher quality. The narrator seems to struggle with pronouncing words properly and comes across as disinterested. This book needs to be re-recorded.

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1 person found this helpful

Not well read

A really great story poorly told , difficult to listen to as voice level is inconsistent .

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1 person found this helpful

Disappointing

I hate to agree with others but the narration really lets the content of this book right down. It just sounds so dull.

The information and background into Bomber Command is really interesting, as is the story of Gibson. Very glad I listened but please re-record!

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1 person found this helpful

Great story, poorly narrated

Such a shame. An excellent account of a man’s story at war, but let down by poor narration.

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Written by a hero who soon too to give his life

A poignant read. Written by a young leader who within a year was to give his own life. No review could ever do this book, this author, justice. Highly recommended

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4 people found this helpful

New perspective

Gibson in his own words is not the marionette others have made him out to be NOR the firm jawed hero as portrayed by Richard Todd in the film but a far more complex and thoughtful character.. well worth hearing his own view of the war and his part in it ..

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