To Hell and Back

Reading Audie Murphy's account of his World War II experiences in "To Hell and Back" is a surreal experience. I've seen the movie many times, but I only recently bought the book. It always amazed me watching him on-screen realizing he really did these things. Many of the characters in the book seem like stereotypes. They were all real. Much of this book would seem cliche being written today. What we have to keep in mind is the fact that most stereotypes began as types. The ...moreReading Audie Murphy's account of his World War II experiences in "To Hell and Back" is a surreal experience. I've seen the movie many times, but I only recently bought the book. It always amazed me watching him on-screen realizing he really did these things. Many of the characters in the book seem like stereotypes. They were all real. Much of this book would seem cliche being written today. What we have to keep in mind is the fact that most stereotypes began as types. The reason these characters appear in so much fiction about war is because they appeared in the reality of Audie Murphy's war. Writers and film makers have copied Audie Murphy's story repeatedly over the years. He set the standard. I don't think any book has ever been written that better captures what war feels like from the perspective of the men fighting it. It's a masterpiece. There isn't a whole lot I can add to what's already been said. I will only say that this is a book that should be read by anyone with an interest in World War II or the men who fought it. I recommend it highly.