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  • A Higher Call

  • The Incredible True Story of Heroism and Chivalry During World War Two
  • By: Adam Makos, Larry Alexander
  • Narrated by: Robertson Dean
  • Length: 13 hrs and 21 mins
  • 4.8 out of 5 stars (321 ratings)
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A Higher Call cover art

A Higher Call

By: Adam Makos, Larry Alexander
Narrated by: Robertson Dean
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Summary

Four days before Christmas 1943, a badly damaged American bomber struggled to fly over wartime Germany. At its controls was a 21-year-old pilot. Suddenly, a German Messerschmitt fighter pulled up on his tail. Worse, the German pilot was an ace, a man able to destroy the American bomber in the squeeze of a trigger. What happened next would later be called 'the most incredible encounter between enemies in World War II.'

This is the true story of the two pilots whose lives collided in the skies that day: 2nd Lieutenant Charlie Brown, a farm boy from West Virginia, and 2nd Lieutenant Franz Stigler, a former airline pilot from Bavaria who sought to avoid fighting in World War II.

What happened between them was later classified 'top secret.' It was an act that Franz could never mention or else face a firing squad. It was an encounter that would haunt both Charlie and Franz for forty years...

©2013 Adam Makos (P)2014 Audible, Inc.
  • Unabridged Audiobook
  • Categories: History

What listeners say about A Higher Call

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  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    3 out of 5 stars

Brilliantly written but with a selective agenda

Where does A Higher Call rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

In the top third

Who was your favorite character and why?

Stigler

Have you listened to any of Robertson Dean’s other performances? How does this one compare?

No

Did you have an emotional reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

No

Any additional comments?

This was effectively the biography of Franz Stigler’s war, and all the better for being so. The central event was not as unique as the author implies. The writing is very skilful indeed. However this otherwise superb book is badly let down by the author’s selective American agenda (possibly unconscious and unintentional), which by extension made me doubt other aspects of the storyline. He continually fails to elaborate on non-U.S. contributions, even when these should have followed naturally in the storyline. For example telling a detailed story of Stigler’s downing by American P.40s (calling the action “one of the most spectacular air victories of the North African campaign!”) but then when it comes to Stigler’s other downing by a Spitfire, there is no description or story of it at all; we are not even told the bare bones of what happened. This sort of selective story telling irritated me throughout the book. I also found the author’s dismissive and unfair historical interpretations of non-U.S. victories irritating; such as offering no credit to the RAF in the Battle of Britain, and simply stating that the Germans lost focus before they could succeed! All of this will pay dividends in Hollywood of course, but it is a dis-service to history, hence the three stars, which should otherwise have been five stars for a very finely written and researched book.

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7 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

George's review

what a book,very powerful i was elated tearfull and exhausted at the end. I could not put it down, true men of honour in a time of hell. brilliant

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6 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

An Iconoclastic Take on WW2 Aerial Warfare!

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

Yes I would! A compelling story, well written and well read. Really draws you into the lives, fears, and hopes of the principal protagonists. It also gives a good overview of the politics and military situation that shaped the lives of those we read about.

Who was your favorite character and why?

Without a doubt, the Luftwaffe fighter ace Franz Stigler. The book really pivots around him.

Which scene did you most enjoy?

It has to be the moment where Stigler holds off shooting down the crippled B17 flown by Lt. Charlie Brown. In doing so, he has a personal shift in conscience: sacrificing his hitherto coveted Iron Cross but, by his own later admission, gaining something much more valuable...

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

Yes. Many. Many. But particularly the one described above.

Any additional comments?

My only concern is just how much of the book is actually true. Such is the immediacy of the writing, it reads like a novel. The authors state that the text is based on more than eight years of interviews with the principal participants, but I wonder how much detail can be recalled so many decades after the events. So many WW2 books have come under suspicion recently, particularly those that, like "A Higher Call", have been published after the deaths of those involved, meaning that there's nobody around to either corroborate or refute the facts. There's no denying it's a fantastic read, but if were an author trying to make lots of money - and I understand the film rights have already been sold - I'd try to make it as entertaining as possible, too.

Still, I loved this book, and I hope my doubts are unfounded. Go read it!

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6 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Amazing story of courage

Gritty war story and interesting reading Of the war in air, as seen from both sides. As an aircraft fanatic this is a terrific book. Also very heart warming and humbling. Fully recommended.
Keith Traylor

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5 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

holding back tears of joy, sadness, laughter and

heart warming, packed with historical facts, a testament to a generation of amazing courageous people

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2 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Like no other

I have read quite a number of books recently on these fly boys of the war and this is an outstanding account of an incredible story. The german pilots had it hard theres no doubt anout it, this covers the experience of Franz and his commrades vividly.

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2 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

The best audiobook I have listened to!

From start to end I was gripped! This is a unique story and I am thankful it was told.

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Brilliant!

A beautifully written story, read with such depth. This audio book isn't to be missed.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Thank you for your service you brave men.

Charlie Brown and Franz Stigler story has brought me to tear ever time I listen to it and I highly recommended it to anyone who love learning about the war.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

One of the best books ever!

This is one of my all time favourite books!
I loved it from beginning to end!
An absolutely amazing true story which I have so far listened to 3 times!
I’d HIGHLY recommend this book

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