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Enemy Coast Ahead

The Memoir of Dambuster Guy Gibson

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Enemy Coast Ahead

By: Guy Gibson
Narrated by: Nigel Gair
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About this listen

A definitive new edition of a classic memoir, published in association with the RAF Museum, complete with notes from leading historians.

Guy Gibson was the leader of the famous Dambusters raid and Enemy Coast Ahead is a vivid, honest account, widely regarded as one of the best books on World War II. It is also an insider's account that sets down in clear, honest detail the challenges that the RAF faced in the war against Germany's Luftwaffe.

Tragically, Gibson died in September 1944, when his Mosquito crashed near Steenbergen in the Netherlands. He was aged just 26. This new book has been published to mark the 75th anniversary of his death and includes an introduction by James Holland, a historian and broadcaster, and notes by Dr. Robert Owen, the Official Historian of the No. 617 Squadron Association.

©2019 Guy Gibson (P)2020 Greenhill Books 20th Century Air Forces Armed Forces Engineering Europe Great Britain Historical Military Military & War Modern Netherlands World War II Transportation Aviation War Luftwaffe England US Air Force Submarine

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

What a Ripping Yarn.

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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.

Dire narration.

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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!

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

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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.

excellent book. completely unsuitable narrator.

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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.

Editing Issues

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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!

Disappointing

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

Not well read

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

Great story, poorly narrated

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I had to listen to this audio book, Guy Gibson was a household name in my youth and of course I’m very familiar with the film. I’ve also past his home off the Edgeware Road and read and reread the info on the blue plaque that graces the wall of his house.
I also have memories of drunken RAF airmen pretending to fly arms extended around the Naafi whilst humming the theme tune to the Dam busters. This book was great a record of cold blooded courage in almost suicidal situations. I have even more respect for these airmen.
The ending of the book was a record of the Dam buster Mission, but at the end of the book I was left hanging. We all know he was killed in action, and I was hoping we would have an explanation of his heroic end. I revised edition filling in this gap in his story is well overdue.

Ice Cold Courage

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I echo the other reviews of this quite magnificent autobiography.

The significance of the author, together with the story he had to tell deserves so much better than the bland and soulless voice of the narrator. The mispronunciations are difficult to hear, particularly when he uses the American pronunciation of lieutenant, which is criminal considering it’s a book about a British war hero.

However, do not let this detract from the fact it really is a very well written and gripping book.

Great story, not so great storyteller.

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