Brotherhood (the original novel, adapted into a play by Spielberg)

Author: Stephen E. Ambrose
Publisher:
Publication Date: 2003-09-01
Features: A heart-stirring, precious recollection of fighting in Europe; A magnificent spiritual history that peels back the complex humanity of war. Even in the face of the greatest cruelty, we still retain our primal instincts of love, hate, and fear, just like every soldier in Band of Brothers. Band of Brothers refers to E Company of the 101st Airborne Division, the same unit that Ryan belonged to in Saving Private Ryan, composed of the finest combat elite of the U.S. military in 1942. In April 1944, the U.S. sent all 6,700 paratroopers of E Company’s unit to the front lines. Due to air attacks, nearly all of them failed to land at their designated locations. Thus, E Company searched for their comrades while engaging in arduous battles, with casualty rates as high as 150% (because those who were replaced after being wounded died again). However, they succeeded in encircling Hitler’s headquarters in Zitgesgarten. The youngest surviving soldier of the company, Les, shared his unforgettable experiences of the Allies in Normandy and the precious memories of his fallen brothers with Stephen Ambrose, a World War II historian who had served as the historical consultant for the film Saving Private Ryan. After conducting extensive interviews with survivors and referencing the diaries and letters of the soldiers at the time, Ambrose wrote Band of Brothers. This book provides a microscopic account of the famous paratroop unit’s entire journey—from its formation, training, and combat to its disbandment. Over nearly three years of battle life, it details their sights, actions, thoughts, joys, frustrations, and perseverance. The rights to the book have been purchased by Tom Hanks for television adaptation, and it has been turned into a highly acclaimed television miniseries directed by the renowned American war film director Steven Spielberg for HBO.