Rendezvous with Death, David Hanna
Rendezvous with Death, David Hanna
List: $16.99 | Sale: $11.89
Club: $8.49

Rendezvous with Death
The Americans Who Joined the Foreign Legion in 1914 to Fight For France and For Civilization

Author: David Hanna

Narrator: Joe Barrett

Unabridged: 7 hr 58 min

Format: Digital Audiobook Download

Publisher: Tantor Media

Published: 06/20/2016

Synopsis

Before America joined World War I, a small group of Americans volunteered for the French Foreign Legion to help defeat the Central Powers. Historian David Hanna profiles seven of these volunteers: a poet, an artist, a boxer, a stunt pilot, a college student, a veteran of the Spanish American War, and an advertising executive. All seven men were united in courage; and some, like poet Alan Seeger, paid the ultimate sacrifice. Before he was killed in battle, Seeger penned the immortal words that inspired this book's title:

I've a rendezvous with Death

At midnight in some flaming town,

When Spring trips north again this year,

And I to my pledged word am true,

I shall not fail that rendezvous.

About David Hanna

David Hanna was raised on the coast of Maine. He teaches history at Stuyvesant High School in New York, and is an adjunct instructor at New York University. He is a recipient of the New York Times Teachers Make a Difference award. His first book, Knights of the Sea, is about a naval battle that occurred in the waters of his home state.

Reviews

Goodreads review by William on May 09, 2018

A so-so book on the FFL. I would have dived deeper into the personlaties and used more sources on the war. Otherwise, just a fair book on Americans in WWI.......more

Goodreads review by Melissa on February 28, 2017

When the United States entered World War I in 1917, its forces joined a handful of Americans who had already been fighting under the French flag for years. In his 2016 volume, Rendezvous with Death: The Americans Who Joined the Foreign Legion in 1914 to Fright for France and for Civilization, author......more

Goodreads review by John on July 03, 2019

No real character development. Q- Why join the the French Foreign Legion? Hanna gives the impression that it’s idealism, folly, escapism and other assorted reasons. There is probably not one reason, but Hanna never clearly explores why these men joined. The title comes from a Sefer poem (Sefer does......more

Goodreads review by Tom on November 26, 2023

I enjoyed this audiobook. Hanna's research on the topic is clearly thorough, and he provides sufficient detail to help the reader/listener identify with the individuals whose stories he recounts, while keeping the narrative moving. Definitely a worthwhile read/listen on a niche First World War topic......more

Goodreads review by Meghan on June 23, 2022

Well-researched and captivatingly presented.......more

Add to Cart
Add to Wish List