The Great Bridge (McCullough)

Book Reviews 
The impact of the soaring structure [of the Brooklyn Bridge] upon the American imagination and American life has now been measured with sagacity and style by David McCullough...a writer with a sound sense of what to put in and what to leave out of his narrative. The acount...is supplemented by deft portraits of the heroes and anti-heroes who helped to construct, or obstruct, the enterprise.
Gerald Carson - New York Times Book Review

The Great Bridge is a book so compelling and complete as to be a literary monument...McCullough has written that sort of work which brings us to the human center of the past.
Los Angeles Times

(Audio version.) This outstanding audio adaptation brings to life the Herculean struggles behind the creation of one of this country's most recognizable and enduring landmarks. Herrmann's rich, expressive voice perfectly complements McCullough's stately language, and the combination of their talents coupled with the impressiveness of the engineering marvel that is the Brooklyn Bridge makes this a compulsive listen. Subtle changes in Herrmann's tone clearly set off quotations without interrupting the flow, and though this audiobook is abridged, the deleted segments are briefly summarized by an unobtrusive second narrator so that listeners never feel as if they're missing part of the story. While there are some descriptions of the 13-year construction process that would have benefited from illustrations, the production as a whole is superb. Listeners cannot help being moved by the grandeur of the structure and by the spectacular risks taken by the men who worked on it, particularly chief engineer Washington Roebling, who remained the driving force behind the bridge despite being crippled by the bends and bedridden for many years. Drama of every kind can be found here: political scandals, intense rivalries, extreme loyalty, a charming love story, heroism, spectacular near-disasters, death, illness and war. Once called the eighth wonder of the world, the Brooklyn Bridge still inspires artists and photographers, tourists and natives alike, and it is the only stone-towered, steel-cabled bridge in the world.
Publishers Weekly