Buy used: $69.84

FREE delivery Wednesday, February 15

Select delivery location

Used: Good | Details

Sold by Books In Demand

Fulfilled by Amazon

Access codes and supplements are not guaranteed with used items.

Have one to sell?

Sell on Amazon

Flip to back Flip to front

Listen Playing... Paused You're listening to a sample of the Audible audio edition.
Learn more

See this image

Excursion to Hell: Mount Longdon : A Universal Story of Battle Hardcover – January 1, 1993

by Vincent Bramley (Author)

56 ratings

See all formats and editions

Price

New from

Used from

Hardcover

"Please retry"

$69.84

—

$29.85

Unbound

"Please retry"

—

$12.68

Vincent Bramley's account of his experiences in the Falklands campaign is a universal story that transcends time and place. Such stories are rarely committed to paper and never as candidly as this. Mount Longdon will stand as the testament of common soldiers throughout history, caught up in wars not of their own making, of how they cope - or in many cases fail to cope - with fatigue, fear, aggression, carnage and death. It is a story filled with compassion and brutality in almost equal measure. Most of all it is a story of confusion - confusion in the heat of battle and confusion in the hearts and souls of ordinary men. Lance-Corporal Vincent Bramley is one of the few soldiers from the ranks to write of his experiences in battle in the Falkland Islands. In retelling what happened to him and his fellow paratroopers during the bloody battle of Mount Longdon, he comes closer than any previous writer to exposing the effect that the prospect of dying and the reality of killing has on a common soldier. Different men react differently to these most bewildering of circumstances. Vincent Bramley dispassionately describes behaviour of every kind from that of those who disappeared to avoid carnage, through those who - like himself - obeyed orders, faced death and did their share of killing, to those who became brutalized in the heat of battle and killed and maimed the enemy unnecessarily.

Print length

224 pages
Language

English
Publisher

Bloomsbury Pub Ltd
Publication date

January 1, 1993
Dimensions

7.99 x 10 x 1.85 inches
ISBN-10

0747509530
ISBN-13

978-0747509530
See all details

Mao Tse-Tung
442
Paperback
12 offers from $5.99

Product details

Publisher ‏ : ‎ Bloomsbury Pub Ltd (January 1, 1993)
Language ‏ : ‎ English
Hardcover ‏ : ‎ 224 pages
ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0747509530
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0747509530
Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 1.26 pounds
Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 7.99 x 10 x 1.85 inches

Best Sellers Rank: #3,846,547 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #1,689 in Australia & New Zealand History
- #145,665 in United States History (Books)

Customer Reviews:
56 ratings

Brief content visible, double tap to read full content.

Full content visible, double tap to read brief content.

Videos

Help others learn more about this product by uploading a video!

Upload your video

Customer reviews

4.8 out of 5

56 global ratings

5 star		84%
4 star		13%
3 star		3%
2 star 0% (0%)		0%
1 star 0% (0%)		0%

How customer reviews and ratings work

Top reviews from the United States

There was a problem filtering reviews right now. Please try again later.

Jorge L Perez Alati

Great

Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on June 11, 2011

Verified Purchase

I personally liked this book but mostly like a historical writing. I do have a great interest in this issue and this book completed my knowledge on the english point of view about this war. I had read some and in a future I will complete to read all the points of view about this war, the argentine, english, islanders and worldwide.
I was in a peculiar situation because I identified myself with Vincent's enemy, so everything he said about them I took it very personally. I have read lot's of books about different wars, but no book accomplished to describe the carnage of battle so well as this one. Because it is written in a first person point of view, it got more deeper in the explanation of his past moments. He did actually made me angry in a way when he wrote for example how he shot Argentines as if they were animals. He later wrote some experiences when the Argentines already surrendered and he was given some prisoners to take care of, and that relationship was kind of ironically nice. They were friends when they surrendered but enemies during battle. It did in a way, hurt my national pride.
Vincent wrote some things that is still a secret right now for example the executions of American hired mercenaries that fought for Argentina. He also wrote things that were new for me like how the Argentines sabotaged the islanders and British Army after surrendering, like booby traps or destruction of water pump facilities.
I recommend this book for those who are willing to read it in the most neutral way, because if not (if you are an Argentine) you will set fire this book or it will encourage violence between both sides.

4 people found this helpful

Helpful

Diego_G

The real face of war...

Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on September 10, 2018

Verified Purchase

The book provides a first-hand account of the horrors of war, and the carnage that took place in the decisive Battle of Mount Longdon. The writer uses simple language, which makes it easy to be inside the story. I have read several books on the Malvinas/Falklands War, but I have always wanted to know more about the conflict from the British side. The book is very candidly written, and I would certainly recommend Mr. Bramley's follow-up book 'Two Sides of Hell.'

Helpful

Kindle Customer

Absolutely incredible account of the Falklands war.

Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on October 26, 2019

Verified Purchase

I mean...damn. I couldn’t stop reading. What an amazing account of the hell of war. I am in awe at what bravery can look like. This book does not disappoint.

Helpful

Marsha Harris

Riviting account of Brit warefare in Fauklands

Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on March 9, 2018

Verified Purchase

Exciting account of a long and bloody siege in the Fauklands. I purchased a used book, so taking it in my bag or leaving it on the floor wasn't a worry. I was sure to pick it up to continue the riveting detail of the Brits and their battle with the Argentine butchers.

Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on April 26, 2002

This book had more impact on me than any other battle account I have ever read. It's an account of a vicious fight by soldiers who had the best training but no previous experience of the reality of war. Vince Bramley later wrote a follow-up, '2 Sides of Hell' based on the experience of some of his friends, and some Argentina soldiers who fought against them. I have seen translations of both books in shops in Buenos Aires. Vince Bramley is a guy I'd like to meet.
After reading these books, war fiction books are suddenly much less interesting.

3 people found this helpful

Helpful

n.levalle

an important book

Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on April 23, 2000

It is a book that is important to read. Even if it ends up distressing you a bit. Read along with "Nine Battles to Stanley" that was written by Nick van der Bijl (published in 1999)a colonel of the Royal Marines, one gets to know what really happened on that hill during that horrible night. It is a book that cannot be ignored. In fact British military writer Adrian Weale consulted it to write his book on the same battle titled Green Eyed Boys and, currently Spencer Fitz-Gibbon, another famous British military writer is consulting the book heavily for his book that will cover the land battles that took place in the Malvinas. Being Argentine I found the book highly moving. I believe the war was a tragedy for both sides and especially for those who lost a limb and have nightmares and the mothers and wives who lost their husbands and childrens. But what happened cannot be reversed and one must feel enormous respect for the Paras and the Argentine conscripts. I feel no shame to admit that I am proud of our conscript soldiers that went to Malvinas. The majority in the frontlines fought like lions. I go to bed many times at night picturing myself in Lieutenant Castaneda's platoon that carried out a counterattack on Mount Longdon against the Platoons Number 4 and 5 of the A Company of the British battalion. Although fear grips you as the author makes it known, I believe that what you fear more (even as a conscript) is to show fear and abandon your mates, NCOs and your platoon commander. And so, you march into the line of fire and you fight. You have a job to do. Very moving book and I wish Mr Bramley is able to write another one. Maybe about the 4th Regiment this time.

7 people found this helpful

Helpful

Miguel Angel Sosa

A real excursion to war, the worst hell on Earth

Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on January 20, 2000

I'd like to recommend this book because it means a lot to me. As a argentinian that I am it touched my feelings and the way the author describes his story is impressing. You can actually feel that you are at war and afraid to die. As himself describes usually soldiers' stories are not told, and they dies with the people who fought. This book is exactly what it takes to show how stupid are human beings solving troubles by killing each others.

3 people found this helpful

Helpful

Jef

Excursion to Hell

Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on October 26, 2003

This is a very candidly written and extremely moving account of war from the junior ranks point of veiw. I would recommend this and Mr Bramleys other book 'Two Sides of Hell' very highly

One person found this helpful

Helpful

Top reviews from other countries

Dr. Stuart Griffiths

I probably would still be inspired to be what these men went through for good or ill

Reviewed in the United Kingdom 🇬🇧 on November 8, 2016

Verified Purchase

I heard of this book years ago when I was serving in 3 PARA. I was in the shadow of these soldiers and we always looked up to these guys that fought in the Falklands War. I should have read this book back then, but I never did. Or even if I did, I probably would still be inspired to be what these men went through for good or ill. Anyway, I recently bought this book here as part of my research into these 'contemporary' conflicts and it has been a moving read to say the least. I admire the honesty and despite Vince Bramley not accepting my friend request on Facebook I think he is a interesting writer and writes with honesty and truth. For anyone researching that 1982 war in the South Atlantic, I fully recommend this book.

Schofieldma

Brilliant! Must read! Best Falkland War book published.

Reviewed in the United Kingdom 🇬🇧 on December 9, 2013

Verified Purchase

This is the second copy I have bought, as the first paper back fell to bits I'd read it so many times. At times funny, scary, sad and tragic. Makes you proud of the British armed forces, at the same time highlighting the true horror of war. Simply the most powerful book I've ever read.

One person found this helpful

ILoveToColour

Husband liked it.

Reviewed in the United Kingdom 🇬🇧 on September 9, 2016

Verified Purchase

Bought for. Husband who has said it's a decent well written book, the content is grim in places but overall it's not a difficult read and he'd recommend it to people who like this genre of non fiction.

Brain salad surgery

Five Stars

Reviewed in the United Kingdom 🇬🇧 on June 25, 2017

Verified Purchase

Well written, painfully insightful, a clear and graphic account of the horrors of war.

Mr. K. Hesketh

Excursion to Hell

Reviewed in the United Kingdom 🇬🇧 on September 8, 2010

Verified Purchase

Fantastic book with good pace. I personally know Sgt Steve Ratchford and he is a testament to the 'Para's who fought such a hard battle on Mt Longdon.

See all reviews

Excursion to Hell: Mount Longdon : A Universal Story of Battle Hardcover – January 1, 1993

Customers who bought this item also bought

Product details

Videos

Customer reviews

Top reviews from the United States

There was a problem filtering reviews right now. Please try again later.

Top reviews from other countries