The Longest Day

We hope it’s clear for all to see: the team here at André Deutsch are passionate about military history. This is a tremendously significant year for us, as we focus more than ever before on our military history publishing, but also prepare to commemorate some of the most important events in modern history. One of our recent labours of love has been publishing a new, definitive edition of Cornelius Ryan’s genre-defining work ‘The Longest Day’.

‘The Longest Day’ is a treasure amongst war literature, and is loved dearly by many. We wanted to treat it with the reverence it deserves, whilst also adding to the experience of reading an already unforgettable book. It was a great challenge, which is why the letter below, sent to our Editorial Director, Piers Murray Hill, by Cornelius Ryan’s daughter, Veronica, means so much to us.

Dear Mr Hill,

I cannot tell you how wonderful the new Carlton special edition of The Longest Day is and how much it means to me.  It is beautifully done and certainly a treasure not only to my family but to anyone who gets a copy. The new photos and the additions in the envelopes are just wonderful.

I was 18 when my father died.  He meant the world to me.  To this day, losing him was by far the most difficult experience of my life.  I realize that I knew so little about him because my vantage point was that of a child.  To me, he was such fun.  He was loud and gregarious, certainly the center of every party or get together at our home.  He was the kind of father who seemed to make anything happen.  When he became ill, when I was 14, he embarked on a race against time to write A Bridge Too Far.  He did not want to leave his family unprotected.  I wonder if he knew just how much he meant to people around the world whom he touched with his words.  I am proud, beyond words, to be his daughter.  While I am not particularly clever in the writing arena, I certainly developed his sense of humor and and his joie de vivre!

It was amazing to me to read my father describe this book he envisioned and the enormous passion he had for it in the letters he wrote.  He had such a strong vision and such self-confidence! His enthusiasm was indefatigable. 

It is a joy to see this special edition in print and to know that my father’s books still have such literary and historical importance.  As the anniversary approaches, I have seen several articles listing the best books about the D Day invasion and my dad’s book is still in the top five!!  I think I am truly blessed to be his daughter.

Doug McCabe has been heaven sent.  His commitment to the collection and to my father’s reputation has been solid.  There could not have been anyone more appropriate to be the curator of this collection.  I have a wonderful friendship with Doug and Valaria and they have been true and loyal friends.  He was the perfect person to write the Introduction to the Carlton edition. I am sure he went out of his way to help with this project.  His knowledge of the collection is almost uncanny and sometimes I wonder if a little of Cornelius's spirit resides in Doug’s heart!

So, dear Piers, I thank you for believing in this project.  For making another of Cornelius’s dreams come true.  For giving my children an understanding about how important and necessary their grandfather was. Especially for giving me back my father for a moment and letting me feel his warmth again. 

Respectfully, 

Victoria Ryan Bida

André Deutsch's D-Day 70th Anniversary Collector's Edition of 'The Longest Day' by Cornelius Ryan is available from our website.