Angel Down: A Discussion with Daniel Kraus

Angel Down: A Discussion with Daniel Kraus

Author: Mike Cunha October 1, 2025 Duration: 46:08

NYT bestselling author Daniel Kraus comes on the podcast to talk about his novel set in the Meuse-Argonne battle "Angel Down." 

 

From Simon & Schuster:

 

Private Cyril Bagger has managed to survive the unspeakable horrors of the Great War through his wits and deception, swindling fellow soldiers at every opportunity. But his survival instincts are put to the ultimate test when he and four other grunts are given a deadly mission: venture into the perilous No Man's Land to euthanize a wounded comrade.

 

What they find amid the ruined battlefield, however, is not a man in need of mercy but a fallen angel, seemingly struck down by artillery fire. This celestial being may hold the key to ending the brutal conflict, but only if the soldiers can suppress their individual desires and work together. As jealousy, greed, and paranoia take hold, the group is torn apart by their inner demons, threatening to turn their angelic encounter into a descent into hell.

 

Angel Down plunges you into the heart of World War I and weaves a polyphonic tale of survival, supernatural wonder, and moral conflict.



Where to buy "Angel Down" in the UK -

 

https://titanbooks.com/72777-angel-down/

 

Where to buy "Angel Down" in the US -

 

https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/Angel-Down/Daniel-Kraus/9781668068458



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Any questions, comments or concerns please contact me through the website, www.firstworldwarpodcast.com. Follow us on BlueSky at @WW1podcast.bsky.social:

 

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Hosted by Mike Cunha, Battles of the First World War Podcast is a dedicated exploration of the Great War’s defining confrontations. Each episode focuses on a single battle, moving beyond dates and maps to examine the intricate decisions, tactical realities, and human experiences that shaped these events. Cunha’s approach is to unpack the how and why, piecing together the sequence of command choices, logistical challenges, and frontline conditions that led to each clash’s outcome. Within this framework, the podcast gives voice to the individuals-soldiers, nurses, officers, and civilians-whose personal stories are woven into the larger narrative of this titanic twentieth-century struggle. Listening feels less like a lecture and more like a detailed, respectful reconstruction, where the scale of history is measured in both grand strategy and individual courage. For anyone seeking to understand the First World War beyond the textbook summaries, this series offers a thorough and compelling audio journey into the battles that changed the world.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 100

Battles of the First World War Podcast
Podcast Episodes
Mount Kemmel - What It Means to Take a Trench [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 44:12
A firsthand look at what it meant to attack and take an enemy position during WW1. Many thanks to Alex Lyons for the inspiration for this episode. Thanks, man! Link to Henri Desagneaux's memoir: https://www.goodreads.com…
The AEF 2nd Division in WW1: A Discussion with Steven Girard [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:24:04
Steven Girard, US Army veteran and veteran battlefield guide, comes back on the podcast to discuss the American Expeditionary Force's 2nd Division during the First World War. Note: The 2nd Division was organized at Bourm…
Arras - The Raid at Blangy [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 29:17
The story behind a famous photograph from the First World War of the men of 10th (Service) Battalion Cameronians (Scottish Rifles) in the Arras sector in 1917. Chris Baker's article: https://www.longlongtrail.co.uk/10th-…
The Great War Group with Alex Churchill & Beth Moore [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:04:50
This episode we are joined by the powerhouse team of Alex Churchill & Beth Moore to talk about the Great War Group that they created and run with their crack team. What a great conversation. Join the Great War Group! htt…
The French Army in the First World War, a Discussion: Pt 2 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 2:36:45
Part 2 of the ongoing discussion looks at misconceptions about the French Army, and French personalities of the war we should know about but, for reasons, do not. We wrap up with some advice on visiting the French battle…
Meuse Argonne - Liggett Takes Charge [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 34:01
LTG Hunter Liggett took command of the American Expeditionary Force's 1st Army in October of 1918. He had his work cut out for him–1st Army desperately needed reorganizing, refitting, and retraining. Robert J. Laplander…
The French Army in the First World War, a Discussion: Pt 1 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 2:24:11
This was so much fun to host–with the help of Alex Lyons, a fantastic group of WW1 enthusiasts were gathered for what will be the first of a multi-part series of discussions of the French Army and the French experience d…