Great book about the Great Escape

A well-written, thoroughly-researched reappraisal of the famous escape. An essential read if you are a ww2 history buff. Richard Burnip’s narration is excellent.

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Nicely written telling of this story

This book gives a good telling of the story of the Great Escape. Worth the purchase.

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A Real eye opener

Forget everything you think you know about the Great Escape from the movie (almost none of which is true) . This is a very poignant history of a heroic or foolish action, depending on your point of view, I was, in turn, astonished,amazed, thrilled, brought to my knees with laughter, saddened and filled with rage before finally being left with one question WHY?

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Very interesting and a little sad...

This was a very well narrated bit of history, sad to think it is true... put a bit of a damper on the film.

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This Is The Great Escape

What did you like most about The Real Great Escape?

This book has had such good reviews this year and the audio book lives up to these expectations. It is so topical at this time of year when we are faced with re-runs of the 1963 film, The Great Escape on television.
The build-up to the break-out is gripping. 40 per cent of the men who emerged from the tunnel codenamed 'Harry' were non-British (they included Poles, Czechs, Australians, French and Danes) and that the three ultimately successful escapers were two Norwegians and a Dutchman.
Walters also emphasises that the escape was crucially aided by the complicity of some of the captors who provided money, maps, radio equipment and even a camera, usually in exchange for much coveted coffee, soap and cigarettes from Red Cross parcels.

Who was your favorite character and why?

In 1942, the Germans did build a high security prisoner of war camp for officers and former ‘escape artists’ called Stalag Luft III. The leader of the escape team was Squadron leader Roger Bushell.

What about Richard Burnip’s performance did you like?

The narration was done in a 'documentary' style which was entirely appropriate to the story and added credibility.

Did you have an emotional reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

I was very involved with the story. This book tells it how it really was and it is a fascinating historical novel which ‘lets slip’ some insights in to how cinema created such unreal perceptions. Such as the fact that in the prison camp, the officers were not mainly British, but were from all over Europe, mainly Poland.

Any additional comments?

This is a book which would make a great gift for dad’s and grandad’s and for everyone who is a fan of the 1963 film.

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8 people found this helpful

Important History

This might well be the definitive account of the 1944 Great Escape of British RAF POWs from a Nazi German prison camp - which clarifies much and dismisses many misconceptions, lies and misunderstandings. The bravery of these men must never be forgotten.

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2 people found this helpful

Real Great Escape

Fantastic writing and really good to hear the story which is more aligned to the truth after having g the film of the same name in one's mind for so long

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fantastic and full of detail

this is an excellent view of the Great Escape that will kep you intrested once past the slow start.. You will cheer, cry and shout in good measure.

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Events as recorded rather than imagined

A dispassionate account with compassion and balance.
In its accounts it asks some tough questions but is not too judgmental.
Given that these are historical events to people of my age I can not know its accuracy, but despite feeling a little more informed I can still enjoy the movie.

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Fascinating story

Overlays the boys own myth from the film, but describes the shocking fate of these men at the hands of the Phsycopaths running an evil Empire!

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