- Paperback: 288 pages
- Publisher: HarperCollins; (Reissue) edition (3 Dec 2001)
- Language English
- ISBN-10: 0006545351
- ISBN-13: 978-0006545354
- Product Dimensions: 19.4 x 12.8 x 2 cm
- Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 446,198 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
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Review
‘Entertaining and compulsively readable… achieves a memorable authenticity.’ Melvyn Bragg
Product Description
‘Quite simply one of the best novels of army life I’ve read in years.’ JACK HIGGINS
This outstanding first novel established Alan Judd’s literary reputation and was one of the most talked about and best-selling books for years.
After university and Sandhurst, Charles Thoroughgood has now joined the Assault Commandos and is on a four-month tour of duty in Armagh and Belfast. The thankless task facing him and his men – to patrol the tension filled streets through weeks of boredom punctured only by bursts of horror takes them through times of tragedy, madness, laughter and terror. Alan Judd tells Thoroughgood’s tale with verve, compassion and humour. The result is an exceprionally fine novel which blends bitter human incident with bizarre army farce that will make you laugh out loud.
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
9 of 11 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
The best way to describe my stance towards this book was that I 'slipped' into it.
I normally bumble about at the begining of a novel, and have to convince myself that I actually want to read it, but not so with Alan Judd's book here.
The characters are slightly confusing to follow from time to time, but nevertheless, it is a gripping and facinating read.
I can't help but feel that Alan Judd has written this book with more fact than fiction, and has certainly added his own slant to the Army's involvement in Northern Ireland, and the bitter relationship that they had/have with the Catholic community therein.
I most certainly enjoyed the novel, and am surprised by this as I didn't expect to do so quite as much as I did.
The humour is wry, and the situations extremely powerful so much at times that you can almost forget it's fiction that you are reading. Perhaps this is a sad reflection as to the horrors that we have become accustomed to on our television screens whenever there is a mention of the Province.
Well worth the read. I am rather sad that I have finished the book.
I normally bumble about at the begining of a novel, and have to convince myself that I actually want to read it, but not so with Alan Judd's book here.
The characters are slightly confusing to follow from time to time, but nevertheless, it is a gripping and facinating read.
I can't help but feel that Alan Judd has written this book with more fact than fiction, and has certainly added his own slant to the Army's involvement in Northern Ireland, and the bitter relationship that they had/have with the Catholic community therein.
I most certainly enjoyed the novel, and am surprised by this as I didn't expect to do so quite as much as I did.
The humour is wry, and the situations extremely powerful so much at times that you can almost forget it's fiction that you are reading. Perhaps this is a sad reflection as to the horrors that we have become accustomed to on our television screens whenever there is a mention of the Province.
Well worth the read. I am rather sad that I have finished the book.
1 of 2 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
Surprisingly absorbing book, given that its main theme is the boredom and drudgery experienced by the troops confined within totally unsuitable accommodation during the Northern Ireland conflict in the early seventies. It is steadfastly referred to as a novel by both the author and by reviewers but it simply does not read like one. Rather it reads like a first person account of the appalling four months covered by the narrative, in many ways the oft told soldier's story of long periods of total ennui punctuated by brief moments of terror. It is wonderfully written and characterised, one of those books which really take you there as though you experienced it yourself. Moments of superb military humour are peppered throughout too. Most enjoyable if a little harrowing at times.
Most Helpful Customer Reviews on Amazon.com (beta)
Amazon.com:
1 review
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful
Light Hearted Look at a Heavy Subject
4 Jan 2004
Format:Paperback
Breed of Heroes is an engaging book with hilarious insight into the ups and downs of Army hierarchy. As I laughed at the follies of the officers, I was struck by the resemblance to the follies of any large organization. Judd has demonstrated a grasp of human group behaviour, presented through the prime example of the Army.
In the first chapter of Breed of Heroes, I was a bit concerned that this was an Army book written by an author who knows the army for people with a keen interest in all things military. To the uninitiated civilian the military abbreviations, ranks, titles and customs seem like a foreign language requiring at least a phrase book for navigation. I am glad I stumbled through the first chapter because there was no stopping after that. While I think the book is most likely to draw an audience interested in the Army or in the conflict in Northern Ireland, I believe that anyone who has ever been part of a large organization (almost everyone) will find it thoroughly enjoyable.
Platoon commander Charles Thoroughgood seems an unlikely person to find in the Army. He is a graduate of Oxford and seems to be an independent thinker of the sort that would avoid a large structured organization like the plague. Charles is inexperienced and unsure of his ability as a leader. His fears about himself seem to be confirmed in his first confrontation with a crowd in Belfast. Indecisive and lacking initiative he fails to properly control the mob of women. His commanding officer is forgiving and assures him that it is inexperience and he will do better next time. Throughout the story the reader watches Charles learn, face challenges, and grow beyond his normal boundaries. And it is through his outsider eyes that we see the Army. His position as platoon commander is well chosen as it gives us insight into both the life of the soldiers and the world of the officers.
The story also provides insight into the raw humanity of life in Northern Ireland. In general, it seems to avoid political discussion and instead shows telling glimpses of the people of Belfast. The author succeeds in painting a rather gruesome picture of people at their worst. In Breed of Heroes, Judd touches on many important issues but does not allow them to bog down the story. He has balanced insight into a desparate situation with a lighthearted look at humanity.
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