Biggles Defies the Swastika
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Book Description
Biggles is back! And with new retro-style covers he'll be bigger than ever!
Product Description
'Suffering rattlesnakes! What am I getting into?' murmured Biggles, a ghost of a smile softening his face. 'First I'm sworn into the German Air Force; now, of all things, I'm a full-blown Gestapo Agent.'
Biggles is on a reconnaissance mission in Norway when the Germans invade without warning. If he can just get back to his plane he can leave Norway quickly and safely, but his old enemy Von Stalhein has heard that Biggles is in Norway, and he's determined to track him down...
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
12 of 12 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
The only adventure story I have ever read that has action all the way through the book - even at the begining. Biggles, the mastermind, he thinks of the best ideas, no one beats him. Captain W.E. Johns grips you in this most astounding story. Biggles does what he wants, when he wants, how he wants, with his cunning mind.
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
A REVIEW OF 'Biggles Defies The Swastika' by Captain W.E. Johns
Picture the scene: Oslo, Norway, 1940. The Nazi conquest of Europe is in full force, and trapped among the invaded Norwegians is none other than Squadron-Leader, James Biggleworth, there on a covert mission. This is, in short, a novel revolving around our hero, Biggles', attempts to escape and return to Blighty to play his part in defeating Hitler's regime. The premise is ludicrously simple, and yet this is about as satisfying a boys-own adventure as you can get. The pace is relentless, the twists immeasurable and the sense of purpose undeniable.
Where 'Biggles Defies The Swastika' triumphs above previous novels is the fact that it is neither a look back at The Great War (as were many of the novels written in the 1930s), nor is it an exotic adventure akin to that told in the previously-reviewed, 'Biggles Flies West'. Written in 1941, in 'Biggles Defies The Swastika', Captain W.E. Johns puts his man in the centre of a seriously-raw situation which ensures that the reader really cares about the outcome. It is not difficult to imagine the patriotic cheers emanating from many a reader in the early, desperate years of a conflict that Britain seems uncertain of winning. As a defiant punch on the collective Nazi nose, 'Biggles Defies The Swastika' must have done its job splendidly.
However, this is more than just a piece of wartime jingoism. 'Biggles Defies The Swastika' is also a very creative adventure tale. Biggles' chief problem is how to escape Norway, but a secondary dilemma is how to do so without his great adversary, von Stalheim, meeting him and exposing his various aliases. For a so-called children's novel, it is all rather ingenious, as well as being great fun.
Of course, in order to appeal to his readership, John's does take the liberty of including Biggles' sidekicks in his exertions. At times, it is not clear whether or not Algy and Ginger are a help or a hindrance and, at times, the appearances do rather over-tax the coincidence button. Similarly, the brutality of Hitler's regime is rather glossed-over, with the enemy like rivals on the rugger pitch rather than part of an armed forces led by a true despot.
Nevertheless, for what it is, 'Biggles Defies The Swastika' is first-class entertainment and certainly the best of a good bunch that I have tackled so far. In a strange way, I was rather pleased that the conclusion left all of the main protagonists in one piece. At least it ensured that there would be more fictional Biggles vs. von Stalheim action to go alongside the Churchill vs. Adolf drama unfolding in real life...
Barty's Score: 9/10
Picture the scene: Oslo, Norway, 1940. The Nazi conquest of Europe is in full force, and trapped among the invaded Norwegians is none other than Squadron-Leader, James Biggleworth, there on a covert mission. This is, in short, a novel revolving around our hero, Biggles', attempts to escape and return to Blighty to play his part in defeating Hitler's regime. The premise is ludicrously simple, and yet this is about as satisfying a boys-own adventure as you can get. The pace is relentless, the twists immeasurable and the sense of purpose undeniable.
Where 'Biggles Defies The Swastika' triumphs above previous novels is the fact that it is neither a look back at The Great War (as were many of the novels written in the 1930s), nor is it an exotic adventure akin to that told in the previously-reviewed, 'Biggles Flies West'. Written in 1941, in 'Biggles Defies The Swastika', Captain W.E. Johns puts his man in the centre of a seriously-raw situation which ensures that the reader really cares about the outcome. It is not difficult to imagine the patriotic cheers emanating from many a reader in the early, desperate years of a conflict that Britain seems uncertain of winning. As a defiant punch on the collective Nazi nose, 'Biggles Defies The Swastika' must have done its job splendidly.
However, this is more than just a piece of wartime jingoism. 'Biggles Defies The Swastika' is also a very creative adventure tale. Biggles' chief problem is how to escape Norway, but a secondary dilemma is how to do so without his great adversary, von Stalheim, meeting him and exposing his various aliases. For a so-called children's novel, it is all rather ingenious, as well as being great fun.
Of course, in order to appeal to his readership, John's does take the liberty of including Biggles' sidekicks in his exertions. At times, it is not clear whether or not Algy and Ginger are a help or a hindrance and, at times, the appearances do rather over-tax the coincidence button. Similarly, the brutality of Hitler's regime is rather glossed-over, with the enemy like rivals on the rugger pitch rather than part of an armed forces led by a true despot.
Nevertheless, for what it is, 'Biggles Defies The Swastika' is first-class entertainment and certainly the best of a good bunch that I have tackled so far. In a strange way, I was rather pleased that the conclusion left all of the main protagonists in one piece. At least it ensured that there would be more fictional Biggles vs. von Stalheim action to go alongside the Churchill vs. Adolf drama unfolding in real life...
Barty's Score: 9/10
8 of 10 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
This is the best of all the Biggles books ever written, with its brilliant story line of Biggles being trapped in Norway, as the Nazis are invading. With all his cunning wits and with the help of Ginger and Algy, Biggles finds himself mixed up in something big. With Von Stalhein hunting him down Biggles, Algy and Ginger dare to make a daring escape!
This is not one to miss a highly recommend you go and buy it, and i also heard a rumour that they are bringing it out on to film in the future.
This is not one to miss a highly recommend you go and buy it, and i also heard a rumour that they are bringing it out on to film in the future.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
Wonder Action
Biggles Defies the Swastika is another exciting Biggles book. Biggles is a spy and through many adventures solves the problem. Read more
Published on 26 Jun 2008 by "Smith" Reader
He's not flying
It wouldn't be a bad book, if it wasn't Biggles, but let's face it; how much flying does he actually do here? Even for a spy book it's only mediocre, but let's see some flying. Read more
Published on 5 Feb 2005 by "aywalty"
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