In the evocative and poignant sequel to Tuesday's War, Charlie Bassett embarks on an exhilarating road trip across the battlefields of Europe
Charlie's War
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Book Description
My old skipper once told me to always expect the unexpected. I should have listened to him . . . When a plane crash leaves Charlie Bassett rested from the RAF, he receives unexpected orders - to locate the elusive, pregnant Grace Baker and bring her home. But Grace, who has been following the armed forces across Europe, clearly does not want to be found, and despite Charlie's personal stake in it, this bizarre and challenging mission is still one he would rather avoid. Nevertheless, Charlie finds himself journeying to France in a car named Kate, with a dubious, eccentric Army Major and his loyal Sergeant - two men who are evidently going about mysterious duties of their own. And as Charlie moves slowly towards the front-line on this exhilarating road trip, so too does he draw closer to the woman he once loved and lost . . .
About the Author
David Fiddimore was born in 1944 in Yorkshire and is married with two children. He worked for five years at the Royal Veterinary College before joining HM Customs and Excise, where his work included postings to the investigation and intelligence divisions. Charlie's War is the second novel in the Charlie Bassett trilogy. With his first novel, Tuesday's War, David Fiddimore reached the final of the first ever Richard & Judy 'How to Get Published' competition.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
15 of 16 people found the following review helpful
By Dead Elvis
Format:Paperback
Written in an informal style, like a conversation with a friend, Charlie's War continues in the same vein as Tuesday's War - a mans' view, often comical, often surreal, of his experiences in WW2, this time travelling in a car through Europe, finally ending in the ravaged city of Bremen. His mission: to find his elusive love Grace who has recently given birth to a child but, after a traumatic experience, joined the Red Cross and is working with the Allies in mainland Europe.
Slightly darker than the last book, Charlie's War reflects a Heart of Darkness style journey as Charlie and his companions travel towards Germany. Their encounters become more dangerous and surreal as the journey progresses. These experiences often reflect real life occurences known by the author and often experienced by his father.
My grandad said to me that if you took the war too seriously you would never have survived it and Fiddimore helps to show this mentality amongst the troops, especially between Charlie and his two travelling companions - Les and James. Although at times harrowing, the book mainly focuses on the camaradery between characters and has much sharp, witty dialogue to enjoy. Several celebrity cameos and knowing winks to popular culture add to the sense of fun needed to survive amongst the devastation of war.
Charlies is a man's man - loves women and booze and is not afraid to admit it. He is likeable though maybe a bit more popular with the ladies than he should be - however someone once told me if you can make them laugh that's half the battle and Charlie has a way with the one liners!... Read more ›
Slightly darker than the last book, Charlie's War reflects a Heart of Darkness style journey as Charlie and his companions travel towards Germany. Their encounters become more dangerous and surreal as the journey progresses. These experiences often reflect real life occurences known by the author and often experienced by his father.
My grandad said to me that if you took the war too seriously you would never have survived it and Fiddimore helps to show this mentality amongst the troops, especially between Charlie and his two travelling companions - Les and James. Although at times harrowing, the book mainly focuses on the camaradery between characters and has much sharp, witty dialogue to enjoy. Several celebrity cameos and knowing winks to popular culture add to the sense of fun needed to survive amongst the devastation of war.
Charlies is a man's man - loves women and booze and is not afraid to admit it. He is likeable though maybe a bit more popular with the ladies than he should be - however someone once told me if you can make them laugh that's half the battle and Charlie has a way with the one liners!... Read more ›
10 of 11 people found the following review helpful
By C. Waite
Format:Paperback
Have to admit that before I read the first book I was a bit put off by the Richard and Judy thing but despie that I enjoyed the book enormously! I have to say though that this second book is even better and I couldn't put it down. Indeed I almost missed my flight back from Geneva yesterday as I was so engrossed! Excellent - I would highly recommend it...
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful
By Gringotown
Format:Paperback
I have read both novels by David Fiddimore, unfortunately I managed to read them out of sequence, though this did not affect my enjoyment of this novel and Tuesday's Child.
Tuesday's Child had you living with the Lanc's crew and the feeling of trepidation with each `mission' had you concerned, possibly material for a good TV drama if done correctly.
When reading Charlie's War you could think that some of the situations maybe far fetched but after doing additional research you discover life is stranger than fiction.
The young man sent on a mission just before the end of the war in Europe and his reaction to the characters he meets and the situations he encounters make you think how you would have reacted. This is all described with a humour that seems common place amongst soldiers who may face death at any time. The episode describing a couple of the charaters attitude to the `elephant' gun is funny but shows the seriousness of war.
I read both books on the train during my daily commute to work and had some looks when I was reading it because I was smiling, I noticed that people were trying to see the title.
Neither book glorifies war but takes a sideward look at it and shows people making the most of a situation during a time that hopefully mine and future generations will never have to know of first hand. The books have a sexual content in places but I believe that schools should be encouraged to use them both in an historical context and because of the high standard writing.
Tuesday's Child had you living with the Lanc's crew and the feeling of trepidation with each `mission' had you concerned, possibly material for a good TV drama if done correctly.
When reading Charlie's War you could think that some of the situations maybe far fetched but after doing additional research you discover life is stranger than fiction.
The young man sent on a mission just before the end of the war in Europe and his reaction to the characters he meets and the situations he encounters make you think how you would have reacted. This is all described with a humour that seems common place amongst soldiers who may face death at any time. The episode describing a couple of the charaters attitude to the `elephant' gun is funny but shows the seriousness of war.
I read both books on the train during my daily commute to work and had some looks when I was reading it because I was smiling, I noticed that people were trying to see the title.
Neither book glorifies war but takes a sideward look at it and shows people making the most of a situation during a time that hopefully mine and future generations will never have to know of first hand. The books have a sexual content in places but I believe that schools should be encouraged to use them both in an historical context and because of the high standard writing.
8 of 9 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
I read Tuesday's War and thoroughly enjoyed it. I was expected much of the same with Charlie's War but it is completely different. However, different in a good way. This book is solely about a journey made by Charlie and two intelligence people through France, Belgium and Germany right at the tail end of the war. Charlie has been dispatched to find and return his pregnant girlfriend Grace from Europe. Her parents are wealthy and have the ear of Churchill so pull strings to bring this about. The book is as much about the relationships between the three traveling companions and their respective ranks as the search for Grace. Of course there is much adventure and subterfuge along the way. I highly recommend this book. It is nearly 500 pages long but each one is a joy. I look forward to the next one.
6 of 7 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
Serendipitously I came across the first Charlie Bassett novel, "Tuesday's War", whilst googling on the BOAC wartime flights to Portugal that featured in the novel "The Eldorado Network" by another gifted author of WWII stories, Derek Robinson. On the evidence of his first book and this one, Mr Fiddimore deserves to be ranked up there with the great DR - his novels crackle and fizz with wit and humour, some of it deep black.
Charlie's War (which also echoes the title of one of my favourite comic strips, "Charley's War" by Mills & Colquhoun) follow the progress of Charlie Bassett across France, Holland and Germany in a Humber staff car called Kate, during the tail end of WWII. This unusual road-trip take place at the behest of the parents of the enigmatic Grace Baker, the heroine of the previous novel who disappears from Charlie's life at its end.
Fiddimore borrows from his own family background with the plot of this novel, and that intimate knowledge shows in the rich, detailed description of the anarchic world of the newly-liberated "rear areas" through which Charlie passes on his quest. A world where anything and everything is for sale, and fortunes can be made if you know the right people. Where life is vivid, dangerous, and lived for the minute. A number of real-life people make cameos, and along the way Fiddimore comes up with a more than plausible conspiracy theory too.
Highly recommended. Can't wait for the final novel of the triolgy!
Charlie's War (which also echoes the title of one of my favourite comic strips, "Charley's War" by Mills & Colquhoun) follow the progress of Charlie Bassett across France, Holland and Germany in a Humber staff car called Kate, during the tail end of WWII. This unusual road-trip take place at the behest of the parents of the enigmatic Grace Baker, the heroine of the previous novel who disappears from Charlie's life at its end.
Fiddimore borrows from his own family background with the plot of this novel, and that intimate knowledge shows in the rich, detailed description of the anarchic world of the newly-liberated "rear areas" through which Charlie passes on his quest. A world where anything and everything is for sale, and fortunes can be made if you know the right people. Where life is vivid, dangerous, and lived for the minute. A number of real-life people make cameos, and along the way Fiddimore comes up with a more than plausible conspiracy theory too.
Highly recommended. Can't wait for the final novel of the triolgy!
Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
Another cracker!
Another classic from David Fiddimore - part of the trilogy of WW2 tales of Charlie
This book is another first class read from a very talented author - Highly recommended
This book is another first class read from a very talented author - Highly recommended
Published 23 months ago by BoogieBear
5.0 out of 5 stars
CHARLIE'S WAR
Charlie's War
This one's even better than the Hidden War it captures the chaos and disorganisation of military life (those who find the statement that Military... Read more
This one's even better than the Hidden War it captures the chaos and disorganisation of military life (those who find the statement that Military... Read more
Published on 18 May 2009 by Mr. D. Campbell
5.0 out of 5 stars
The Ultimate Road Trip...
Following on from 'Tuesday's War', 'Charlie's War' takes us on the ultimate road trip through a shattered Europe at the fag end of WWII. Read more
Published on 5 Nov 2008 by B. C. Rost
4.0 out of 5 stars
I enjoyed this book
I really enjoyed this book. It seemed, in some ways less focussed than it's prequel, Tuesday's War, but it talked about the chaos, destruction and horror of Europe in early 1945... Read more
Published on 19 May 2008 by jan
5.0 out of 5 stars
Fiddimore comes up trumps again!
Wow, just like Tuesdays child, i could not put this book down. Charlie has now gone over to France to bring back Grace Baker and her baby (the father could be one of many). Read more
Published on 24 Feb 2008 by Lancaster Lucy
5.0 out of 5 stars
Is Charlie growing up ?
Thankfully Charlie is still Charlie. Unfortunately war is still war.
He is moving; and moving. Read more
He is moving; and moving. Read more
Published on 15 Jan 2007 by Muymalestado
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