Coward on the Beach: 1 (Dick Coward 1) [Hardcover]

Read some of the other reviews with surprise. I suppose it just goes to show beauty really is in the eye of the beholder. Anyway, just to contradict myself straight away, here's why I really enjoyed this book and it's sequel.

I liked the story and the pacing. There's lots of interesting and apparently accurate historical background . The characters are likeable and believable in the context of the unlikely set of events in the story (yes I know that sounds like I'm contradicting myself again ). The story has touches of warm humour, action and excitement, and can also be touching. Without giving too much away, one of the final scenes really captures the conflicting emotions of relief, suddenly changing to frustration, guilt and sadness at the randomness of war.

Where the book does itself no favours is with the cover design and choice of reviews. I can see why people have made references to Flashman, Jeeves & Worcester but they are misleading.

Coward is an upper class wealthy landowner with an eccentric farther who has decided whichever son has the 'best' war shall inherent the estate. Unfortunately the brother is a cad. Coward is accompanied into battle by Price his down to earth, cynical batman who is an experienced soldier and would much rather be back on the estate running the stables.

Coward himself is also a very experienced soldier who just happens to have a lot of luck (good and bad). The family motto should be 'the road to hell is paved with good intention.' In particular, poor Coward can't help making a fool out of himself over the beautiful Gina. He does have his faults, mainly occaisional snobbery, but he admits these himself (especially in the case of the Landgirl someone mentioned in another review).

The book is written as his memoirs, recorded for his grandson after playing a PlayStation game together.

Anyway, I'm waffling, I've read the book twice now and was sad to get to the end on both occaision. My wife has also read it and enjoyed it and she would not normally read anything war related. We both found it added to our understanding and appreciation of a recent trip to the Normandy beaches.

I read the second book soon after the first and thought it was even better.

I hope the next one arrives soon and look forward to finding out more about the other adventures alluded to.

COWARD ON THE BEACH is the first in this new-ish series about a British officer in the Second World War. Dick Coward is, despite the name, rather a brave chap who always comes out smelling of turds no matter how dashing or brilliant he is. Here he takes part in the D-Day invasion with the lads from 47 (RM) Commando, storming the invasion beaches before heading for the well defended town of Port-en-Bessin. But not only does Dick have to survive, he also has to win himself a medal. Because his father has decreed that whichever of his two sons gets the highest medal in the war inherits his lovely old country mansion. And Coward has no intention of letting his ghastly brother have the place. Unfortunately his brother has been doing rather well in the medal stakes which means Coward needs a VC - and you usually end up dying the get those...

Many people have compared Coward to Flashman or Sharpe but I can exclusively reveal that Coward is clearly Delingpole's alter-ego (what else do you expect from the author of THINLY DISGUISED AUTOBIOGRAPHY?). Coward is pretty much Delingpole's dream; handsome, posh, well-monied, stonking great place in the country, lots of totty, gets to fight in the Second World War. Unfortunately, being a Delingpole alter-ego also means he has a crippling insecurity complex. The result is a rather odd character.

Delingpole is a massive war nerd and it shows through here. You get the sort of well-researched, footnoted history you'd expect from a Flashman book. He gives his due to the heroes of the Commandos and provides plenty of rip-roaring blood and guts thrills. Yet at the same time he always undermines himself slightly with the insecurity and his desire to honour the real life exploits of the commandos sometimes distracts from the fictional exploits of his hero. The humour is fairly broad and obvious but not without its laughs. Coward's sidekick, Price, is a bit of a one-note character and could really do with fleshing out. Overall quite an enjoyable piece of war fiction.

I read this after the author's excellent "How to be right", which is dictionary of political incorrectness. This novel doesn't disappoint either, centering on the D-Day invasion. It's an adult version of the best of those childhood war adventure favourites that you remember reading during rainy holidays. This book reminds me in particular of the "Captain Gimlet" commando books published during WWII by Captain W. E. Johns, who had been a machine gunner in the trenches before becoming a pilot, during WWI. Action, adventure, and more action. Occasional bad language, but nothing offensive; the author is a liberal so his occasional French (and German in places) must be excused. The sex scene is also a little shocking. It ends tragically and involves a beautiful German spy having her brains blown out, literally (not metaphorically). Overall, a great diversion from the boring telly.