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'Essential reading for anyone interested in the history of the Second World War. . . . an important work about a truly great and noble man' --Robert van Maier, Pacific War Study Group
'[Summers ] biography of this extraordinary man is a superbly crafted evocation of the privations he and his men endured as well as their courage and fortitude' --Soldier Magazine
'. . . seldom have I been so impressed and moved by a story. It is the telling that gives him the justice and understanding that he so richly deserves.' --General Sir Peter de la Billière KCB KBE DSO MC
'. . . the real and truly uplifting story of the British officer, Lt Col Sir Philip Toosey . . . he was an inspiration. It makes you proud to be British.' --Sue Arnold, The Guardian
'. . . enthralling and full of unexpected detail . . . mesmerising listening' --Christina Hardyment, The Times
'[Summers ] biography of this extraordinary man is a superbly crafted evocation of the privations he and his men endured as well as their courage and fortitude' --Soldier Magazine
'. . . seldom have I been so impressed and moved by a story. It is the telling that gives him the justice and understanding that he so richly deserves.' --General Sir Peter de la Billière KCB KBE DSO MC
'. . . the real and truly uplifting story of the British officer, Lt Col Sir Philip Toosey . . . he was an inspiration. It makes you proud to be British.' --Sue Arnold, The Guardian
'. . . enthralling and full of unexpected detail . . . mesmerising listening' --Christina Hardyment, The Times
Product Description
Read by Anton Lesser. Abridged by Neville Teller. A remarkable tribute to a forgotten British hero. Alec Guinness won an Oscar for his portrayal of Colonel Nicholson in THE BRIDGE ON THE RIVER KWAI but, as JULIE SUMMERS reveals in this brilliant and moving biography, his role bore scant resemblance to the facts. The real officer in charge of the bridge-building was her grandfather, Philip Toosey, and in THE COLONEL OF TAMARKAN she draws upon first-hand interviews with those who knew and fought alongside him as well as family archives to create a remarkable tribute to a forgotten British hero.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
29 of 30 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
Julie Summers has written an exceptional biography about her grandfather Philip Toosey. It is well-researched, brilliantly written and has social insights that go far beyond most military biographies. She also puts in quirky details that add colour and interest.
Though spanning her grandfather's whole life, it is his experiences as a PoW that make it so compelling. We see how he treated his men and tried to protect them, how he was able to command them so well because he was not a career soldier and therefore could think outside the box. He had a great sense of humour, but was firmly based in reality, understanding the needs of his men after the war, for example, when he asked for a load of condoms to be delivered.
What I particularly like about the biography is that Ms Summers uses her privileged position as his grand-daughter to show, rather than hide, the family side of Colonel Toosey - warts and all. We see, for example, the marital difficulties he had with his wife post-war. Summers found when researching that theirs was not an isolated incident. How refreshing to highlight such points when the social cost is often hidden under a stiff upper lip.
As the World War II slips further into the past, I hope that this book gets a wide readership. Ms Summers' fresh, simple style makes real a world that today, sadly, seems almost fictional. It also rescues her grandfather from the perception that he was somehow like Colonel Nicholson in The Bridge on the River Kwai. He was a much bigger hero than that.
4 of 5 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
I have been a massive fan of the film since I was very young. I heard "stories" from my grandad who served in Burma and have read numerous accounts of differing Military History.
My title says it all for this book as I just couldn't put it down.
Toosey was definitely a heroic military leader in all sense of the phrase. Buy the book and read the history. Everyone should know what really happened instead of just watching the Hollywood glamour!
My title says it all for this book as I just couldn't put it down.
Toosey was definitely a heroic military leader in all sense of the phrase. Buy the book and read the history. Everyone should know what really happened instead of just watching the Hollywood glamour!
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
I finished this wonderful book this morning on the train and cannot praise it enough. Although not the best written biography I have ever read the subject of it compels you to read more and to want to know more about this moral, courageous and compassionate man.
I first came across the name Philip Toosey in the book "Surviving the Sword Prisoners of the Japanese 1942-1945" by Brian MacArthur (another fabulous book and highly recommended) and was determined to find out more about this remarkable man. I'm pleased I did.
The book is written by his grand-daughter. The only time she relates the story through her eyes is in the very last pages of the book, although there are one or two anecdotes that she mentions regarding her sister Stephanie, again towards the end of the book. And, although I have mentioned it is not the best written biography I have ever read it is one that drew me in from the beginning and kept me thoroughly engaged from beginning to end, and the reason - the character of Philip Toosey.
I will not go over every detail in the biography as Julie Summers has done a reasonable job of this, but I will say that after reading about his struggles with the Japanese and his continued fight, even after the war, to look after men who had been PoWs I found my self greatly endeared to this man. His compassion and understanding of the human condition are limitless. His courage in standing up to his captors to protect his men is incredible. The plain truth of the matter is that many men would have died in captivity if it had not been for the actions of Toosey and so many others like him.
I would urge everyone to read this book, and to realise what a fantastic human being Philip Toosey was. The term "hero" is always so readily used these days that it is wonderful to read about a man who truly was one. Please read it you won't be disappointed. God bless the Colonel of Tamarkan.
I first came across the name Philip Toosey in the book "Surviving the Sword Prisoners of the Japanese 1942-1945" by Brian MacArthur (another fabulous book and highly recommended) and was determined to find out more about this remarkable man. I'm pleased I did.
The book is written by his grand-daughter. The only time she relates the story through her eyes is in the very last pages of the book, although there are one or two anecdotes that she mentions regarding her sister Stephanie, again towards the end of the book. And, although I have mentioned it is not the best written biography I have ever read it is one that drew me in from the beginning and kept me thoroughly engaged from beginning to end, and the reason - the character of Philip Toosey.
I will not go over every detail in the biography as Julie Summers has done a reasonable job of this, but I will say that after reading about his struggles with the Japanese and his continued fight, even after the war, to look after men who had been PoWs I found my self greatly endeared to this man. His compassion and understanding of the human condition are limitless. His courage in standing up to his captors to protect his men is incredible. The plain truth of the matter is that many men would have died in captivity if it had not been for the actions of Toosey and so many others like him.
I would urge everyone to read this book, and to realise what a fantastic human being Philip Toosey was. The term "hero" is always so readily used these days that it is wonderful to read about a man who truly was one. Please read it you won't be disappointed. God bless the Colonel of Tamarkan.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
Myth versus historical truth: Bridges on the River Kwai
It's extraordinary how much damage to historical truth can be done by misleading films and fact-based fictional publications, (let alone inaccurate so called academic historical... Read more
Published on 3 Jan 2010 by Mr. C. J. W. Addy
Tribute to an extraordinary Man
This is the story of a very remarkable man. It continually made me reflect and think deeply. I plead some special interest, so that I am not emotionally detached, in that my... Read more
Published on 15 Nov 2009 by P. E. Ward
Evocative and engaging listening
I've read the original book and really enjoyed listening to this audio abridgement.
The abridgement works really well and the voice of Anton Lesser is superb in bringing the... Read more
The abridgement works really well and the voice of Anton Lesser is superb in bringing the... Read more
Published on 5 Sep 2009 by C. Steele
Inspiring
Just one of many stories of heroism, bravery & comradeship that have come out of the second world war but what an inspiring man Toosey should be to all of us. Read more
Published on 23 Sep 2008 by S. Bigg
A bit disappointing
I have mixed feelings about this book. While the author has done a great deal of research and clearly put her heart and soul into it, the work suffers from poor editing and, if it... Read more
Published on 14 Dec 2006 by GD
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