- Hardcover: 320 pages
- Publisher: Little, Brown; Reprint edition (4 Mar 2010)
- Language English
- ISBN-10: 1408702118
- ISBN-13: 978-1408702116
- Product Dimensions: 23 x 15.6 x 3.8 cm
- Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars See all reviews (147 customer reviews)
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Amazon Bestsellers Rank:
106,268 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #14 in Books > Biography > Social & Health Issues > Cultural History > Japanese
- #19 in Books > Biography > Historical > Countries & Regions > Japan
- #20 in Books > History > Military History > Prisoners of War
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More About the Author
Product Description
Review
`Riveting, powerful, moving' --Observer
`A book you must read' --Daily Mail
`A book you must read' --Daily Mail
Book Description
* An extraordinary and moving tale by an ex-POW and last surviving member of the Gordon Highlanders regiment that was captured by the Japanese in Singapore, out now in paperback
--This text refers to the
Paperback
edition.
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
105 of 105 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
The most incredible story I have ever read. I am a former serviceman and can accept war can be hell, but Alistair's war experience went beyond imagination.
Captured by the Japanese at the surrender of Singapore, Alistair was put to work on the notorious Death railway, and the bridge over the River Kwai, in Burma. Surviving this, he was shipped to Japan, only to be torepoed by the Americans. After drifting for days he was recaptured and imprisoned at Nagasaki where he saw that city's annihilation but was unaware, that it was by the Atomic Bomb.
Alistair's letters home to his family are all typical of the ready prepared version to give the impression of a "holiday camp", where he was working for pay!
Alistair's determination is the reason he survived all the suffering, the hardship, the beatings, and the starvation to eventually write this incredible memoir.
Captured by the Japanese at the surrender of Singapore, Alistair was put to work on the notorious Death railway, and the bridge over the River Kwai, in Burma. Surviving this, he was shipped to Japan, only to be torepoed by the Americans. After drifting for days he was recaptured and imprisoned at Nagasaki where he saw that city's annihilation but was unaware, that it was by the Atomic Bomb.
Alistair's letters home to his family are all typical of the ready prepared version to give the impression of a "holiday camp", where he was working for pay!
Alistair's determination is the reason he survived all the suffering, the hardship, the beatings, and the starvation to eventually write this incredible memoir.
107 of 108 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
The facinating insights into a by-gone era of Aberdeen's pre-war dance halls are the simple backdrop to this story of a simple man yanked out of his life at the point of reaching manhood to have it changed forever.
This was the lot of Mr Urquhart's generation, but The Forgotten Highlander is no hackneyed World War Two memoir, and I've read a few.
A reader may be familiar with the events that Urquhart found thrust upon him, but never have they been laid so bare as here. The joyous, simple life of dancing away his evenings with the girls of Aberdeen cast a depressing shadow over the man as he fights so hard to suppress these memories to survive.
The Forgotten Highlander is not a book for the faint-hearted yet it demands to read by all. Mr Urquhart never fired a shot, he never asked to be involved in the events in which he found himself and a warrior hero will not be found here. This is a story of an ordinary man who survived some of humanity's most atrocious acts of barbarity and destruction in a century littered with them.
That the man is still alive to again dance the evenings away is a miracle for him, but it is an opportunity for us. The reader will gain an insight in to what man is capable of both in terms of evil and what is required to survive it - for Alistair's war was not one of battles but of the conflict's most grim example of raw physical and emotional endurance. What this memoir offers is an unflinching account and it pulls no punches.
This was the lot of Mr Urquhart's generation, but The Forgotten Highlander is no hackneyed World War Two memoir, and I've read a few.
A reader may be familiar with the events that Urquhart found thrust upon him, but never have they been laid so bare as here. The joyous, simple life of dancing away his evenings with the girls of Aberdeen cast a depressing shadow over the man as he fights so hard to suppress these memories to survive.
The Forgotten Highlander is not a book for the faint-hearted yet it demands to read by all. Mr Urquhart never fired a shot, he never asked to be involved in the events in which he found himself and a warrior hero will not be found here. This is a story of an ordinary man who survived some of humanity's most atrocious acts of barbarity and destruction in a century littered with them.
That the man is still alive to again dance the evenings away is a miracle for him, but it is an opportunity for us. The reader will gain an insight in to what man is capable of both in terms of evil and what is required to survive it - for Alistair's war was not one of battles but of the conflict's most grim example of raw physical and emotional endurance. What this memoir offers is an unflinching account and it pulls no punches.
31 of 31 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
I had the priviledge of reading the final manuscript of this book a few months ago. It was outstanding and I couldn't help feeling that there are so many riveting "stories" in this book (even if some of them are very harrowing), that it stands on its own special pinnacle amongst war histories.
Throughout it all, I marvelled at Alistair's fortitude, gave thanks for his physical fitness and athleticism and wondered at his ability to keep sane when so many comrades were driven mad by the brutality of the Japanese and the hopelessness of their situation.
His treatment on coming home to Scotland was no less barbarous in its own way and I wondered how he was able to survive it all? I expect his passion for dancing, the love of his family and his own inner fortitude brought him through.
As a child and young adult, I had no real idea about the war in the Far East and only in my 30s was I able to begin to comprehend what Alistair and his comrades went through. I only knew that Alistair felt passionately about not buying Japanese products - so much so that it took me 2 years to tell him that I had bought a Japanese car!
You see this wonderful man is my Dad. Growing up, I had absolutely no idea about what he had gone through. It wasn't until I read his early short memoirs - crafted when he was in his late seventies -- that I had any notion of how incredible his experiences were and what a remarkable man he was to have survived and lived a good life on his return. He was and is an incredible father and uses his experiences to "coach" others on being positive, staying active both mentally and physically and giving back to family, friends and community.
I am so proud of him and astounded that he has written this book (a bestseller too!) in his 90th year. All I can say is that you are an inspiration to us all, Dad. There truly is no such thing as "can't"!
Throughout it all, I marvelled at Alistair's fortitude, gave thanks for his physical fitness and athleticism and wondered at his ability to keep sane when so many comrades were driven mad by the brutality of the Japanese and the hopelessness of their situation.
His treatment on coming home to Scotland was no less barbarous in its own way and I wondered how he was able to survive it all? I expect his passion for dancing, the love of his family and his own inner fortitude brought him through.
As a child and young adult, I had no real idea about the war in the Far East and only in my 30s was I able to begin to comprehend what Alistair and his comrades went through. I only knew that Alistair felt passionately about not buying Japanese products - so much so that it took me 2 years to tell him that I had bought a Japanese car!
You see this wonderful man is my Dad. Growing up, I had absolutely no idea about what he had gone through. It wasn't until I read his early short memoirs - crafted when he was in his late seventies -- that I had any notion of how incredible his experiences were and what a remarkable man he was to have survived and lived a good life on his return. He was and is an incredible father and uses his experiences to "coach" others on being positive, staying active both mentally and physically and giving back to family, friends and community.
I am so proud of him and astounded that he has written this book (a bestseller too!) in his 90th year. All I can say is that you are an inspiration to us all, Dad. There truly is no such thing as "can't"!
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
The Forgotten Highlander
Well written and informative - anyone who lived through that era would understand much more what people went through. well worth reading
Published 4 days ago by Dorothy Bryant
At times I wanted to stop reading, it was so harrowing.
I was recommended to read this book by Alistair's niece whilst I was promoting my father's account of his time as a POW in Upper Silesia. Read more
Published 5 days ago by Mme Kathryn Gower
An inspirational read
This is a profound story that was difficult to read but also difficult to put down. I read this book cover to cover in a day. Read more
Published 7 days ago by Penfold
Harrowing Book
This is a straight forward, no holds barred account of Mr Urquhart's horrific experience as a Prisoner of War on the "Death Railway" in Thailand/Burma during WWII. Read more
Published 12 days ago by J. Thomson
Should be on the History Timetable at every School
An incredible story!
From the first page of this book you feel as though you know, personally, the Author, Alistair Urquhurt. Read more
From the first page of this book you feel as though you know, personally, the Author, Alistair Urquhurt. Read more
Published 14 days ago by country mouse
Not entirely balanced outlook
In general the book was interesting and well written, the author however does not give an entirely balanced account of proceedings. Read more
Published 19 days ago by Kev R
book
one of the best books i have read in a long time i found it really interresting to find out what the prisoners of war went through
Published 1 month ago by sbs
Forgotten Highlander
excellent author, one can only sympathise what this man had to go through in the war.Best book I have read this year.
Published 1 month ago by bowler
Interesting, though provoking and humbling
I love books like this. They remind me why we owe so many people the gratitude of ensuring us freedom. Read more
Published 1 month ago by Scarlet Black
The Forgotten Highlander
I have just finished this book a few minutes ago, and Had to come on here and urge you to read it. It is the Story of Alistair Urquhart's(the author), experiences as a Japanese... Read more
Published 1 month ago by P. A. Cunningham
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