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Under The Wire
 
 
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Under The Wire [Paperback]

William Ash (Author), Brendan Foley (Author)
5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (32 customer reviews)
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Under The Wire + The Forgotten Highlander: My Incredible Story of Survival During the War in the Far East + Where The Hell Have You Been?
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Product details

  • Paperback: 400 pages
  • Publisher: Bantam (5 Jun 2006)
  • Language English
  • ISBN-10: 0553817116
  • ISBN-13: 978-0553817119
  • Product Dimensions: 12.9 x 2.6 x 19.7 cm
  • Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (32 customer reviews)
  • Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 64,094 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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More About the Author

William Ash
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Product Description

Book Description

The remarkable wartime adventures of a Spitfire pilot, escape artist and 'Cooler King'.

Product Description

Determined to take on the Nazis, Texan Bill Ash joined the Royal Canadian Air Force in 1939 and in so doing sacrificed his citizenship. Before long, he was sent to England wherehe flew Spitfires. Shot down over France in March 1942, he survived the crash-landing and, thanks to local civilians, evaded capture for months only to be betrayed to the Gestapo in Paris. Tortured and sentenced to death as a spy, he was saved from the firing squad by the Luftwaffe who sent him to the infamous 'Great Escape' POW camp, Stalag Luft III. It was from there that Bill began his 'tour' of Occupied Europe. Breaking out of a succession of camps, he became one of only a handful of serial escape artists to attempt more than a dozen break-outs - over the wire, under it in tunnels, through it with cutters or simply strolling out of the camp gates in disguise! They were years of extraordinary hardship, frustration and brutality - the penalty for escaping was a long spell in solitary - but throughout it all Bill Ash displayed not just remarkable courage but also an anarchic sense of humour, great humanity and an unstoppable desire for freedom.

Honest, funny and exciting, Under the Wire is both a riveting war memoir and a tribute to the bravery and resolve of an entire generation.

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Front Cover | Copyright | Table of Contents | Excerpt | Index | Back Cover
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
16 of 16 people found the following review helpful
Enthralled! 6 Nov 2006
Format:Paperback
Being ex-forces, and in my 40's, the daring-do books about the SAS and the Gulf Wars have been high on my agenda. I happened to see 'Under the wire' and thought "I'd give it a go". My opinion - absolutely brilliant! I couldn't put it down. A few years ago people applauded 'Chris Ryan' (or whatever his real name is) for his dramatic 'The one that got away'. I'm sorry Mr Ryan, in the hero stakes you're not in the same league as William Ash and his POW colleagues. These guys are the real un-sung heroes, I had no idea about life behind the wire in WWII apart from what I've seen on television (evidently not that accurate). I'd love to know what became of more of the characters in the book (particularly Jimmy 'Dixie' Deans), but most of all I'd love to meet Bill Ash, shake him by the hand, and know I've met one of the most inspirational characters that ever walked this earth.
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36 of 37 people found the following review helpful
Under the Wire 24 Mar 2005
Format:Hardcover
I've read a lot of autobiographies and the 'I did this, I did that' factor can be pretty tiresome unless you are totally fascinated by the author. The fact is that I quickly forgot that 'Under the Wire' was an autobiography - it is so much more than 'just' a story about a man who becomes a fighter pilot, gets shot down and tries to escape. But it is story that makes this book so amazing: all at once it manages to be incredibly moving, heart-warming, hilarious, disturbing and inspiring - and it seems incredible (and often an injustice) that all this could have happened to one person. To come out the other side of these experiences with the deep love for people that Bill Ash clearly does have, just goes to show what an amazing human being he must be. You might say that he can only blame himself for the scrapes that he got into - he is clearly healthily obsessive with standing up to bullies (from playgrounds in depression hit America to nazi thugs bullwhipping women refugees), and it makes you wish that you had the guts to be by his side doing the same. Above all, I think that this book should give you hope - no matter how bad times are, the kindness of people will always find a way. Eternal thanks to Bill and our forbears who fought for a free world.
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17 of 18 people found the following review helpful
By A Customer
Format:Hardcover
When I began reading UNDER THE WIRE, I expected a story of heroic "derring-do", recalled with a sort of misty, stiff-upper lipped nostalgia by a Grand Lion in the winter of his remarkable life.

Instead, I got so, so much more.

Bill Ash's life is remarkable by anyone's yardstick. From his earliest childhood in Depression-era Texas, he was a hero, ready and eager to take on any bully. While America watched as Europe fell to a maniacal Hitler, he made a decision to personally take on the biggest bully in modern history.

Remarkable? Brave? Courageous? Yes, all of these adjectives describe the heroic life of Bill Ash.

But his life, and his story -- told so extraordinarily well by Ash and his co-writer, Brendan Foley -- is also funny, human and a lesson in living one's life with heart and a true moral compass.

There is as much Huck Finn and Jack Kerouac in Ash's war stories, as there is John Wayne.

Like all great tales of history, UNDER THE WIRE does more than offer adventure after adventure (and WOW, what adventures Bill had!)

The book offers a sense of the times, a sense of the politics, insights into the dangers, the choices, the cat-and-mouse existence of a Prisoner of War.

Bill played cat-and-mouse with the Third Reich, and did it brilliantly.

And I have never read an adventure story with so much genuine humor!

UNDER THE WIRE is a glorious tribute to the sort of person we long for, but never really see anymore: a true hero.

And it's a great, entertaining read.

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Most Recent Customer Reviews
Under the Wire
Really is an amazing fellah, what this guy went through is just awful, a true winner and an inspiration to see ones mans trip through the hell of war to help himslf and others when... Read more
Published 4 months ago by 2.8iman
Believably unbelievable
The previous reviews set the scene as well or better than I could. However, I always review such narratives in the light of previous published autobiographies and the very real... Read more
Published 6 months ago by Dr. M. Lockwood
A World War 2 Shawshank Redemption
I just wanted to jot down a few words about Under the Wire. William Ash's personality shines through the words and paragraphs of this superbly written book like a supernova and by... Read more
Published 8 months ago by Gilbank
Loved it
As they waited in those tunnels for the right moment to escape, I found myself holding my breath slightly as I waited with them so as not to use up their oxygen. Read more
Published 11 months ago by C. Martin
A Cheeky Fellow Helps Save The World
I throughly enjoyed "Under The Wire." Bill Ash is a genuine hero and his story is told by Brenden Foley simply and effectively. It is a great read. Read more
Published 12 months ago by Dan Mowbray,Columbus Ohio
What an incredible story
This book is a terrific read. In my eyes Bill is a real hero, even though he may not admit it; this seems to be the way with top War time veterans. Read more
Published 16 months ago by Richer
Good read
My husband who is a private pilot and loves reading about flying during WW2, couldn't put this book down and has recommended it to me. Haven't read it yet but plan to do so.
Published 18 months ago by Jackie
Among the top five escapes books ever written!
As a military historian and author, I make it a point to search out good books with entertaining subject matter and well executed writing when seeking reading matter for my own... Read more
Published 22 months ago by R. Laplander
Should be mandatory reading in schools
In my opinion this is quite simply the best book ever written.

I didn't buy this book several times as the author is American and I wanted to read about British Spitfire... Read more
Published on 16 May 2010 by D. Smith
Under the Wire
This is thoroughly engrossing and provides a very human account of the author's reasons for joining up as well as his experiences as a pilot, fugitive, prisoner of war and serial... Read more
Published on 9 July 2009 by B. Hoey
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