George MacDonald Fraser — beloved for his series of Flashman historical novels — offers an action-packed memoir of his experiences in Burma during World War II. Fraser was only 19 when he arrived there in the war’s final year, and he offers a first-hand glimpse at the camaraderie, danger, and satisfactions of service. A substantial Epilogue, occasioned by the 50th anniversary of VJ-Day in 1995, … 1995, adds poignancy to a volume that eminent military historian John Keegan described as “one of the great personal memoirs of the Second World War.”
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An outstanding account of life for a British enlisted man in Burma during World War II. Highly recommended.
I already reviewed this on Amazon. It would make a great movie. Amazing. About much more than the trials at zNuremberg.
Several weeks after finishing this book, I still cannot get the characters out of my mind.
A wonderful read, a story that needed to be told by a true unsung WWII hero about others of his kind. Tight, understated, journalistic prose sets just the right tone for this tale of hardship and loss, but also of courage, loyalty and, ironically, an almost cheerful endurance. At end, readers get a sense how and why the best of the “Greatest …
Interesting from a personal British point of view of the end of Second World War in Burma, little information on the first phase, which the British lost; very little information on the US and Chinese participation in pushing the Japanese out of Burma (such as Merrill’s Marauders); sparse, muddled description of the ethnic majority (Burmese – many …
Well written memoir of a little known part of WW2. Very readable and enjoyable.
This war memoir written by a man who became a famous and popular author took place in an exotic locale, Burma. The story is about leadership, bravery and just plain toughness of these Cumbrian men. The author’s use of phonetic dialog really enhances the story. They are a pessimistic lot, never praise anyone and are intensely loyal to the group. In …
A real ground-pounder’s view of WWII. I had no idea of the importance of the Burma theater…….a great read from a great Author!!
This was so well-written that it is a pleasure to read and at the same time expands your understanding of a time, place, people and experience that most of us do not know at all — World War II in Burma, the British soldiers on the ground, their allies from the Empire, the experience of the new soldier in war.