Now don’t laugh. I was in a
“remaindered book” shop, and there were a number of Biggles books available
at bargain prices. So who could resist? It is over 30 years since I read any
of Captain W.E. Johns’ work. And I confess that in the past I was always
more interested in his space opera series.
But what a joy, this book was very
readable. It gives a wonderful feel for what it must be like to fly a
biplane. Obviously a trifle dated, BUT the Captains experience of combat
more than makes up for it - born in 1893, he flew with the Royal Flying
Corps in the First World War and escaped from a German POW camp in 1918.
Although this book describes
Biggles learning to fly, it was written three years after the first
published Biggles novel Biggles the Camels are Coming. He went on to
write 102 Biggles books an all! So if you see any of these books on the
shelves don’t hesitate to give one a try.