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Across the Blood-Red Skies
Spring 1917. The average survival time of a First World War reconnaissance pilot is eighteen hours. After weeks in the thick of it, George Duckwell, reluctant novice-hero of the Royal Flying Corps, is living on borrowed time, watching in horror as a succession of comrades are shot down, burned, maimed and killed, while somehow he survives. Struggling to make sense of the conflict, George forms an awkward friendship with William 'Mac' MacBride, an enigmatic Canadian ace, waging his own private war against the legendary Red Baron, Manfred von Richtofen. But when Mac falls for George's sweetheart ? front-line nurse Emily ? the fragile bond that keeps the two men alive comes under threat on the eve of the most lethal conflict the modern world has known.
336 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2010
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Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews
September 22, 2024
A thoroughly enjoyable read! The writing is brilliant. The opening chapter showed the ride we were in for and it didn't disappoint. I was in the cockpit of the old plane, feeling every bump and lurch. Feeling the adrenalin and the fear.
I didn't take to George, our main character, at the start. He was a foolish young man, playing pranks and wasting his money on cards. He caused trouble for a girl and then waltzed off without a care in the world. But his growth and development through the story made me quite fond of him in the end. The friendship between himself, Emily and Mac was touching.
This author doesn't hold back with descriptions of battles and injuries but he also injects a lighter note throughout the story which made me smile.
It's a story of discovery, of a sense of self, in George especially but as time goes on for Emily and Mac as well.
I loved the ending!!!
I didn't take to George, our main character, at the start. He was a foolish young man, playing pranks and wasting his money on cards. He caused trouble for a girl and then waltzed off without a care in the world. But his growth and development through the story made me quite fond of him in the end. The friendship between himself, Emily and Mac was touching.
This author doesn't hold back with descriptions of battles and injuries but he also injects a lighter note throughout the story which made me smile.
It's a story of discovery, of a sense of self, in George especially but as time goes on for Emily and Mac as well.
I loved the ending!!!
December 13, 2023
Set during the First World War, Across the Blood-Red Skies offers a wild ride with the pioneers of aerial combat, the courageous men who fought high above the trenches in their flimsy machines.
In a war notable for grim statistics, one number stands out for newly promoted flight leader George Duckwell of the Royal Flying Corps: eighteen hours is the average survival time of a reconnaissance pilot in the spring of 1917.
I really enjoyed reading about the women of the FANY (First Aid Nursing Yeomanry), a group that I previously knew anything about. But of the three main characters, it’s George’s engaging voice that dominates and gives the story much of its appeal. George is immensely likable, a bit of a lad, reckless, loyal, resourceful, and possessed of an irrepressible dry sense of humour. This book has it all: strong storytelling, sympathetic characters, action, human drama, comradeship and romance.
In a war notable for grim statistics, one number stands out for newly promoted flight leader George Duckwell of the Royal Flying Corps: eighteen hours is the average survival time of a reconnaissance pilot in the spring of 1917.
I really enjoyed reading about the women of the FANY (First Aid Nursing Yeomanry), a group that I previously knew anything about. But of the three main characters, it’s George’s engaging voice that dominates and gives the story much of its appeal. George is immensely likable, a bit of a lad, reckless, loyal, resourceful, and possessed of an irrepressible dry sense of humour. This book has it all: strong storytelling, sympathetic characters, action, human drama, comradeship and romance.
June 16, 2015
I tried to read this a couple of months ago, and I'm still muttering to myself about it, so I guess I'd better get it out of my system.
Rated two stars :( the stars are for the flying scenes. They're brilliantly immersive; I was right there in the cockpit above the fields of France. Terrifying, solid and real. Unfortunately the first chapter piled on the awful to such an extent that I started laughing, which is perhaps not what was intended. It was the First World War! It's not necessary to hype the awfulness to a ridiculous degree, we all know it was awful! And laughter's not a desirable response to WW1 unless one's watching Blackadder Goes Forth.
So I started skipping. There was a love triangle. At the apex of the triangle (or I should say vee, since I don't think our heroes loved each other that way) was a potentially good character, a woman ambulance driver. I'd've liked to see her as something more than a prize for one of the male characters, but I couldn't; that's what love vees do to this reader. She rescued a baby from down a well. Obviously she had to be nurturing, because that's what teh ladiez are... *facepalm* I don't think she got fridged, though, which is something to be thankful for.
I lost interest inTauriel Emily, and skipped to the end. Turns out
But as I say, the flying sequences are completely brilliant.
Rated two stars :( the stars are for the flying scenes. They're brilliantly immersive; I was right there in the cockpit above the fields of France. Terrifying, solid and real. Unfortunately the first chapter piled on the awful to such an extent that I started laughing, which is perhaps not what was intended. It was the First World War! It's not necessary to hype the awfulness to a ridiculous degree, we all know it was awful! And laughter's not a desirable response to WW1 unless one's watching Blackadder Goes Forth.
So I started skipping. There was a love triangle. At the apex of the triangle (or I should say vee, since I don't think our heroes loved each other that way) was a potentially good character, a woman ambulance driver. I'd've liked to see her as something more than a prize for one of the male characters, but I couldn't; that's what love vees do to this reader. She rescued a baby from down a well. Obviously she had to be nurturing, because that's what teh ladiez are... *facepalm* I don't think she got fridged, though, which is something to be thankful for.
I lost interest in
But as I say, the flying sequences are completely brilliant.
June 23, 2026
The most unruly and cruel warfare is set as the backdrop of this story on friendship, selflessness and courage. As three friends navigate World War I, their decisions shape their destiny all within the span of a year and a half.
Across the Blood-Red Skies was written by Robert Radcliffe, a pseudonym for Robert Mawson. As a writer and pilot himself, this story follows the journey of a young pilot, George Duckwell, who is part of the Royal Flying Corps during World War I in 1917. We learn his journey began months before, when as a schoolboy he fled to join the RFC to avoid getting caught as a bookmaker and having a fling with a girl, Emily. It was during his time as a pilot that he met William MacBride, whose side of the story envelops both Emily and George, changing the course of all three of their lives forever.
“One of my chargers was already in trouble. Peering across, I watched helplessly as it dipped a wing, flopped onto its back and corkscrewed into the ground, there to explode in a ball of orange flame.” The first of the four planes already crashes in the first 5 minutes of George’s patrol we read about in the first chapter. While shocked and confused as the reader, there isn’t a slightest bit of discomfort in George’s tone as he narrates the events. By the end of that first flight, only himself and his observer are alive. Both shot down by German pilots, George ends up making a mercy killing and he is the only one left, rescued by “Mac” or Macbride. Radcliffe uses the blunt matter-of-fact tone of George as a way to show how helpless the soldiers and pilots were; George explains how the government disallowed parachutes in planes as a way to prevent pilots from abandoning missions. When reading it from the present point of view, it seems absurd to even think of the possibility of basically ensuring their death in a crash. By the end of this first chapter, any hope the readers have is gone.
Radcliffe was able to express the mix of vulnerability, patriotism and betrayal felt by the people: both civilians and members of the military. For example, families losing their loved ones, most taking it on as an ‘honor’ but the devastating effects were still apparent. George lost his brother to the war earlier and recounts how his father and mother’s impression was that they should be proud and happy he died serving for the cause. He finds this unnatural but has no choice but to go along with it. We see the illusion of the ‘honor of war’ break when he visits his dead observer’s wife. Her total breakdown seems lifts the veil for George and we see the difference it makes in his understanding of the war and maturity for the rest of the book.
The sense of patriotism and slow realization of what the war meant was apparent through Emily’s narrative as well. After her and George’s short-lived relationship, she made her way to London to leave behind her family and mostly her father who couldn’t stand the illicit encounters. Emily wanted to make a difference, to do something useful and so joined the First Aid Nursing Yeomanry (FANY). Since she worked as a mechanic in the family business, she thrived driving and fixing ambulances. However the work itself was draining. When she recounts the screaming of the almost-corpses, the rotting flesh and smell of blood and bleach, I can only imagine the toll it must have taken on her not just physically going through multiple shifts in a row without break, but the mental aspect of seeing so many lost lives that couldn’t be saved. The scene that hit the hardest was the funeral she had to attend. Nameless and without a family by his side, the young boy was placed into the ground with only a few strangers to pray over him. This was the reality for millions of young men and families. Radcliffe was able to portray the bloodshed and loss through the eyes of the first responders, giving a real glimpse into the realities of the war and suffering endured by all.
The third character, William MacBride or ‘Mac’, was an altogether different story, it can even be argued that he is the true main character in the book. An amazing pilot, fearless and confident in the air, he has one of the highest kills in the corps. However, this self-assuredness is only in the sky; on ground, his past haunts him. He lets George in on his secret which paves the way for the rest of the story. What I find in their dependency on one another, George on Mac when it came to starting in the RFC and Mac on George with this secret, is brotherhood: a sense of something beyond comradeship. With this relationship selflessness seeps through, each sacrificing something for the other with high risk and little to no upside for themselves other than saving each other, which may be all the reward they need. Especially considering the situation they are in, where they beat the odds of physically surviving every single day, the thought that they would be so selfless is something that surprised me. It may well be that since the government and their superiors weren’t protecting them seen through their attitude and lack of precaution in combat, it was essential to look out for each other, even if it meant risking their lives.
When it comes to the writing style, I thoroughly enjoyed the technical description of the pilots’ time in the air. The dogfights between the RFC and the Huns, with planes rolling, gliding and barrelling down were explained in such detail and action that it felt like I was there. Radcliffe was also able to express the character’s emotions while flying the planes which helped complete the story as their actions made more sense and the scenes felt complete.
Further, Radcliffe’s ability to move through the three narratives is beautiful. Each character’s story melds with each other. There was no need for chapters separating events and perspectives as Radcliffe was able to produce unique voices for each character, distinguishable within the first few words of a paragraph. This gave flesh and feeling to the characters and I was able to resonate and empathize with them much more, even without express prompts. By the end of the book, the three of the characters grow and change in ways that cannot be completely understood or explained.
Overall Across the Blood-Red Skies is a story rooted in friendship, sacrifice and determination, a realistic look at the thin line between hopefulness and hopelessness during the war.
Across the Blood-Red Skies was written by Robert Radcliffe, a pseudonym for Robert Mawson. As a writer and pilot himself, this story follows the journey of a young pilot, George Duckwell, who is part of the Royal Flying Corps during World War I in 1917. We learn his journey began months before, when as a schoolboy he fled to join the RFC to avoid getting caught as a bookmaker and having a fling with a girl, Emily. It was during his time as a pilot that he met William MacBride, whose side of the story envelops both Emily and George, changing the course of all three of their lives forever.
“One of my chargers was already in trouble. Peering across, I watched helplessly as it dipped a wing, flopped onto its back and corkscrewed into the ground, there to explode in a ball of orange flame.” The first of the four planes already crashes in the first 5 minutes of George’s patrol we read about in the first chapter. While shocked and confused as the reader, there isn’t a slightest bit of discomfort in George’s tone as he narrates the events. By the end of that first flight, only himself and his observer are alive. Both shot down by German pilots, George ends up making a mercy killing and he is the only one left, rescued by “Mac” or Macbride. Radcliffe uses the blunt matter-of-fact tone of George as a way to show how helpless the soldiers and pilots were; George explains how the government disallowed parachutes in planes as a way to prevent pilots from abandoning missions. When reading it from the present point of view, it seems absurd to even think of the possibility of basically ensuring their death in a crash. By the end of this first chapter, any hope the readers have is gone.
Radcliffe was able to express the mix of vulnerability, patriotism and betrayal felt by the people: both civilians and members of the military. For example, families losing their loved ones, most taking it on as an ‘honor’ but the devastating effects were still apparent. George lost his brother to the war earlier and recounts how his father and mother’s impression was that they should be proud and happy he died serving for the cause. He finds this unnatural but has no choice but to go along with it. We see the illusion of the ‘honor of war’ break when he visits his dead observer’s wife. Her total breakdown seems lifts the veil for George and we see the difference it makes in his understanding of the war and maturity for the rest of the book.
The sense of patriotism and slow realization of what the war meant was apparent through Emily’s narrative as well. After her and George’s short-lived relationship, she made her way to London to leave behind her family and mostly her father who couldn’t stand the illicit encounters. Emily wanted to make a difference, to do something useful and so joined the First Aid Nursing Yeomanry (FANY). Since she worked as a mechanic in the family business, she thrived driving and fixing ambulances. However the work itself was draining. When she recounts the screaming of the almost-corpses, the rotting flesh and smell of blood and bleach, I can only imagine the toll it must have taken on her not just physically going through multiple shifts in a row without break, but the mental aspect of seeing so many lost lives that couldn’t be saved. The scene that hit the hardest was the funeral she had to attend. Nameless and without a family by his side, the young boy was placed into the ground with only a few strangers to pray over him. This was the reality for millions of young men and families. Radcliffe was able to portray the bloodshed and loss through the eyes of the first responders, giving a real glimpse into the realities of the war and suffering endured by all.
The third character, William MacBride or ‘Mac’, was an altogether different story, it can even be argued that he is the true main character in the book. An amazing pilot, fearless and confident in the air, he has one of the highest kills in the corps. However, this self-assuredness is only in the sky; on ground, his past haunts him. He lets George in on his secret which paves the way for the rest of the story. What I find in their dependency on one another, George on Mac when it came to starting in the RFC and Mac on George with this secret, is brotherhood: a sense of something beyond comradeship. With this relationship selflessness seeps through, each sacrificing something for the other with high risk and little to no upside for themselves other than saving each other, which may be all the reward they need. Especially considering the situation they are in, where they beat the odds of physically surviving every single day, the thought that they would be so selfless is something that surprised me. It may well be that since the government and their superiors weren’t protecting them seen through their attitude and lack of precaution in combat, it was essential to look out for each other, even if it meant risking their lives.
When it comes to the writing style, I thoroughly enjoyed the technical description of the pilots’ time in the air. The dogfights between the RFC and the Huns, with planes rolling, gliding and barrelling down were explained in such detail and action that it felt like I was there. Radcliffe was also able to express the character’s emotions while flying the planes which helped complete the story as their actions made more sense and the scenes felt complete.
Further, Radcliffe’s ability to move through the three narratives is beautiful. Each character’s story melds with each other. There was no need for chapters separating events and perspectives as Radcliffe was able to produce unique voices for each character, distinguishable within the first few words of a paragraph. This gave flesh and feeling to the characters and I was able to resonate and empathize with them much more, even without express prompts. By the end of the book, the three of the characters grow and change in ways that cannot be completely understood or explained.
Overall Across the Blood-Red Skies is a story rooted in friendship, sacrifice and determination, a realistic look at the thin line between hopefulness and hopelessness during the war.
July 27, 2014
This I will admit was a bit of a departure for me from my usual reading choices but I like to explore other works and I will admit this was a very compelling read. It follows 3 characters through the first world war - though it concentrates on George Duckwell a fictitious character realistically inserted in to historical events in and around the Royal Flying Corps.
The book for me - having never flown an aeroplane let alone one of the craft described in this book - portrays the gritty and horrifying events of the war from which over 15 million are estimated to have died. I am always in two minds over military stories based in real conflicts. The first is that should we really be seeking entertainment from some of the most horrific events in our history (perpetrated by our fellow man) but at the same time events like this created some of the most dramatic and powerful character forming moments. As many a cliche goes - it is the furnaces of war that a mans spirit is forged.
And I must admit I did appreciate that one of the characters in the story was a female volunteer in the civilian ambulance service. I know that Robert Radcliffe has written a number of other books which I think I will take a closer look at now after reading this.
The book for me - having never flown an aeroplane let alone one of the craft described in this book - portrays the gritty and horrifying events of the war from which over 15 million are estimated to have died. I am always in two minds over military stories based in real conflicts. The first is that should we really be seeking entertainment from some of the most horrific events in our history (perpetrated by our fellow man) but at the same time events like this created some of the most dramatic and powerful character forming moments. As many a cliche goes - it is the furnaces of war that a mans spirit is forged.
And I must admit I did appreciate that one of the characters in the story was a female volunteer in the civilian ambulance service. I know that Robert Radcliffe has written a number of other books which I think I will take a closer look at now after reading this.
January 11, 2022
A captivating story set in the Great War (WW I), narrated through the life of three individuals, A British teenager who became a fighter pilot at a time when pilots in his squadron lasted hardly a week, A Canadian Ace pilot who has the most kills in the British side and a Lady ambulance driver who, all 3 active participants of the war with entirely different roles and all 3 were runaways from their beloved homes due to unforeseen circumstances. The plot seamlessly intertwines their lives throughout the entire war (1914 - 1917) . The British perspective of the war and the machines of war are well portrayed and the German ace, the famous "Red baron" makes numerous thrilling appearances in the story.
A must read for all for sure!!
A must read for all for sure!!
March 12, 2017
Wonderful drama about friendship, romance, coming of age, all caught up in a merciless bloody war.
June 16, 2025
Goshawk Squadron (Derek Robinson) remains the KIng of all the WW1 flying books I have read. But this comes second.
The opening chapter showed how it was going to be
I didn't like George, our main character who was a stupid, careless young man, playing pranks and wasting his money on cards. He caused trouble for a girl and then left without a care for her or what he caused at all. On meeting her again, he imagines himself as having a relationship with her, which he does not.
But his character does get some growth maturity . The friendship between himself, Emily and Mac was good.
Emily, another interesting character is a FANY, ambulance driver. This other part of the book is almost as good and informative as Helen Zenna Smiths account in Not So Quiet.
The author did not fly in the war but has been a pilot. In all it's pretty good.
The opening chapter showed how it was going to be
I didn't like George, our main character who was a stupid, careless young man, playing pranks and wasting his money on cards. He caused trouble for a girl and then left without a care for her or what he caused at all. On meeting her again, he imagines himself as having a relationship with her, which he does not.
But his character does get some growth maturity . The friendship between himself, Emily and Mac was good.
Emily, another interesting character is a FANY, ambulance driver. This other part of the book is almost as good and informative as Helen Zenna Smiths account in Not So Quiet.
The author did not fly in the war but has been a pilot. In all it's pretty good.
August 8, 2020
Enjoyable book. I knew a little about First World War pilots but the book really brought to life the almost impossible conditions they fought under.
While this is a war book, with some exciting dogfight scenes, it’s really a book about the friendship between George and Mac. I felt that their relationship didn’t ring true given the little contact they had had with one another and the circumstances surrounding Emily. While undoubtedly there would be an close bond of comradeship, the friendship felt a little contrived. I still enjoyed and was engaged by the book and would recommend it as a read for others interested in the First World War.
While this is a war book, with some exciting dogfight scenes, it’s really a book about the friendship between George and Mac. I felt that their relationship didn’t ring true given the little contact they had had with one another and the circumstances surrounding Emily. While undoubtedly there would be an close bond of comradeship, the friendship felt a little contrived. I still enjoyed and was engaged by the book and would recommend it as a read for others interested in the First World War.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 18, 2020
No holds barred
This tale provides an unabridged account of air warfare over the trenches of the front line in northern France during 1917.
It does not flinch from describing the physical, mental and moral horrors endured by very young men.
However, it also relates the complexities of life brought into that theatre of operations and the inevitable diversions available to very few both combatants and non-combatants.
An excellent book I had to read in stages.
This tale provides an unabridged account of air warfare over the trenches of the front line in northern France during 1917.
It does not flinch from describing the physical, mental and moral horrors endured by very young men.
However, it also relates the complexities of life brought into that theatre of operations and the inevitable diversions available to very few both combatants and non-combatants.
An excellent book I had to read in stages.
August 22, 2025
At first, I wasn't very engaged with this book, seemed thin on plot, and a bit heavy on the technical description. However, I loved it by the end. Beautiful descriptive passages evoking emotional response in the reader, and the characters really came to life. Wonderful WWI story.
December 2, 2017
Pretty awful - disappointed as I enjoyed Airborne very much.
September 14, 2018
a fun quick read. good chatacter development and a different approach to a ww1 western front novel.
October 10, 2018
Whew, one helluva book; Robert Radcliffe is fast becoming one of my favourite authors!
March 22, 2024
Easy read, but nothing special.
July 21, 2023
Another good war time adventure from this writer, set in World War One this time, with plenty of action and good story telling to keep you on board , with plenty of thrills and spills in the air and on the ground.
September 29, 2014
A rattling good yarn of people struggling with disrupted lives. Although a little confusing at times I found the plot convincing, the details accurate and the overall effect compelling.
There are other books on the subject and this stands amongst the best of them I think. You feel for these men and women thrust into the maw of the Great War, at first keen to resolve their own dilemmas but then these gain a whole new perspective set against this massive conflict.
I really enjoyed reading stuff I did not know so much about such as the incredible work of the women's FANY organisation. The author shows us views of a war from several viewpoints from gassing in the trenches to the daily hell of airborne conflict no holds barred so at times it is not for the squeamish.
All gets resolved in the end though it is tinged with sadness nonetheless. I shall now read his other books on wartime exploits such as Dambuster.
There are other books on the subject and this stands amongst the best of them I think. You feel for these men and women thrust into the maw of the Great War, at first keen to resolve their own dilemmas but then these gain a whole new perspective set against this massive conflict.
I really enjoyed reading stuff I did not know so much about such as the incredible work of the women's FANY organisation. The author shows us views of a war from several viewpoints from gassing in the trenches to the daily hell of airborne conflict no holds barred so at times it is not for the squeamish.
All gets resolved in the end though it is tinged with sadness nonetheless. I shall now read his other books on wartime exploits such as Dambuster.
April 16, 2013
When I found out that the author of Under an English Heaven had written a novel about flying in the First World War, I couldn't grab it quickly enough. 1917's Bloody April is the backdrop for a story of three people and their intertwined lives: George, who has fled emotionally distant parents and trouble at school to fly FE2 'Bathtubs' over France, Mac, his Canadian pilot friend with a dangerous secret, and Emily, witnessing horrors as she drives an ambulance for the FANYs and tries to work out what she really wants from life.
The story skips back and forth through 1917, switching between point of view characters and from first to third person as it goes. This was slightly off-putting at first, but when I began to see the bigger pattern I found the device compelling.
The story skips back and forth through 1917, switching between point of view characters and from first to third person as it goes. This was slightly off-putting at first, but when I began to see the bigger pattern I found the device compelling.
August 9, 2011
Not really a book about war, this is more a book about how the experiences of war affect people: in particular, how it affects its main protaganists, primarily told as the memoirs of one of those characters.
While it jumps around a bit - sections with events set before the preceding chapter, then forward again to events after the first section, then back again ... - it is quite an enjoyable read, which pulls no punches when it comes to the horror of th war, both in the trenches and in the air.
While it jumps around a bit - sections with events set before the preceding chapter, then forward again to events after the first section, then back again ... - it is quite an enjoyable read, which pulls no punches when it comes to the horror of th war, both in the trenches and in the air.
January 8, 2016
This is an exiting book to read. The descriptions in war for both male and female characters are very well versed, bring out the colour of an often black and white history we imagine ww1 to be. This is a story about friendship too, the romantic rises out of grim death like having a shower at the front line. The madness of war is over come by friendship and that alone makes the novel a great read. I have passed on my copy.
May 15, 2013
I found this to be a fantastic read, great detail during the battles, best book I've read for a long time.
Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews