Biggles Flies North

Biggles #18

by W.E. Johns

Answering a call for help by letter from an old friend, Biggles, Algy, Ginger and Smyth fly to Fort Beaver in Canada. Here they intend to meet up with Wilks, or Captain Wilkinson of 187 Squadron as he used to be known. Wilks has started a small airline business called 'Arctic Airways' but is now having problems with a man named 'Brindle' Jake McBain and his cronies. On arrival, Biggles finds Wilks is missing and immediately crosses swords with McBain who is "sharing" Wilks' aerodrome, but in reality is really an unwanted trespasser.

Genres: Adventure, Fiction, Childrens, Historical Fiction, Literary Fiction, Young Adult, Classics

147 pages, Paperback

First published May 1, 1939

About the author

Invariably known as Captain W.E. Johns, William Earl Johns was born in Bengeo, Hertfordshire, England. He was the son of Richard Eastman Johns, a tailor, and Elizabeth Johns (née Earl), the daughter of a master butcher. He had a younger brother, Russell Ernest Johns, who was born on 24 October 1895.

He went to Hertford Grammar School where he was no great scholar but he did develop into a crack shot with a rifle. This fired his early ambition to be a soldier. He also attended evening classes at the local art school.

In the summer of 1907 he was apprenticed to a county municipal surveyor where he remained for four years and then in 1912 he became a sanitary inspector in Swaffham, Norfolk. Soon after taking up this appointment, his father died of tuberculosis at the age of 47.

On 6 October 1914 he married Maude Penelope Hunt (1882–1961), the daughter of the Reverend John Hunt, the vicar at Little Dunham in Norfolk. The couple had one son, William Earl Carmichael Johns, who was born in March 1916.

With war looming he joined the Territorial Army as a Private in the King's Own Royal Regiment (Norfolk Yeomanry), a cavalry regiment. In August 1914 his regiment was mobilised and was in training and on home defence duties until September 1915 when they received embarkation orders for duty overseas.

He fought at Gallipoli and in the Suez Canal area and, after moving to the Machine gun Corps, he took part in the spring offensive in Salonika in April 1917. He contracted malaria and whilst in hospital he put in for a transfer to the Royal Flying Corps and on 26 September 1917, he was given a temporary commission as a Second Lieutenant and posted back to England to learn to fly, which he did at No. 1 School of Aeronautics at Reading, where he was taught by a Captain Ashton.

He was posted to No. 25 Flying Training School at Thetford where he had a charmed existence, once writing off three planes in three days. He moved to Yorkshire and was then posted to France and while on a bombing raid to Mannheim his plane was shot down and he was wounded. Captured by the Germans, he later escaped before being reincarcerated where he remained until the war ended.

Reviews

[Ian Laird · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is the Biggles story where he goes into a bar in the remote gold-mining Canadian north, a frontier tavern with roughnecks and hand guns; he looks the barman in the eye and with a strong voice orders, “Bovril!” Stays in the mind that scene.

Biggles, Algy and Ginger are instantly available, with no complications in their lives, like jobs, women or responsibilities, to sail post haste to Canada (too far to fly, across the Atlantic), answering a distress call from old mate Wilkinson. ‘Wilks’ is trying to run his Arctic Airways, at Fort Beaver, but is being monstered by the bad guys, led by ‘Brindle’ McBain. Biggles is eager to help, restore fair play, if not quite the rule of law, in the remote Canadian skies.

There’s lots of flying back and forth from Fort Beaver to the gold field, sabotage, forced landings, a menacing polar bear, a desperate search for a critical title deed, Ginger downing the bad guys aircraft using a case of corned beef and a last minute rescue as Biggles and Algy are about to be lynched.

For all his skill as a writer of desert scenarios, I think Captain WE Johns is best as a cold climate writer. He uses the icy weather, northern latitudes and rugged wind swept terrain to imperil and isolate his heroes in the air and on the ground. Add technical clarity, skill describing the air battles, and solid central characters who are modern aviation adventurers we can forgive the quaintness and anachronisms. Bovril indeed!

[David Evans · Rating 3 out of 5]

Excellent stuff. Probably not the most politically correct author of all time but if downing your rivals' aeroplane by dropping a crate of tinned food on it and shooting polar bears is your thing then this is a real page turner. One slight irritation that still niggles me after 40 years is whether Ginger would really fail to close the door of his aeroplane while he goes for a stroll in Northern Canada - remarkably prescient considering a pack of wolves takes an unhealthy interest in him. Also, I liked the idea that he would order a mug of "Malted Milk" in a rough gold mining town bar. Shades of Bob Hope in "The Road to Utopia" who, in a similar bar, requests a glass of milk. When the ensuing silence becomes uncomfortable he adds toughly, "In a dirty glass."

[Katka · Rating 4 out of 5]

One of the classic Bs. There's flying, shooting, gold, villains, desperate situations, grave danger, and corned beef. What more could you want? :)

[Sem · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'll have to give this 4 stars in spite of - or perhaps because of - the ridiculous plot. Johns' version of Canada between the wars is truly bizarre. Scalping, lynching... I had no idea.

[Tommy Verhaegen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Een koud verhaal. Zoals vaak bij Biggles het geval is, speelt het zich af in onherbergzame gebieden, dit keer in het hoge noorden van Canada, bij de goudzoekers. Sluipmoord, luchtgevechten, een lynchpartij en een goudschat zijn de elementen van dit spannende boek. Mooie beschrijvingen van het desolate landschap en de technische problemen die de extreme kou met zich meebrengt. Vriendschap ligt aan de basis van dit avontuur en blijft een belangrijk element in de rest van het verhaal.

[Matt · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fun little romp… 3.5 bumped to a 4.

[Edwin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Biggles krijgt een brief van zijn vriend Wilkinson. Deze schrijft dat hij in flinke problemen zit. Daarop besluiten Biggles, Ginger en Algy te vertrekken naar Canada, waar ze al snel te horen krijgen dat Wilkinson vermist wordt.

[Derelict Space Sheep · Rating 3 out of 5]

42 WORD REVIEW:

Biggles is effortlessly heroic and cool under pressure (if not always quick on the uptake). His mission of mercy to Canada’s Fort Beaver leaves no doubt as to the good and bad guys. Michael Palin captures the Boy’s Own spirit of adventure.

[Matt Kelland · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'd forgotten how much fun these were. Simplistic, dated, but great pulpy adventure.

[Vass · Rating 2 out of 5]

Biggles in a Canadian shack. What more could you want?

[Jennifer Ritchie · Rating 3 out of 5]

An entertaining boys’ adventure book. This book in the series was like a mash-up of Bulldog Drummond and Farley Mowat’s book “Lost in the Barrens,” with a little bit of Wild West thrown in for good measure. I think boys who enjoy the Hardy Boys and things like that will like this. Girls might like it too, though it doesn’t have a single female character in the whole book. Adults who didn’t grow up with these probably wouldn’t think too much of this book; it’s not particularly well-written, and the characters alternate between being supermen and being remarkably stupid, as the plot requires. But it’s a perfectly acceptable and clean book, and I suspect that my 11-year-old son would enjoy it.

[Alan Cobb · Rating 5 out of 5]

Bought this book with the express desire to relive a bit of my youth,and to re-read some of the first books that aroused my interest and love of reading. Biggles books were a fairly new release in those days and I can remember reading the few that I could afford , avidly.I remember being enthralled with the stories unfolding in front of me. Maybe a bit dated in its terminology,in my opinion it stands the passing of time and is still as likeable and readable as it was back then,with wonderful quotes which made me chuckle. On Page one ' he turn aside all letters with a halfpenny Stamp' Those were the days. I still enjoyed the read and so should you young or old.

[Philip · Rating 5 out of 5]

It's like Johns was itching for a chance to take Biggles up North to a frozen wasteland - the setting here is brilliant described and well utilised in the plot, with much flying up and down the wilderness and even a few crashes here and there. Biggles and co go head to head with polar bears, lynch mobs, and at one point take down an enemy aircraft with a tin of corned beef - how patriotic! The gang of villains in this book are ruthless, and get very close to finishing Biggles off for good. From start to finish this was an engaging and thrilling read - 5 stars.

[Hans · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was 24 Years ago, that I read it (currently reread them all in chronological order)
Never before the author managed to irritate me for his attitude towards others.
Indigenous people are either according to "Western civilisation"childish simple, or mean and evil,
like the indian in this book, or in "flies South".
Clearly WEJ was in a rush ending this book; so much missed opportunities.

[Dave Taylor · Rating 4 out of 5]

Dated (it was written in 1939) but a highly entertaining and endlessly exciting adventure! In this story, Biggles and his squad head to far northern Canada to help out their pal who's having his arctic airline stolen by the thug McBain. Will they be able to foil McBain or are Biggles and his pals Algy, Ginger, and Smyth doomed?

[Davina · Rating 5 out of 5]

I consumed the audio version read by Michael Palin. I think he should record as many as he can. I can't think of a better narrator. The story is over done, and has a lot of needless drama, but that's the whole point isn't it? Smashing good fun!

[Olof · Rating 2 out of 5]

Too short. No character building. Very formulaic. But then, I really didn't expect anything different... Would have wanted to experience a lot more of the northern environment described in the book, it felt intriguing and engaging.

[Cameron · Rating 3 out of 5]

I remember having this Biggles story on audiotapes as a kid, read by Michael Palin. It is a good Biggles adventure, bringing their friend Wilks in as an excuse. Entertaining and enjoyable in a remote, snowbound setting.

[Tom Caswell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Yet another great story from WE Johns. Couldn’t put it down!

[Micah Ferguson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Just as good as Biggles flies West and Biggles flies East, and better than Biggles flies South. This book is charged with adventure and the ever-present danger of the winter storms in North Canada.

[Scott Gardner · Rating 2 out of 5]

First Biggles story i have read which had nothing to do with either war.
He goes to Canada to help out a friend in this one

[Rosie]

while i was initially struggling through this i discovered that my friend aym's seventy year old dad recently read it and hated it. and i don't blame him, because it is bad

[Brian Gormley · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.9 out of 5. An enjoyable romp. I read these books to see how writers in the 20s and 30s portrayed life back then. My grand-uncle left Ireland in the 20s and went to the Yukon looking for gold, so I suppose this is some kind of portrayal of what his life may have been like, although at times it’s more like a western than an adventure novel. I have to agree with another reviewer - a laugh out loud moment for me was when Biggles and Co are in a filthy, wild saloon and order malted milks and a Bovril type drink. I don’t recall him being so abstemious in other books!

[Alex · Rating 4 out of 5]

An exciting and absorbing adaptation of the novel skillfully read by Sir Michael Palin, in the style of 1930s radio serials.

Structured as such, each of the cliffhangers at the end of the episodes left me gripped and wanting more.

I would highly recommend this audio adaptation to Biggles fans and those new to the series alike.

[Sonia · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am reviewing the series as a whole, rather than the books individually
The Biggles series is great adventure fiction: we get high stakes, aerial action (in most of the books), and a hero who is endlessly loyal, competent, and calm under pressure.

I love the dogfights, recon missions, and wartime scenarios.

Where the series falls short is character depth. Some attitudes and simplifications reflect the period in which the books were written. There are very definitely dated elements, but considering the era the books were written - overall the series performs well. More than a few of the stories defy plausibility, but who doesn't love to curl up with a good adventure book or 10?

“Never say die.”

[Ceejay · Rating 3 out of 5]

This 1939 British Young Adult novel was a fun read. Acoording to what I found, the Biggles stories were the most popular 20th Century British kids books. I can see why. It seems there were about 150 of them published. They were written by a retired British pilot from WWI. Biggles and his two side kicks take off for Canada in this particular book. They cross the Atlantic on a steamer, and once they hit Canada, all the air adventures begin! It is dated.There's a lot of smoking going on, and there are some violent deaths.There is also an Indian who carries a scalping knife. But it is fun to read. I will try a few more. Biggles serves in WWII,and of course at the time these books were written, the sun never set on the British empire.

[Daniel Bratell · Rating 2 out of 5]

Many plot holes, but let us focus on the big question, what is a Bluewing 'Jupiter'? My guess is that Bluewing is "Boeing". They sound kind of similar after all.

Story is that a friend of Biggles' sends a letter telling him about some roughs trying to muscle him out of his business in northern Canada. Biggles to the rescue.

[Bettie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Michael Palin reads Captain WE Johns' adventure.

We are so used to hearing about firearms that a good ol' knuckle-sandwich somehow seems more aggressive.

[Laura · Rating 3 out of 5]

Answering an old chum's call for help, the hero pilot flies to Fort Beaver. Michael Palin reads Captain WE Johns' adventure.

[Salome · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was absolutely captivated by this adventure. Prospecters with bags of gold, bad guys manipulating an angry mob and planes, planes, planes and a lot of action!