The Cauldron

Tweed & Co. #13

by Zeno, Thomas MacGrugar

Chilling account of a pathfinder unit at the disasterous battle of Arnhem.

Genres: Fiction, Thriller, Historical Fiction, World War II, Espionage, Audiobook, Novels

278 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1966

Reviews

[Chris Wray · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a great piece of war fiction, and I very much enjoyed listening to it as an audiobook (read by Al Murray on the We Have Ways of Making You Talk podcast). The story focuses on a single pathfinder platoon during Operation Market Garden and follows them from their first landing, with all its hope and anticipation, through to the last desperate breakout to the Rhine. The action is gripping and fast paced, and the tempo noticeably increases as the paratroopers move from open country into the streets and houses of Oosterbeek.

While Lieutenant Bridgman is the hinge on which the narrative turns, every man in the platoon is important, and the deaths of men like Leyland, Armstrong, Fraser, Nash and others land like hammer blows as the whole 1st Airborne Division is slowly ground down and smashed to pieces. Violence comes suddenly and brutally, even as exhaustion continues to slowly wring the life from Bridgman's men.

There is very little humour in evidence here, and the overwhelming note is one of grim defiance in the face of impossible odds, and an increasing realisation that their position is hopeless. It's a real shame that this is out of print, but I will remember Al Murray's reading of it for a long time.

P.S. I've just re-read this in September 2024 in the superb reprint from Penguin, with an introduction by none other than Al Murray!

[John Purvis · Rating 4 out of 5]

Author ZENO published the novel The Cauldron in 1966. I categorize this novel as ‘R’ because it contains scenes of violence. While this is a fiction novel, it is based upon the author’s first hand experience at Arnhem.

The novel follows a British Pathfinder Parachute platoon during Operation Market Garden. The story begins with their landing and carries through to their final withdrawal. The bloody Battle of Arnhem, which lasted from 17 to 26 September 1944, is depicted. Many members of the platoon are wounded or killed. The novel presents a vivid image of the vicious battle that the British Paratroopers had to endure. You get to know the members of this fictitious platoon over the 22 chapters of the novel.

I enjoyed the 7.5+ hours I spent listening to this 278-page WWII action-packed novel. I listened to the novel as it was read by Al Murray. He, along with historian James Holland, are the co-hosts of the We Have Ways of Making You Talk WWII history podcast. This is one of several WWII history podcasts that I follow. On 23 March 2020, a 22 episode series was begun. Each episode is a different chapter of the novel. If you are interested in WWII and listen to podcasts, this is one I would recommend. I rate this book as a 4 out of 5.

[Sean · Rating 5 out of 5]

Read the audiobook version of this via We Have Ways of Making You Talk podcast. Only reason I did the audiobook was due to the fact that it is impossible to find in print!

Overall, an excellent read and story. Full of wonderful language and extremely well written. I would love to actually read this one day.

Will likely listen to the audiobook again by Al Murray.

[Paola Piliado · Rating 4 out of 5]

I, as many others I have found here, listened to this wonderful little book read by Al Murray via the We Have Ways of Making You Talk podcast. It's hard at times but the pace is fast and intriguing, pretty much keeps you on your toes even when you have guessed what will happen to the platoon.

[Gareth Russell · Rating 5 out of 5]

I listened to Al Murray's recording of this on the We Have Ways Of Making You Talk WW2 podcast. What a book! What a riveting, battle drama. How is it out of print?!

[Stephen Fleet · Rating 4 out of 5]

My second Audio Book.
Read by Al Murray during lockdown via his and James Holland pod cast “We have Ways”.
Really enjoyed this.
Not sure if I can count it as “Read” but I’m claiming it.
The book it self was exciting, suspenseful, sad and at times humorous.
It tells the story of fictional characters of The Parachute Regiment trapped in Arnhem during Operation Market Garden.
Apparently although fictional characters the book is based on really events and the people that were there.

Heroes One and all.

[Max DT]

There were some moments in this book which stood out to me as above-average, and Zeno did a great job in certain moments at conveying the horror and hopelessness one might feel in war. Having said this, however, I feel this is something I'll have to return to in the future, as I certainly don't feel I got as much out of this book as it offers; I wasn't entirely engaged sometimes as I spent a lot of time listening to it while playing the F1 2019 game and some passages I naturally will have been distracted enough not to have fully comprehended. Due to this, were I to fully concentrate on the entirety of this work my rating might change.

James Holland and Al Murray's "We Have Ways of Making You Talk" Podcast recently did a read-through of this book, which I would recommend as the fiction is entertaining and somewhat informative also, and it is free to listen!

[Chuck · Rating 4 out of 5]

Definitely worth a read or listen. Zeno arguably added a bit of 20/20 hindsight into the novel. I wonder if the paratroopers on the ground understood the overall strategic situation as well as the paratroopers in the book. Of course, the soldiers on the ground knew better than anyone that they were in a hot mess. I never served and have never been in combat. I’d be curious to hear from veterans how realistic the book is. It seemed realistic to me & terrifying.

[Shameem · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was definitely different than a lot of Forbes’ other Tweed & Co. books. It moved much more slowly, and there was a gradual buildup towards the finale. Personally, I found events in the second half the book to be more climactic than the actual ending, but because the pace of the book was slower, this didn’t disappoint me at all. I actually enjoyed the comparative variety, and the amount of time spent on new characters and conversations and plot lines.

[Kyle Mackenzie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This took me longer to read than it should have and that was down to external factors.
It is an incredible novel and I felt privileged just to be able to read it. The visceral descriptions of combat and fatigue and the psyche of soldiers was incredible.
Hopefully it could be made into a film one day as well.

[Mark Morgan · Rating 5 out of 5]

I don’t usually like my history in novel form but Zeno was a soldier at Arnhem and writes a detailed account of what happened though the characters are fictional. I heard it on audio book which was a great way to take it in. Recommended.

[Gisele Paquette · Rating 1 out of 5]

I lasted till the end!!! I wonder how that manuscript got published??? I think the aim of this story was to have a mixture of Jason Bourne and James Bond but it misses the mark royally. If you have time on your hands don’t read it.

[James · Rating 1 out of 5]

Worst book ever written! I lasted 100 pages - I'll never get that time back.

[Zoe Macken · Rating 1 out of 5]

My version of this novel started off by introducing the author and stating that “Colin Forbes writes a novel every year”. And you know what? It fucking shows. I would have DNFd it if I wasn’t stuck in a small hostel in Bulgaria with nothing else to read. This book sucks ass. It’s a cheesy detective novel with very bad writing.
I felt like I was stuck in an almost 5 hundred page long conversation with my father, where the author speaks to me as if I am an idiot with no comprehension skills and no ability to connect any dots. At times the dialogue was so cheesy one could easily assume it was satire - but it’s not. For example page 87 when Vanity is on the phone to Moloch “You’re flying to Newquay on the chopper? Where to? Didn’t catch that…You’re flying on to Heathrow and then to San Francisco in the jet?” All for the benefit of our main characters, so that they can overhear and get the information they need.
Also the amount of “revelations” that these characters have where they have seemingly “finally worked it out!” such as when Paula comes up with the idea that the two women who were killed were twins. It took them 120 pages for someone, anyone to think that two women, who look the exact same, but are definitely not the same person could be twins. I thought these characters were supposed to be sharp, educated?
So okay, it’s cheesy and cliche perhaps I could get on board with that. But what bothered me above all else, what made me put the book down for days without picking it back up, what filled me with rage at Colin Forbes for wasting my time is the fact that he, the author himself, didn’t even care enough about this book to reread and keep up with the utter shite he had already written.
Page 274 Moloch says to Tweed “I liked your assistant, Paula. Makes a change to have a nice English friend.” Page 343 Moloch meets Tweed and Paula again. Moloch greets them by asking Tweed “And who is the very attractive young lady?” And then Tweed continues to introduce Paula for a second time.
On page 96 Buchanan interviews Tweed and Paula in Cornwall. “ ‘Do you know a man called Adrian Penkastle?’ ‘Who is he?’ Tweed asked.” “ ‘He got himself murdered in his own house early this evening’ ” Page 171 Buchanan and Tweed meet again. “ ‘And I suppose you never knew of Adrian Penkastle? A drunk stabbed to death in Cornwall’ ” “ ‘ Yes, I know about that’ Tweed said promptly, to Bunchanan’s surprise.” To his surprise? TO HIS SURPRISE?!? He. Told. Tweed. About. The. Murder.
This book is stupid and bad and I’m so angry that I read it and I’m so angry that it was almost 500 pages long and I’m never going to get that time back. This book gave me a migraine and I would never in my wildest dreams suggest it to anyone.

[Phil Princey · Rating 1 out of 5]

I don't really know what to say. I'm sure I missed the point to the story. The under cover agents are part of a series, and this was my introduction; and to the author. I enjoyed the characters and parts of the book. But a very weak plot around some evil corporation, one that could have been dealt with in one blow right at the start but for whatever reason Tweed and co waited till the end. I don't know if the story was intended to be corny like something between Get Smart and 007 or if this is actually the writing style. It was really cheesy for me and weak in the structure but I just went with it anyway. Glad I got to the end (because I want to say I read a Collin Forbes book to my friend)

[Chris simpson · Rating 4 out of 5]

A really well written True war novel about a pathfinder battalions efforts at the beginning of the Market Garden campaign in Holland to seize the bridges across the Rhine for the allied troops to progress into Germany. The pathfinder battalion where the first to parachute in to secure and mark the landing sites for the massed troops coming in in gliders at the start of the campaign. Meeting heavy resistance from an unexpected heavy German presents the campaign failed before it had really begun. This book concentrates on the pathfinders and tells there tragic but heroic story. A truly fascinating story told without glamour

[Eric Bruce · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Tweed novels have long been my secret vice and I would hate anyone to know that I read them . This one is a re-read from the year it was first published and is a perfect example of Colin Forbes ' work . Unintentionally funny dialogue , a super-hero SIS team , totally moral women and a villain seeking to dominate the micro-chip world ( and of course not a true Brit ! ) . 500 pages of good v. evil with the inevitable outcome . What more could a reader ask for ?

[- - · Rating 4 out of 5]

8/10:

First war book I’ve read, and I really enjoyed it! Specifically; I really enjoyed the many perspectives offered from each character (special mention to Nash, who was one of my favourites) and I think it really complimented the story as a whole. I had to google a couple of terms (spandau, schmiesser, piat) but thoroughly enjoyed!

[Ben Hodson · Rating 5 out of 5]

An absolute masterpiece. First come across this book via the podcast 'we have ways of making you talk' tried to find an original copy that wasn't silly expensive. To no success but luckily republished recently and grabbed a copy instantly. Already thinking about a 2nd read through.

[Keith · Rating 3 out of 5]

Being charitable, it’s not aged very well. The “I know something you don’t know” school of investigation doesn’t work, especially when it’s not explained.

[JINI · Rating 3 out of 5]

Follow, ambush , kill Repeat

[Rob Shipman · Rating 5 out of 5]

An incredible tale, told by someone who was there. If you have any interest in this battle then ‘The Cauldron’ is a must-read.

[Thomas Malbon · Rating 4 out of 5]

A gripping, exciting, tragic novel.

[Dr. Ian · Rating 1 out of 5]

Most of the good reviews on here are for a completely different book.
This book is NOT about the WW2.
I couldn't finish the book, it was incredibly chlid-like in its writing.

[Neil Clarke · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brilliant

[John · Rating 5 out of 5]

I accessed this as an audio version read by comedian and amatuer historian Al Murray via the We Have Ways podcast .

It's a highly evocative work of fictionalised history and read with verve byt Mr Murray.
Highly enjoyable.

[Hans · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book, written by a member of the 21st Independent Parachute Company/British 1st Airborne Division, tells the story of the unit during the landings near Arnhem and Oosterbeek during Operation Market-Garden, and the bitter fighting in the streets of Oosterbeek till the unit was evacuated across the Rhine. It is a work of fiction, but the author was there himself, so it is based in his personal experiences and the role as played by the unit.

The author manages to depict the men in a realistic and convincing way, this all against the backdrop of the airborne landings that started off well, but soon went haywire. There is a range of men, varying from veterans to new soldiers, and you get to know them well but still in a somewhat superficial way. You do not get to know all there is to know about their civilian lives, but what you know is enough to make them stick with you. The interaction between the men, and the men leading them, is interesting to follow.

After the marking off the landing zones, and with the drive to Arnhem's bridge halted, except for a small group of paratroopers, the company gets involved in the support of attempts to reinforce the men inside Arnhem and the fighting in and around Oosterbeek. And this is done in a really convincing way. You get to feel the tension when a German attack gets moving, you almost see how two paratroopers, armed with a Bren or Piat, peek through a window preying on a German tank. And as the fighting drags on, and the perimeter gets squeezed tighter and tighter, tension, stress and lack of sleep take their toll.

Despite being fiction, this book could almost easily have been a work of non-fiction since it describes what happened in a realistic and convincing way.

Really good book that kept me reading. (even though I did read it before many years ago)

[Nigel · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the 13th instalment of the Tweed and Co series and our erstwhile hero is once again pitting his wits against a megalomaniac who this time is looking for revenge against Silicon Valley for the way he perceives they destroyed a previous company of his. Needless say the book follows the tried and trusted formula of the series, and small number of people who pop up all the time as Tweed is investigating, a mysterious assassin, a number of red herrings and a fair smattering of chases and near death escapes for the time. As far as I am concerned the usually adventurous romp from Mr Forbes.

[Suzan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Haven't read a Tweed & Co for years - found they were getting a bit too loose and unbelievable. That said, came across this one at a book fair and it made a really good weekend read. Fast paced, good action, movement between California and the UK. Bit stereotypical when it comes to the traits of US cops and UK/USA rivalry, but all in all enjoyable. Does make me wonder if California will disappear one day when the 'big one' hits!

[Kirk Coco · Rating 5 out of 5]

An amazing and gripping story about the battle at Arnhem during Operation Market Garden in World War II. A very personal account of action with a wonderful prose that describes emotion and the camera derive of soldiers facing certain death. Not for the faint of heart, but truly one of the best tactical level books written about British soldiers in the Second World War.