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The Trap
Dan Billany's The Trap, first published in 1950, still stands - in the opinion of M.R.D. Foot - as 'one of the most powerful English novels to come out of the [Second World War].' It echoes the wartime experiences of its author, who is believed to have died in 1943 while on the run from an Italian POW camp, but not before entrusting the manuscripts of The Trap to safekeeping.The book's narrator, army lieutenant Michael Carr, tells of his early years in Cornwall, of the girl he met and loved there, and of the hard times her family endured between the wars. These troubles and joys give way to the tragedy of war, and the book's narrative becomes one of comradeship, suspense and fighting in the North African desert. 'The Trap is an outstanding novel by a writer of natural genius... written with great force and honesty... profoundly impressive.' Times Literary Supplement
- GenresWorld War II
382 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 1950
3 people are currently reading
35 people want to read
About the author
Dan Billany
8 books1 followerDan Billany (14 November 1913 – disappeared 20 November 1943) was an English novelist.
Billany was born and raised in Hull. He joined the Labour League of Youth and later the Hull Branch of the Socialist Party of Great Britain, but was expelled from the latter in 1933 for his involvement in an internal dispute. He later joined the National Unemployed Workers' Movement.
Billany received a degree in English from the University College of Hull in 1937. His career in teaching was interrupted by the outbreak of World War II; Billany joined the army in 1940 and became an officer as lieutenant in the 4th battalion of the East Yorkshire Regiment. He was captured by the Germans and spent June 1942 till September 1943 as a prisoner of war in Italy.
Throughout the war off duty, Billany concentrated on his writing. The Opera House Murders, a thriller, and The Magic Door, a book for boys, were published in 1940 and 1943, respectively. After the capitulation of Italy in September 1943, Billany fled to the countryside with his manuscripts, working on them for weeks while hiding from the German army. He deposited them with a friendly local who promised to post them to Britain at the conclusion of the war. These manuscripts, The Cage and The Trap, were received by Billany's family in 1946 and eventually published to wide acclaim. In Dockers and Detectives, Ken Worpole lauded The Trap as "the finest novel to come out of the war".
In October 1943, Billany and three friends began to make their way over the Apennines towards the Allied forces. They were last seen in Capistrello on 20 November 1943, and presumably died in the mountains a few days later. Lieutenant Dan Billany is listed on the Commonwealth War Grave Commission's Cassino Memorial, to Commonwealth military personnel who have no known grave, as having died on 1 January 1944.
Billany was born and raised in Hull. He joined the Labour League of Youth and later the Hull Branch of the Socialist Party of Great Britain, but was expelled from the latter in 1933 for his involvement in an internal dispute. He later joined the National Unemployed Workers' Movement.
Billany received a degree in English from the University College of Hull in 1937. His career in teaching was interrupted by the outbreak of World War II; Billany joined the army in 1940 and became an officer as lieutenant in the 4th battalion of the East Yorkshire Regiment. He was captured by the Germans and spent June 1942 till September 1943 as a prisoner of war in Italy.
Throughout the war off duty, Billany concentrated on his writing. The Opera House Murders, a thriller, and The Magic Door, a book for boys, were published in 1940 and 1943, respectively. After the capitulation of Italy in September 1943, Billany fled to the countryside with his manuscripts, working on them for weeks while hiding from the German army. He deposited them with a friendly local who promised to post them to Britain at the conclusion of the war. These manuscripts, The Cage and The Trap, were received by Billany's family in 1946 and eventually published to wide acclaim. In Dockers and Detectives, Ken Worpole lauded The Trap as "the finest novel to come out of the war".
In October 1943, Billany and three friends began to make their way over the Apennines towards the Allied forces. They were last seen in Capistrello on 20 November 1943, and presumably died in the mountains a few days later. Lieutenant Dan Billany is listed on the Commonwealth War Grave Commission's Cassino Memorial, to Commonwealth military personnel who have no known grave, as having died on 1 January 1944.
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
November 27, 2015
It is a while since I read this book, so I may have to update this review slightly when I re-read it. I own an old second-hand paperback version of this novel - I can't even remember where I got it from but I was shocked how good it was and why I'd never heard of it before.
The story is one of a young junior officer in the British Army in the early years of WWII. The novel explores his training, his life in an army camp in the west country and his relationship with a young woman he falls in love with. All his thoughts and fears are explored, from his feelings for his girl to what war will be like, which he knows will come to him one day but cannot imagine; whether he will be able to lead men in battle and whether they will follow; and whether he will cope or not.
The story includes episodes where he has to deal with troubles among some of the men and how he copes with that. The journey to North Africa is described and what they have to do when they get there: dig trenches in the rock hard desert, set up bunkers and machine gun positions etc, as well as the conditions they live under and the privations they have to endure. One of these is difficult for us to believe; if I remember correctly the army had such a problem logistically that the men were only issued with one pint of water each per day, because that's all they could deliver. (I think British troops in Iraq in the Gulf War were encouraged to drink several litres per day, in addition to cooking and washing water, of course). Amazing how they survived.
I won't reveal too much about how the story develops except to say that all their efforts don't do them much good when the shooting starts.
Overall this novel, based as it was on experience, is very realistic and moving and, in my humble opinion, should be hailed as an important work. It would also be useful in getting across to young people today how their grandads and great-grandads lived and fought in the Western Desert, so should perhaps be included in the history curriculum.
The author himself was badly wounded and captured. He wrote the book in an Italian prisoner of war camp, where he died. The manuscript was returned to England after the war by an Italian farmer who had been entrusted with it. What a story in itself.
The story is one of a young junior officer in the British Army in the early years of WWII. The novel explores his training, his life in an army camp in the west country and his relationship with a young woman he falls in love with. All his thoughts and fears are explored, from his feelings for his girl to what war will be like, which he knows will come to him one day but cannot imagine; whether he will be able to lead men in battle and whether they will follow; and whether he will cope or not.
The story includes episodes where he has to deal with troubles among some of the men and how he copes with that. The journey to North Africa is described and what they have to do when they get there: dig trenches in the rock hard desert, set up bunkers and machine gun positions etc, as well as the conditions they live under and the privations they have to endure. One of these is difficult for us to believe; if I remember correctly the army had such a problem logistically that the men were only issued with one pint of water each per day, because that's all they could deliver. (I think British troops in Iraq in the Gulf War were encouraged to drink several litres per day, in addition to cooking and washing water, of course). Amazing how they survived.
I won't reveal too much about how the story develops except to say that all their efforts don't do them much good when the shooting starts.
Overall this novel, based as it was on experience, is very realistic and moving and, in my humble opinion, should be hailed as an important work. It would also be useful in getting across to young people today how their grandads and great-grandads lived and fought in the Western Desert, so should perhaps be included in the history curriculum.
The author himself was badly wounded and captured. He wrote the book in an Italian prisoner of war camp, where he died. The manuscript was returned to England after the war by an Italian farmer who had been entrusted with it. What a story in itself.
March 16, 2024
Billany is an exceptional writer and observer of pre war and early war life in England. I suspect that if he had lived longer he would have tweaked this book and it would be a true classic. As it is, the book is somewhat hampered by a very abrupt ending and a bitter emphasis on the war being orchestrated by the bourgeoisie. Mr Billany is a patriotic English socialist and this is clear in his writings. If he had lived longer I think he would have tweaked the ending to be more satisfactory and would have adjusted his views to reflect the ongoing genocide as a more worthy motive for the war. Despite this, if you like history this book is an exceptional look at the life and thoughts of the English middle class during the 1930’s. Well worth it. Maturity Level for reading difficulty and themes is High School or first year college.
October 25, 2015
I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
World War II history at its best, told by one who was there. The experiences Dan Billany had throughout his officer training in Cornwall and how he carried himself in the desert wars in North Africa are one of the best accounts of these events I have ever read. Written in a prisoner of war camp in Italy, these words were carefully kept by an Italian farmer after Billany's death, and returned to England. Recommended.
World War II history at its best, told by one who was there. The experiences Dan Billany had throughout his officer training in Cornwall and how he carried himself in the desert wars in North Africa are one of the best accounts of these events I have ever read. Written in a prisoner of war camp in Italy, these words were carefully kept by an Italian farmer after Billany's death, and returned to England. Recommended.
August 20, 2016
Most of book has to do with life before action in an English village, then courtship and marriage, then into service, then to African duty with dust and monotony and no action. Then action and capture then captivity.
Very good.
Very good.
June 10, 2017
As they say, unputundownable! Is there such a word? I would guess this novel inspired Storey, Braine and Sillitoe. Many pages are devoted to kitchen sink drama. But it also includes his thoughts and philosophies about the working class, education, childcare and war. A tragic tragic loss that Dan Billany was lost, assumed dead when trying to escape at the end of the war. Masters of War, you have lot to answer for taking away not simply a life but one who should have contributed so much to our culture.
December 23, 2016
2 stars
This is Michael’s story. He tells the story of his love, and later his wife, Elizabeth, and her family in the first half of the book. The second half, which is a much better read, is about Michael, an officer in the British Army during WWII. It is about his travels to Africa where he is captured and his subsequent struggles to survive in a prisoner of war camp.
This is a heart rending book, both because of Elizabeth’s hardships and Michael’s trauma.
The first half of the book was pretty boring to tell the truth. The ending of the book was abrupt and somewhat unsatisfying for me. But I liked the book nonetheless.
I want to thank Endeavour Press for the copy of this book.
This is Michael’s story. He tells the story of his love, and later his wife, Elizabeth, and her family in the first half of the book. The second half, which is a much better read, is about Michael, an officer in the British Army during WWII. It is about his travels to Africa where he is captured and his subsequent struggles to survive in a prisoner of war camp.
This is a heart rending book, both because of Elizabeth’s hardships and Michael’s trauma.
The first half of the book was pretty boring to tell the truth. The ending of the book was abrupt and somewhat unsatisfying for me. But I liked the book nonetheless.
I want to thank Endeavour Press for the copy of this book.
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews