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A Good War
The year is 1940.
Britain is fighting for its survival over the skies of Kent and Sussex.
Adam Tomaszewski is a Polish airman, just arrived in the country, flying Hurricanes alongside British pilots to avenge the country he has left behind.
With death seldom more than a day away, and far from his friends and family, Adam finds himself drawn to a maverick Irish soldier called Gerry Cunningham.
'You're out of luck, brother,' are the first words Gerry says when the two men meet in the crush of soldiers competing for the few women at a dance in a seaside hotel.
But when Gerry betrays his lover Moira, Adam's fortunes seem to have changed.
For the next four years, Adam's life and Gerry's are intertwined like good luck and bad, as Adam continues his perilous journey from the ruins of Poland to the rolling English countryside, from war-time Egypt to Occupied France.
A hauntingly evocative picture of wartime Britain, a twisting drama of fighting behind enemy lines, and a compelling, suspenseful love story, 'A Good War' proves Patrick Bishop - already acclaimed as a great historian of the war in the air - to be a superbly gifted novelist.
‘Bishop writes an exciting aerial dogfight, rich in the telling detail that makes for authenticity. Yet this is a good deal more than a bloke's yarn, with well-drawn, convincing characters and plenty of what the movie-makers used to call love interest, too.’ - Daily Mail
‘Gripping...powerful descriptions of the air battles and life on a RAF station...equally good at capturing the mood in a rural pub, or a smoky, sweaty ballroom...The final, most thrilling, part of the book takes place in the aftermath of the D-Day landings in 1944...a poignant end to an enthralling tale, and I hope not the last of Bishop's wartime novels’ - Spectator’
‘Best known for his fine histories of the RAF in the Second World War, Bishop proves equally adept at historical fiction with this well-crafted and beautifully written debut novel...A compelling read’ - Saul David, Independent on Sunday
'A measured, lyrical novel of remarkable scope and poise, A GOOD WAR is also replete with the realism and authenticity that are the author's hallmark...wonderfully evocative...A GOOD WAR confirms Patrick Bishop as a writer of fiction who has come of age' - Damien Lewis, author of Apache Dawn
‘A real feel for the period’ - Telegraph
‘Patrick Bishop turns novelist in this beautifully crafted love story. In its evocation of time and place it rings true at every turn.’ - Mail on Sunday
Patrick Bishop spent twenty-five years as a foreign correspondent covering conflicts around the world. He is the author of two hugely acclaimed books about the Royal Air Force during the Second World War, Fighter Boys and Bomber Boys. His most recent bestseller is 3 Para, an epic account of the British deployment to Afghanistan in the summer of 2006. A GOOD WAR is his first novel.
Endeavour Press is the UK's leading independent publisher of digital books.
Britain is fighting for its survival over the skies of Kent and Sussex.
Adam Tomaszewski is a Polish airman, just arrived in the country, flying Hurricanes alongside British pilots to avenge the country he has left behind.
With death seldom more than a day away, and far from his friends and family, Adam finds himself drawn to a maverick Irish soldier called Gerry Cunningham.
'You're out of luck, brother,' are the first words Gerry says when the two men meet in the crush of soldiers competing for the few women at a dance in a seaside hotel.
But when Gerry betrays his lover Moira, Adam's fortunes seem to have changed.
For the next four years, Adam's life and Gerry's are intertwined like good luck and bad, as Adam continues his perilous journey from the ruins of Poland to the rolling English countryside, from war-time Egypt to Occupied France.
A hauntingly evocative picture of wartime Britain, a twisting drama of fighting behind enemy lines, and a compelling, suspenseful love story, 'A Good War' proves Patrick Bishop - already acclaimed as a great historian of the war in the air - to be a superbly gifted novelist.
‘Bishop writes an exciting aerial dogfight, rich in the telling detail that makes for authenticity. Yet this is a good deal more than a bloke's yarn, with well-drawn, convincing characters and plenty of what the movie-makers used to call love interest, too.’ - Daily Mail
‘Gripping...powerful descriptions of the air battles and life on a RAF station...equally good at capturing the mood in a rural pub, or a smoky, sweaty ballroom...The final, most thrilling, part of the book takes place in the aftermath of the D-Day landings in 1944...a poignant end to an enthralling tale, and I hope not the last of Bishop's wartime novels’ - Spectator’
‘Best known for his fine histories of the RAF in the Second World War, Bishop proves equally adept at historical fiction with this well-crafted and beautifully written debut novel...A compelling read’ - Saul David, Independent on Sunday
'A measured, lyrical novel of remarkable scope and poise, A GOOD WAR is also replete with the realism and authenticity that are the author's hallmark...wonderfully evocative...A GOOD WAR confirms Patrick Bishop as a writer of fiction who has come of age' - Damien Lewis, author of Apache Dawn
‘A real feel for the period’ - Telegraph
‘Patrick Bishop turns novelist in this beautifully crafted love story. In its evocation of time and place it rings true at every turn.’ - Mail on Sunday
Patrick Bishop spent twenty-five years as a foreign correspondent covering conflicts around the world. He is the author of two hugely acclaimed books about the Royal Air Force during the Second World War, Fighter Boys and Bomber Boys. His most recent bestseller is 3 Para, an epic account of the British deployment to Afghanistan in the summer of 2006. A GOOD WAR is his first novel.
Endeavour Press is the UK's leading independent publisher of digital books.
- GenresHistorical FictionWar
385 pages, Kindle Edition
First published May 1, 2008
About the author
Patrick Bishop
74 books67 followersPatrick Bishop was born in London in 1952 and went to Wimbledon College and Corpus Christi College, Oxford. Before joining the Telegraph he worked on the Evening Standard, the Observer and the Sunday Times and in television as a reporter on Channel Four News. He is the author with John Witherow of a history of the Falkands War based on their own experiences and with Eamon Mallie of The Provisional IRA which was praised as the first authoritative account of the modern IRA. He also wrote a memoir the first Gulf War, Famous Victory and a history of the Irish diaspora The Irish Empire, based on the TV series which he devised.
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
March 6, 2018
This story is the sort I usually really enjoy and get emotionally involved with. Although there was plenty of action and an interesting story, I just didn't identify with any of the characters or like many of them. Gerry is particularly obnoxious.
May 9, 2020
Very well written and engaging story with plenty of action, macho posturing and a bit of romance!
I don't know much about the historical accuracy but it was a good yarn in its own right. I will be looking out for more by this author.
I don't know much about the historical accuracy but it was a good yarn in its own right. I will be looking out for more by this author.
March 1, 2023
Wow! What a page-turner! I finished the book in just over one day. All 392 pages of it. Patrick Bishop has created a very gripping, moving and authentic book about a Polish Battle of Britain pilot. This is a first-class novel. I’m looking out for his next one!
February 7, 2017
Set during the Second World war, this is the story of a Polish airman's war. Once again Patrick Bishop has produced an authentic story, of action and love against the brutality of war.
February 18, 2012
This is a pacey and atmospheric read following the fortunes of Adam Tomaszewski, a Polish pilot and Major Gerry Cunningham, whose lives cross and re-cross during the Second World War. The background is convincing - Bishop has already written two non-fiction books Fighter Boys and Bomber Boys so he is well versed in the history. What lets it down is the poor characterisation, the women are only in the novel to provide a love interest and a source of conflict between the two male characters. This makes it more of a swift read than a novel which will stay with you.
July 28, 2011
Hmmm, I was a bit disappointed with this.
Not enough flying, and I didn't really connect with ANY of the characters.
Not enough flying, and I didn't really connect with ANY of the characters.
October 9, 2013
A wonderful read about war and its effect on people and relationships....
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews