Harkaway's Sixth Column

by John Harris

An explosive action-packed war drama: four British soldiers are cut off behind enemy lines in British Somaliland and when they decide to utilise a secret arms dump in the Bur Yi hills and fight a rearguard action, an unlikely alliance is sought between two local warring tribes. What follows is an amazing mission led by the brilliant, elusive Harkaway, whose heart is stolen by a missionary when she becomes mixed up in the unorthodox band of warriors.

Genres: War

308 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1983

About the author

John^^Harris
Pseudonyms: Max Hennessy; Mark Hebden

Image is a self caricature from the late 1970s.

From Wikipedia:
John Harris was a British author. He published a series of crime novels featuring the character Inspector Pel, and war books. He wrote with his own name, and also with the pseudonym of Mark Hebden. His 1953 novel The Sea Shall Not Have Them was the basis for a feature film of the same name in 1954. He was the father of Juliet Harris, who published more Inspector Pel books under the name of Juliet Hebden.

Reviews

[J.D · Rating 1 out of 5]

Incredibly racist, misogynist, homophobic and classist. The titular character was a horrible chap who was never once not ‘storming’ or ‘raging’ or ‘berating’, usually the Somalis, sometimes his fellow Englishmen and occasionally the female lead who naturally falls passionately in love with said bully, even as he treats her disdainfully. And it is not a particularly engaging war story. Everything goes right for the ragtag Sixth Column to the point of zero anticipation for the torpid reader.

[S. D. Howarth · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ideal comfort reading, one of his best books.

[Jason Towers · Rating 3.5 out of 5]

Focuses on an overlooked part of the second world war, the conflict in east Africa. Essentially a character study, with the central character's obsession built up subtly until it's all-consuming. Unfortunately the characters are largely unlikeable. Drags a bit in the middle but the last third is propulsive, ramping up to a strong finish. 3½

[Jaanus Tramberg · Rating 5 out of 5]

Allah created the Arabs, then all
the other peoples of the world,
then he created the Somalis.
Then he laughed.

Arab saying