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The Bridge
Young paratrooper Theo Trickey has had a remarkable war. Boy soldier, commando, intelligence officer - fighting from northern France to the African desert and in the mountains of Italy. He has already done more than should be asked of any man in war.
But D-Day is looming, and British intelligence have one more misson for to negotiate with his extraordinary old acquaintance, General Erwin Rommel. There are rumours that Germany's greatest general wants to save the Fatherland by any means possible....
The Bridge is the final instalment of Radcliffe's Airborne trilogy which tells the extraordinary story of a young soldier, a new regiment and how, together, they changed the course of a war.
But D-Day is looming, and British intelligence have one more misson for to negotiate with his extraordinary old acquaintance, General Erwin Rommel. There are rumours that Germany's greatest general wants to save the Fatherland by any means possible....
The Bridge is the final instalment of Radcliffe's Airborne trilogy which tells the extraordinary story of a young soldier, a new regiment and how, together, they changed the course of a war.
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Published September 12, 2019
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
January 9, 2022
This was the last book in the Airborne Trilogy and again, it was a joy to read. I read it right after finishing the second one and I'm glad I did as I left too much time between the first and the second book (two years).
Here is my conclusion after reading all three books.
People who like a linear, a-to-b story won't like this trilogy very much as it moves through time and place quite a lot. It gives a lot of information about different campaigns in WW II and there are a lot of action scenes set in those campaigns. The reader is expected to have some knowledge of abbreviations and weaponry or, if they don't, can find most of it on Google.
Robert Radcliffe is a good storyteller and the books are real page turners for people interested in the subjects mentioned.
If you want to read a book about WW II with more daily live in GB included, you can read Robert Radcliffe's Under An English Heaven, which is a brilliant story of wartime Britain. His book Upon Dark Waters is also highly recommended.
Here is my conclusion after reading all three books.
People who like a linear, a-to-b story won't like this trilogy very much as it moves through time and place quite a lot. It gives a lot of information about different campaigns in WW II and there are a lot of action scenes set in those campaigns. The reader is expected to have some knowledge of abbreviations and weaponry or, if they don't, can find most of it on Google.
Robert Radcliffe is a good storyteller and the books are real page turners for people interested in the subjects mentioned.
If you want to read a book about WW II with more daily live in GB included, you can read Robert Radcliffe's Under An English Heaven, which is a brilliant story of wartime Britain. His book Upon Dark Waters is also highly recommended.
September 11, 2019
Gripping conclusion to the Airborne Trilogy 💗😄📚
April 20, 2020
Story interrupted with a lousy tie up ending.
A good tale for 80% of the series, the hero struggles towards a goal, survives and succeeds...but the reader is not included in the act of success. Years later we are told, they are well, together... somewhere.
Ummm, sort of like Goldilocks and the three bears. "Someone has been sleeping in MY BED! And there she is!", screams the enraged papa bear. ...then we hear more about the bears, what they do where they go...oh and by the way, in 1973 we got a note that Goldilocks was alive and living a quiet life....somewhere.
So frankly this relationship goal of the hero, was a minor thing in my memory. How this became the reason for the entire tale eludes me. If it actually WAS his motivation, don't you think the reader should know how he accomplished his goal?
As I was reading this third volume, I wondered, hmmmm how can he possibly achieve his goal in only 40 more pages?
THE ANSWER: Don't tell that apparently unimportant part of the story and just say Oh yeah by they way he made it in time and everyone is fine.
Basically the first 2.5 books were all the buildup of a heroic and fun personality, with no tie up beyond, they lived happily ever after. A sad finish to a good series. The fact that it was well written and creative, makes the insipid conclusion all that more disappointing.
A good tale for 80% of the series, the hero struggles towards a goal, survives and succeeds...but the reader is not included in the act of success. Years later we are told, they are well, together... somewhere.
Ummm, sort of like Goldilocks and the three bears. "Someone has been sleeping in MY BED! And there she is!", screams the enraged papa bear. ...then we hear more about the bears, what they do where they go...oh and by the way, in 1973 we got a note that Goldilocks was alive and living a quiet life....somewhere.
So frankly this relationship goal of the hero, was a minor thing in my memory. How this became the reason for the entire tale eludes me. If it actually WAS his motivation, don't you think the reader should know how he accomplished his goal?
As I was reading this third volume, I wondered, hmmmm how can he possibly achieve his goal in only 40 more pages?
THE ANSWER: Don't tell that apparently unimportant part of the story and just say Oh yeah by they way he made it in time and everyone is fine.
Basically the first 2.5 books were all the buildup of a heroic and fun personality, with no tie up beyond, they lived happily ever after. A sad finish to a good series. The fact that it was well written and creative, makes the insipid conclusion all that more disappointing.
September 2, 2020
The third book about Theo Trickey and his extraordinary war takes us through D-Day and Arnhem, rolling back round to the point where medical officer Dan Garland found Theo's battered, barely breathing body amongst a pile of corpses.
Theo has an extraordinary ability to be in the right place at the right time. He's virtually indestructible and the luckiest man in the world. There are a lot of highly unlikely situations in this book, but in the end, it doesn't really matter because Theo's a highly likeable character. I enjoyed reading his story and finding out what happened to him in the end.
Dan Garland is also an appealing character, the doctor who joined up because he had his heart broken, and was captured in his first action. He's another dogged individual, determined to do his best for his patients and the people in his care. Although Garland and Trickey barely interact in the normal sense, Garland is linked to Trickey and fascinated by him.
This is fast-paced storytelling, excellent in the battle scenes and in showing how comrades in arms act together. It's also a good story, well worth the read.
Theo has an extraordinary ability to be in the right place at the right time. He's virtually indestructible and the luckiest man in the world. There are a lot of highly unlikely situations in this book, but in the end, it doesn't really matter because Theo's a highly likeable character. I enjoyed reading his story and finding out what happened to him in the end.
Dan Garland is also an appealing character, the doctor who joined up because he had his heart broken, and was captured in his first action. He's another dogged individual, determined to do his best for his patients and the people in his care. Although Garland and Trickey barely interact in the normal sense, Garland is linked to Trickey and fascinated by him.
This is fast-paced storytelling, excellent in the battle scenes and in showing how comrades in arms act together. It's also a good story, well worth the read.
June 17, 2021
I struggled to overcome the main character appearing in every major conflict in WWII and found myself having to suspend belief
This is disappointing as the author clearly has the capability to tell a compelling story. The battle scenes in Holland and Normandy are well written and paint a vivid picture of the combat. I wanted much more of this and less of the fanciful meanderings around the various combat theatres.
If you want a good yarn and aren’t worried about some stretching of historical possibilities, then give it a go
This is disappointing as the author clearly has the capability to tell a compelling story. The battle scenes in Holland and Normandy are well written and paint a vivid picture of the combat. I wanted much more of this and less of the fanciful meanderings around the various combat theatres.
If you want a good yarn and aren’t worried about some stretching of historical possibilities, then give it a go
October 2, 2020
Astonishing
This trilogy is a remarkable piece of work. It is a blend of fact and fiction but the lines dividing them are so blurred the whole blends into a seamless narrative.
As a one time British Army paratrooper, I found no fault in any of the details regarding this job and it’s equipment.
Quite frankly, an astonishing read.
This trilogy is a remarkable piece of work. It is a blend of fact and fiction but the lines dividing them are so blurred the whole blends into a seamless narrative.
As a one time British Army paratrooper, I found no fault in any of the details regarding this job and it’s equipment.
Quite frankly, an astonishing read.
January 20, 2021
A thoroughly satisfying conclusion to the trilogy. Good adventurous stuff, well written. It flows and entertains. As a book on its own, probably a 4-star... it isn't star literature, nor is it an earth-shattering plot; however, the achievement of maintaining a consistent and lucid tale over 3 volumes deserves the extra recognition. I'll be happy to read this author again.
January 7, 2020
The Airborne Trilogy has been an amazing read.
Amazing writing and a story that draws you in.
It inserts the character Theo Trickey into the battles and history of WW2 much like the film Forrest Gump inserted him into history.
Highly recommended!!!
Amazing writing and a story that draws you in.
It inserts the character Theo Trickey into the battles and history of WW2 much like the film Forrest Gump inserted him into history.
Highly recommended!!!
December 9, 2019
Decent enough read not the best ww2 book I've read. Still don't like the two time periods running at the same time idea
February 2, 2021
Enjoyed the series, found this book a little disjointed... certainly gives another view on a lot of battles in WWII...
March 30, 2022
good read
Enjoyed this book , good read, easy to follow the plot and keeps moving throughout. Part of a trilogy which I enjoyed.
Enjoyed this book , good read, easy to follow the plot and keeps moving throughout. Part of a trilogy which I enjoyed.
July 12, 2022
Over the top, could not relate to it.
February 6, 2023
An extraordinary well researched, crafted and expressed historical novel.
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews