Escape From Holland: The dash for the last British boat out of Holland in May 1940, a thrilling true story of football, ballet, journalism and war

by Chris Hunt

Just before dawn on May 10, 1940, German parachute troops rain down on Holland. Watching from his home on the Dutch coast is former international footballer Billy Marsden. It’s ten years to the day since Germans saved his life in a Berlin hospital after he suffered a broken neck while playing for England – and now it’s this German invasion that is putting his life in jeopardy.
In The Hague, Margot Fonteyn and the Sadler’s Wells Ballet Company watch the dogfights from the roof of their hotel. In Amsterdam, trying to file the story of the invasion are journalist David Woodward and his American wife, NBC war correspondent Margaret Rupli (one of the rare women reporting on the war for American radio), while young British diplomat Peers Carter attempts to organise an evacuation just eight months into the job.
Set across one weekend in May 1940, this is the true story of how all these people came together, along with a dozen more British football coaches and three million pounds worth of diamonds, to escape on the last boat out of Holland before the Dutch capitulated.

Genres: History

306 pages, Paperback

Published March 3, 2026

Reviews

[Lance · Rating 4 out of 5]

The old saying that sometimes real life is more exciting or dangerous than fiction was certainly the case for this story. Many people from various walks of life living in Holland were drawn together by the threat of war. Their escape from the German invasion of the Netherlands in 1940 and eventual safe return to their native Britain is told in this very good book by Chris Hunt.

Because I will review sports books for this site, Mr. Hunt thought I might be interested in reviewing this book because one of the main celebrities who made this daring escape, Billy Marsden, was a well-known football player and manager in England. There isn’t a lot of football mentioned in the book, except for two significant passages. One is how Marsden’s playing career came to an end due to injury. He was very thankful for the German medical personnel who helped him recover – something he felt was ironic given that it was now Germany who was pulling Europe into war.
The other section of the book where football was the main topic was a recreational game between native Dutch men working at the hotel where English refugees were staying and a group of the English refugees. These players were mainly from the Sadler’s Wells Ballet Company. The dancers were putting on shows in Holland when the invasion started and the hotel was where they and other refugees were awaiting the boats that would take them out of the country. I thought that was great that for at least a short period of time, there was some recreation that would take minds off of the desperate situation, whether as a player or as a spectator.

Most of the book is a very good portrayal of footballers (Marsden is the most prominent, but not the only one profiled here), dancers and journalists who were in Holland for one reason or another. Their escape from the bombing and invasion is just as dramatic as any wartime movie produced in Hollywood. The details Mr. Hunt writes about each person, each narrow escape and each brief pause of relief make for great reading. While it took me a little longer to read this book than usual for a review request, it is a b
ook that should be consumed carefully as no detail mentioned is unimportant to the story.
This might be better classified as a war or military book than a sports book, but that doesn’t really matter. What does matter is that this is a gripping look at a daring escape by people of various walks of life for who were brought together for a dangerous expedition that ended with a well-deserved trip home.

I wish to thank the author and Mile Away Publishing for providing a copy of the book via NetGalley. The opinions expressed in this review are strictly my own.


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[JD · Rating 5 out of 5]

Something a bit out of the box from a World War 2 perspective, and I really enjoyed it. The author focuses on ex-England International, Billy Marsden, to whom he is related who was trapped in Holland when the Germans invaded the country on 10 May 1940. But he also introduces the reader to a wide variety of different personalities who were trapped by the invasion, from the dancers and crew of a ballet company, to the fast-living war correspondents, the other ex-footballers from Britain coaching across the Netherlands, interned RAF airmen and every other Briton trying to make it home. It also gives credit to the staff of the British diplomatic service, the SS Dotterel crew and member of the Royal Navy who made their escape back to England possible. Though the subject is serious subject and book, the author has done a great job in making this a light read with a happy ending filled with the escapers' different adventures. Highly recommended.

Thanks to NetGalley for a copy of this book inreturn for an honest review.

[Martin Elsey · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a wonderful, immersive read that successfully renders the interlocking stories of disparate Brits narrowly escaping the German nvasion of the Netherlands. The attention to detail and back-story is exemplary but it never gets in the way of the narrative which remains urgent throughout. Would recommend to anyone with an interest in modern cultural history, or just anyone that enjpys a damn good yarn. Excellent!!

[Mary · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a thoroughly researched book that tells the stories of people from various walks of life as they seek sanctuary in England as Hitler’s armies invade the Netherlands. The stories mainly concern British citizens who were either living in, or visiting the Netherlands, but the experiences of some of the Dutch citizens involved are also included, which helps to make this a well-rounded history. It is all the more interesting as the author has a family connection with one of the would-be escapees. There are also some well-known names of the time among those seeking refuge from the approaching German troops.
Whilst paying a lot of attention to detail, the author presents the stories in a very engaging and readable way, making this a pleasure to read. You want to know how the stories end, and it’s interesting to see how often serendipity plays a part. As well as being taken on the escapees’ journeys, we also see how, in time of danger and in the fog of war, individuals rise to the challenge and find hitherto unknown strengths and resourcefulness.
This is a refreshing new take on the history of WWII, covering the effects of conflict on ordinary citizens, and is highly recommended.

[Boyd Butler · Rating 5 out of 5]

Chris Hunt is a master story teller. He weaves the characters in this book together in a way that is reminiscent of a Christopher Nolan film. And yet this is not fiction. It is a true story, told in a way that is both accessible and entertaining. One of those unforgettable books about wartime that you can get through in a single rainy day or...dip into just before bed. An insight into what happened during the second world war to those who were not fighters but were under fire nonetheless.

[Robert Alexander Johnson · Rating 3 out of 5]

⭐⭐⭐ An Interesting but Uneven WWII Escape Story

I received an advance copy of Escape from Holland by Chris Hunt from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. As someone who enjoys history and has been reading more about World War II, I was interested in this book because it focuses on a less familiar aspect of the war. The subject itself is compelling, and the book does a strong job of creating tension during key moments, especially during the German invasion. In those sections, the sense of danger feels immediate and real, and the narrative becomes engaging and immersive.

The structure often works against that strength. The book introduces its key figures effectively, but it continues to return to their background through repeated flashbacks, even after those individuals have already been established. These additional sections do not always add meaningful new insight and frequently interrupt the flow of the story. The tension that is built in the present timeline gets broken as the narrative shifts back to earlier material. Instead of moving forward, the story pauses, which slows the pacing and creates a sense of repetition.

The book remains informative and provides a clear account of survival and escape during wartime, and it does follow through by showing what happens to the individuals involved. At the same time, it tends to stay at a surface level rather than developing its themes in greater depth. Overall, this is a solid and worthwhile read for those interested in World War II, particularly readers who enjoy historical accounts of escape and survival. The pacing and structural choices limit its impact, making it an uneven but still informative reading experience.

Thank you to NetGalley, author Chris Hunt, Mile Away Publishing, and Members' Audiobook for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
#EscapeFromHolland #NetGalley

[Fiona · Rating 5 out of 5]

Despite the cramped and confined experience of living through the start of a war in a country that's foreign to you, Chris Hunt's true story "of football, ballet, journalism and war" takes you on a thriller paced rollercoaster ride as you get to know the motley group of characters – footballers, dancers and journalists – at the heart of this story. It's incredibly well researched and written in a style that makes you genuinely concerned for its main protagonists, 'Escape From Holland' is my favourite book of the years so far.

[PDS McIntosh · Rating 5 out of 5]

Whilst I usually find reading historical non-fiction a little like trudging through a treacle quagmire, Escape From Holland turned out to be something of a nice easy walk along a firm sandy beach. I found it to be increasingly compelling, particularly as I became invested in the characters highlighted by the author.
The style of prose I would describe as sitting somewhere between Sebastian Faulks' non-fiction work, such as The Fatal Englishman, which also dealt with some uncanny coincidences, and the stark realities of some of Orwell's early work.
Chris Hunt has clearly and meticulously researched both the facts and the people included in this little saga. His attention to detail can only be described as diligent and impressive.
With war once again on the borders of Europe, the author helps to remind us that whilst warfare itself changes, certain aspects will always remain: the refugees; the awful reality of invasion; the desperation of those caught between two warring factions; and, perhaps most importantly, the resilience of the human spirit and what hardships we will endure in order to survive.
This book is a triumph in all these areas. I have no reservations about recommending this read to old or young alike.