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SAS Great Escapes: Daring World War Two Escapes from the Famous Military Fighting Force
- GenresNonfictionWorld War II
313 pages, Kindle Edition
Published May 27, 2021
80 people are currently reading
246 people want to read
About the author
Damien Lewis
83 books451 followersDamien Lewis became an author largely by accident, when a British publisher asked him if he'd be willing to turn a TV documentary he was working on into a book. That film was shot in the Sudan war zone, and told the story of how Arab tribes seized black African slaves in horrific slave raids. Lewis had been to the Sudan war zone dozens of times over the past decade, reporting on that conflict for the BBC, Channel 4 and US and European broadcasters.
His slavery documentary told the story of a young girl from the Nuba tribe, seized in a raid and sold into slavery in Khartoum, Sudan's capital city, and of her epic escape. The publisher asked Lewis if the Nuba girl would be willing to write her life story as a book, with his help as co-author. The book that they co-wrote was called 'Slave', and it was published to great acclaim, becoming a number one bestseller and being translated into some 30 lanc guages worldwide. It won several awards and has been made into a feature film.
Over the preceding fifteen years Lewis had reported from many war, conflict and disaster zones – including Sudan, Sierra Leone, Eritrea, Zimbabwe, Nigeria, Iraq, Syria, Burma, Afghanistan and the Balkans (see Author's Gallery). He (and his film crew) traveled into such areas with aid workers, the British or allied military, UN forces or local military groups, or very much under their own steam. He reported on the horror and human impact of war, as well as the drama of conflict itself. Often, he worked alone. Often, he filmed his own material over extended periods of time living in the war or conflict zone.
During a decade spent reporting from around the world Lewis lived in deserts, rainforests, jungles and chaotic third world cities. In his work and travels he met and interviewed people smugglers, diamond miners, Catholic priests 'gone native', desert nomads, un-contacted tribes, aid workers, bush pilots, arms dealers, genocidal leaders, peacekeepers, game wardens, slum kids, world presidents, heroin traffickers, rebel warlords, child prostitutes, Islamist terrorists, Hindu holy men, mercenaries, bush doctors, soldiers, commanders and spies. He was injured, and was hospitalised with bizarre tropical diseases – including flesh-eating bacteria, worms that burrow through the skin and septicemia – but survived all that and continued to report.
It was only natural that having seen so much of global conflict he would be drawn to stories of war, terrorism, espionage and the often dark causes behind such conflicts when he started writing books. Having written a number of true stories, in 2006 he was chosen as one of the 'nation's 20 favourite authors' and wrote his first fiction, Desert Claw, for the British Government's Quick Read initiative. Desert Claw tells of a group of ex-Special Forces soldiers sent into Iraq to retrieve a looted Van Gogh painting, with a savage twist to the tale. That fiction was followed up by Cobra Gold, an equally compelling tale of global drama and intrigue and shadowy betrayal.
Damien Lewis's work, books and films have won the Index on Censorship (UK), CECRA (Spain), Project Censored (US), Commonwealth Relations (UK), Discovery-NHK BANFF (Canada), Rory Peck (UK), BBC One World (UK), BBC-WWF Wildscreen (UK), International Peace Prize (US), Elle Magazine Grande Prix (US), Victor Gollanz (Germany), and BBC One World (UK) Awards. He is a Fellow of the Winston Churchill Memorial Trust, and a Fellow of the Royal Geographical Society.
His slavery documentary told the story of a young girl from the Nuba tribe, seized in a raid and sold into slavery in Khartoum, Sudan's capital city, and of her epic escape. The publisher asked Lewis if the Nuba girl would be willing to write her life story as a book, with his help as co-author. The book that they co-wrote was called 'Slave', and it was published to great acclaim, becoming a number one bestseller and being translated into some 30 lanc guages worldwide. It won several awards and has been made into a feature film.
Over the preceding fifteen years Lewis had reported from many war, conflict and disaster zones – including Sudan, Sierra Leone, Eritrea, Zimbabwe, Nigeria, Iraq, Syria, Burma, Afghanistan and the Balkans (see Author's Gallery). He (and his film crew) traveled into such areas with aid workers, the British or allied military, UN forces or local military groups, or very much under their own steam. He reported on the horror and human impact of war, as well as the drama of conflict itself. Often, he worked alone. Often, he filmed his own material over extended periods of time living in the war or conflict zone.
During a decade spent reporting from around the world Lewis lived in deserts, rainforests, jungles and chaotic third world cities. In his work and travels he met and interviewed people smugglers, diamond miners, Catholic priests 'gone native', desert nomads, un-contacted tribes, aid workers, bush pilots, arms dealers, genocidal leaders, peacekeepers, game wardens, slum kids, world presidents, heroin traffickers, rebel warlords, child prostitutes, Islamist terrorists, Hindu holy men, mercenaries, bush doctors, soldiers, commanders and spies. He was injured, and was hospitalised with bizarre tropical diseases – including flesh-eating bacteria, worms that burrow through the skin and septicemia – but survived all that and continued to report.
It was only natural that having seen so much of global conflict he would be drawn to stories of war, terrorism, espionage and the often dark causes behind such conflicts when he started writing books. Having written a number of true stories, in 2006 he was chosen as one of the 'nation's 20 favourite authors' and wrote his first fiction, Desert Claw, for the British Government's Quick Read initiative. Desert Claw tells of a group of ex-Special Forces soldiers sent into Iraq to retrieve a looted Van Gogh painting, with a savage twist to the tale. That fiction was followed up by Cobra Gold, an equally compelling tale of global drama and intrigue and shadowy betrayal.
Damien Lewis's work, books and films have won the Index on Censorship (UK), CECRA (Spain), Project Censored (US), Commonwealth Relations (UK), Discovery-NHK BANFF (Canada), Rory Peck (UK), BBC One World (UK), BBC-WWF Wildscreen (UK), International Peace Prize (US), Elle Magazine Grande Prix (US), Victor Gollanz (Germany), and BBC One World (UK) Awards. He is a Fellow of the Winston Churchill Memorial Trust, and a Fellow of the Royal Geographical Society.
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
June 23, 2024
Really enjoyable selection of seven tales of daring do and escape by SAS captives during WW2.
All of them could be a detailed book in their own right, which is why some detail is lacking at times. Very well written, but very matter-of-fact. I maybe wanted some more emotion but overall it was a great read (and listen on audio book).
Some incredible tales are told in this selection, and it showcases the amazing resilience of SAS troopers and the miraculous civilians who helped them during the Second World War, many of which risked their own skin to help them evade the Nazis.
A fantastic read.
All of them could be a detailed book in their own right, which is why some detail is lacking at times. Very well written, but very matter-of-fact. I maybe wanted some more emotion but overall it was a great read (and listen on audio book).
Some incredible tales are told in this selection, and it showcases the amazing resilience of SAS troopers and the miraculous civilians who helped them during the Second World War, many of which risked their own skin to help them evade the Nazis.
A fantastic read.
June 13, 2025
Audioboek. 7 Van de meest bizarre en prachtige uitingen van menselijke prestatie. Elke keer als je ervan bent overtuigd dat iemand het niet gaat redden, krijgen ze het op de een of andere manier voor elkaar.
February 13, 2025
A magnificent ride of daring and duty
SAS Great Escape: Book 1 by Damien Lewis is an intense and well-researched account of a daring World War II escape by elite British soldiers. The book details the incredible ingenuity, resilience, and bravery of the SAS operatives as they plan and execute their breakout from enemy captivity. Lewis combines historical accuracy with gripping storytelling, making it an engaging read for fans of military history and true adventure. The book offers deep insight into the dangers faced by these soldiers and the high stakes of their mission, making it both thrilling and inspiring.
SAS Great Escape: Book 1 by Damien Lewis is an intense and well-researched account of a daring World War II escape by elite British soldiers. The book details the incredible ingenuity, resilience, and bravery of the SAS operatives as they plan and execute their breakout from enemy captivity. Lewis combines historical accuracy with gripping storytelling, making it an engaging read for fans of military history and true adventure. The book offers deep insight into the dangers faced by these soldiers and the high stakes of their mission, making it both thrilling and inspiring.
December 18, 2024
Absolutely mega! Never really read any war books before, picked this up at a book sale. Every chapter could be the best action/thriller film you have ever seen! Unbelievable! You need to read to understand the individual extremes that SAS soldiers went to during the war.
July 20, 2025
Great book telling 7 separate stories about amazing escapes by incredibly brave men in the 2nd World War.
In the final chapter, why did the author refer to the machine guns in the mid-upper turret as 7.62mm not as .303?
In the final chapter, why did the author refer to the machine guns in the mid-upper turret as 7.62mm not as .303?
June 23, 2024
A thrilling book from start to end full of deeply rich stories that keep you constantly turning the page after you said to yourself "One last page for tonight"
February 20, 2025
Absolutely brilliant read
October 14, 2025
Fantastic read about fantastic men.
October 24, 2025
4*
Very interesting and well written, a brilliant account of 7 SAS soldiers' escapes.
Very interesting and well written, a brilliant account of 7 SAS soldiers' escapes.
January 11, 2026
Amazing book. No spoilers. Read for yourself
July 6, 2021
Another excellent read by Damien Lewis, some of the characters in this book appear in his other SAS books. As usual a fast moving book which is difficult to put down.
September 22, 2023
Really good and scary to understand what happened and how real it is. These guys in SAS are on another level.
April 1, 2024
A good book but thought I had read better WWII stories elsewhere.
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews