What do you think?
Rate this book
Biggles
Výběr čtyřiačtyřiceti nejlepších povídek Bigglese z první světové války. Výbor byl uspořádán z knih Biggles od 266. letky, Bigglesův křest ohněm, Biggles od velbloudích stíhaček a Biggles – návrat velbloudích stíhaček. Ilustrace Zdeněk Burian.
560 pages, Hardcover
First published October 25, 2001
3 people are currently reading
107 people want to read
About the author
W.E. Johns
613 books113 followersInvariably known as Captain W.E. Johns, William Earl Johns was born in Bengeo, Hertfordshire, England. He was the son of Richard Eastman Johns, a tailor, and Elizabeth Johns (née Earl), the daughter of a master butcher. He had a younger brother, Russell Ernest Johns, who was born on 24 October 1895.
He went to Hertford Grammar School where he was no great scholar but he did develop into a crack shot with a rifle. This fired his early ambition to be a soldier. He also attended evening classes at the local art school.
In the summer of 1907 he was apprenticed to a county municipal surveyor where he remained for four years and then in 1912 he became a sanitary inspector in Swaffham, Norfolk. Soon after taking up this appointment, his father died of tuberculosis at the age of 47.
On 6 October 1914 he married Maude Penelope Hunt (1882–1961), the daughter of the Reverend John Hunt, the vicar at Little Dunham in Norfolk. The couple had one son, William Earl Carmichael Johns, who was born in March 1916.
With war looming he joined the Territorial Army as a Private in the King's Own Royal Regiment (Norfolk Yeomanry), a cavalry regiment. In August 1914 his regiment was mobilised and was in training and on home defence duties until September 1915 when they received embarkation orders for duty overseas.
He fought at Gallipoli and in the Suez Canal area and, after moving to the Machine gun Corps, he took part in the spring offensive in Salonika in April 1917. He contracted malaria and whilst in hospital he put in for a transfer to the Royal Flying Corps and on 26 September 1917, he was given a temporary commission as a Second Lieutenant and posted back to England to learn to fly, which he did at No. 1 School of Aeronautics at Reading, where he was taught by a Captain Ashton.
He was posted to No. 25 Flying Training School at Thetford where he had a charmed existence, once writing off three planes in three days. He moved to Yorkshire and was then posted to France and while on a bombing raid to Mannheim his plane was shot down and he was wounded. Captured by the Germans, he later escaped before being reincarcerated where he remained until the war ended.
He went to Hertford Grammar School where he was no great scholar but he did develop into a crack shot with a rifle. This fired his early ambition to be a soldier. He also attended evening classes at the local art school.
In the summer of 1907 he was apprenticed to a county municipal surveyor where he remained for four years and then in 1912 he became a sanitary inspector in Swaffham, Norfolk. Soon after taking up this appointment, his father died of tuberculosis at the age of 47.
On 6 October 1914 he married Maude Penelope Hunt (1882–1961), the daughter of the Reverend John Hunt, the vicar at Little Dunham in Norfolk. The couple had one son, William Earl Carmichael Johns, who was born in March 1916.
With war looming he joined the Territorial Army as a Private in the King's Own Royal Regiment (Norfolk Yeomanry), a cavalry regiment. In August 1914 his regiment was mobilised and was in training and on home defence duties until September 1915 when they received embarkation orders for duty overseas.
He fought at Gallipoli and in the Suez Canal area and, after moving to the Machine gun Corps, he took part in the spring offensive in Salonika in April 1917. He contracted malaria and whilst in hospital he put in for a transfer to the Royal Flying Corps and on 26 September 1917, he was given a temporary commission as a Second Lieutenant and posted back to England to learn to fly, which he did at No. 1 School of Aeronautics at Reading, where he was taught by a Captain Ashton.
He was posted to No. 25 Flying Training School at Thetford where he had a charmed existence, once writing off three planes in three days. He moved to Yorkshire and was then posted to France and while on a bombing raid to Mannheim his plane was shot down and he was wounded. Captured by the Germans, he later escaped before being reincarcerated where he remained until the war ended.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
May 3, 2012
I was new on high school at Phoenix Secondary, in Manenberg. I was trying to find my feet and my way in this "big school" environment. Being an introvert I did not naturally make friends and my English teacher noticed this and tried to make up by bringing books to school so that I could read. Ms Newman will forever be in my thoughts for her contribution to my love for reading.
The book made me believe that anything is possible and kindled in me a sense of excitement and adventure. Fighting evil was another theme that I would later use as a motivation to fight Apartheid. When looking at the simplicity of the book, I do not think that the author meant for it to be used as political instruction.
The book made me believe that anything is possible and kindled in me a sense of excitement and adventure. Fighting evil was another theme that I would later use as a motivation to fight Apartheid. When looking at the simplicity of the book, I do not think that the author meant for it to be used as political instruction.
May 1, 2011
when I was somewhat younger
May 30, 2013
I chose this one Biggles book to represent the many Biggles books I adored growing up. Every night I would escape from my bedroom and help save the world.
March 9, 2012
Still nice to read after all those years
March 20, 2020
Easy to read adventures of the famous pilot.
November 1, 2012
Ah, adding the Biggles series to my shelves.
Used to read these exclusively in class 9/10
Used to read these exclusively in class 9/10
September 15, 2014
Easy read, bringing back boyhood memories.
Want to read
June 22, 2012Definitely thought that Monty Python made Biggles up. Now I must read!
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews