By Jove, Biggles! The Life of Captain W.E. Johns

by Peter Berresford Ellis, Piers Williams

This is the first biography of one of the most popular children's authors of the mid-twentieth century, who is probably best known for the creation of the character Biggles - loved by adults and children alike.

Captain W.E. Johns (1893-1968) wrote 168 books, of which 98 were Biggles stories. These have been translated into many languages - at one time, according to UNESCO statistics, Biggles was the most popular juvenile fiction hero in the world. The Biggles stories have been adapted for radio, television and comic strips, and there is currently speculation about a full-length Biggles film.

Johns' many other books written for children include a series of science fiction novels. He also made a serious attempt to establish himself as a writer of adult thrillers and romances. His journalistic output was equally prolific and varied. In addition to writing articles and editorials for Popular Flying and Flying magazines, he was a regular contributor to a gardening magazine.

By Jove, Biggles! looks at the long and active career of the man who has had a major influence on generations of children all over the world. It concentrates particularly on his wartime experiences, on which he based many of the early works, and tells how, after the First World War, Johns played a significant part in the enlisting of A/C Ross (Lawrence of Arabia) into the RAF. There is also a critical analysis of Johns' work, and a discussion of the attack on his books by librarians who objected to Johns' alleged use of racial stereotypes and his jingoistic attitudes. In addition the authors have compiled an extensive and invaluable bibliography of Johns' writings.

A carefully documented and well-researched biography which brings to life not only the man but the years of conflict and change in which he played such an active part.

Genres: Biography

304 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1981

About the author

Peter Berresford Ellis is a historian, literary biographer, and novelist who has published over 90 books to date either under his own name or his pseudonyms Peter Tremayne and Peter MacAlan. He has also published 95 short stories. His non-fiction books, articles and academic papers have made him acknowledged as an authority on Celtic history and culture. Under Peter Tremayne, he is the author of the international bestselling Sister Fidelma mystery series. His work has appeared in 25 languages.

He began his career as a junior reporter on an English south coast weekly, becoming deputy editor of an Irish weekly newspaper and was then editor of a weekly trade journal in London. He first went as a feature writer to Northern Ireland in 1964 for a London daily newspaper which had a profound effect on him. His first book was published in 1968: Wales: a Nation Again, on the Welsh struggle for political independence, with a foreword by Gwynfor Evans, Plaid Cymru's first Member of Parliament. In 1975 he became a full-time writer. He used his academic background to produce many popular titles in the field of Celtic Studies and he has written numerous academic articles and papers in the field for journals ranging from The Linguist (London) to The Irish Sword: Journal of the Irish Military History Society (UCD). He is highly regarded by academics in his own field and was described by The Times Higher Education Supplement, London, (June, 1999) as one of the leading authorities on the Celts then writing. He has been International Chairman of the Celtic League 1988–1990; chairman of Scrif-Celt (The Celtic Languages Book Fair in 1985 and in 1986); chairman and vice-president of the London Association for Celtic Education 1989–1995, and now is an Hon. Life Member); He was also chairman of his local ward Labour Party in London, England, and was editorial advisor on Labour and Ireland magazine in the early 1990s. He is a member of the Society of Authors.

Apart from his Celtic Studies interests, Ellis has always been fascinated by aspects of popular literature and has written full-length biographies on H. Rider Haggard, W. E. Johns, Talbot Mundy as well as critical essays on many more popular fiction authors. His own output in the fictional field, writing in the genre of horror fantasy and heroic fantasy, began in 1977 when the first "Peter Tremayne" book appeared. Between 1983 and 1993 he also wrote eight adventure thrillers under the name "Peter MacAlan". Ellis has published (as of January, 2009) a total of 91 books, 95 short stories, several pamphlets, and numerous academic papers and signed journalistic articles. Under his own name he wrote two long running columns: 'Anonn is Anall' (Here and There) from 1987–2008 for the Irish Democrat, and, "Anois agus Arís" (Now and Again) from 2000–2008 for The Irish Post. His books break down into 34 titles under his own name; 8 titles under the pseudonym of Peter MacAlan and 49 titles under his pseudonym of Peter Tremayne. He has lectured widely at universities in several countries, including the UK, Ireland, American, Canada, France and Italy. He has also broadcast on television and radio since 1968. With the great popularity of his 7th Century set Sister Fidelma Mysteries, in January, 2001, an International Sister Fidelma Society was formed in Charleston, South Carolina, with a website and producing a print magazine three times a year called The Brehon. In 2006 the Cashel Arts Fest established the first three-day international gathering of fans of the series which is now held bi-annually and receives the full support of the Society

Reviews

[Tom · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was an amazing book. I love the fact that my great uncle is mentioned.