Hitler vs. Me

The Bandy Papers #8

by Donald Jack

Bandy is back! It's 1940, and the intrepid air ace of WWI is eager to join the fight against Germany. Unfortunately, everyone seems to think Bandy is too old to be flying Spitfires, and should go quietly into retirement to polish his medals and knighthoods. Bandy, however, has other ideas, and uses his friends and/or enemies in high places to manoeuvre himself into the Battle of Britain. Between being mistaken for a Nazi spy, a communist, or a Chelsea pensioner, Bandy has as much trouble on the ground as he has in the air with the Luftwaffe, and when his son arrives on the scene, his troubles only get worse. This edition also includes Donald Jack's novelette "Where Did Rafe Madison Go?" Jack wrote the story just as the fate of the Avro Arrow jet fighter was still up in the air (the first test flight taking place in March '58, and the programme's termination coming only four months after the story was published). In "Where Did Rafe Madison Go?" Jack imagines a future delta-winged descendant of the Arrow, the CF-108, and takes us through the RCAF court martial that is trying to uncover the explanation for the plane's mysterious disappearance, an incident that even the pilot, Rafe Madison, doesn't understand.

Genres: Canada, Historical Fiction, Humor

332 pages, Paperback

First published August 31, 1996

About the author

Novelist, playwright, and scriptwriter. Best known for his "Bandy Papers" novels about WWI ace Bartholomew Bandy, which won Jack the Leacock award three times for volumes of the series. Also penned the first modern play performed at the Stratford Festival of Canada, and wrote numerous scripts for television and radio.

Reviews

[Mark Edlund · Rating 3 out of 5]

Humour series - Due to a lack of availability I was not able to read the two books in this series before this boo. The search continues. Bandy is trying to get a post overseas as a fighter pilot. Everyone says he is too old (he is). Lots of misadventures occur including finding out he has a son he is just as obtuse as he is. The author weaves many historical figures throughout though Hitler does not actually make an appearance. Funny and sad at the same time.
No pharmacy references.
Canadian references - Bandy is Canadian so too many references to recount.

[Chris Tschirhart · Rating 5 out of 5]

All I can say is that if you want a great Laugh about the ups and downs of an incompetent and lovable bumbling hero of a flyer you have to read all of "The Bandy Papers Books. I have never laughed till I couldn't breath so much in my life.

[Scott G · Rating 2 out of 5]

Just ok . Definitely not the best of the Bandy series. Have read them all over 40 years. Would it not be wonderful to see a Bandy movie?

[TheIron Paw · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'd read the first 3 volumes of the Bandy Papers years ago and didn't realize there were 5 more volumes. I thoroughly enjoyed the silliness of Bandy's military career touched with moments of serious character development, romance, and emotion. I did find this current (latest) volume somewhat slow and repetitive during the first half but the story and plot picked up in the second half to make this a worthwhile fun read.

[Francis · Rating 4 out of 5]

This volume reminded me more of the first 3 volumes of this series, which were my favourites so far. Entertaining and fun read.