Rating: 
Summary: Not Just War History
Review: On one level, it is one very well-told war story and ranks at the top of its genre on those terms.More important, it is a celebration of human ingenuity and our capacity to overcome, accomplish, and organize. I can't think of a path in life a person could be on where they wouldn't benefit from the nourishment this book offers.
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Summary: A Tribute to Honor, Ingenuity and Determination
Review: Paul Brickhill's novel "The Great Escape" is absorbing reading about British and American POW's efforts to escape from the camps of their German captors. What is significant about this book is the ingenuity and tactics employed by the prisoners in their numerous escape attempts. Most people are familiar with the film of the same name, but this book goes into much greater depth and detail. What I found most interesting about the book was how the Allies were able to bribe the German guards into obtaining essentials they needed for their escape and aftermath. The German guards' fear of retribution from their own superiors helped advance the Allies' efforts. This is a very good book and makes for good reading. Paul Brickhill's dedication is "for the fifty" who paid the ultimate price of which there is no greater honor.
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Summary: A fun but tragic true story
Review: Paul Brickhill, based on his actual experiences in a prison camp and using characters based on real life POW's, takes the reader behind the wire at a World War II prison camp. These men were trapped, unable to fight for their country in battle, so they found a way to do the next best thing. Led by Roger Bushell, they formed the X organization, a group of the most intelligent and resourceful prisoners from the British and American air forces. Using only their wits and the few materials available, they devised and executed a plan to tunnel under the fences and escape into Nazi Germany. Unfortunately this led to fifty of the escapees being shot by the Gestapo, but Brickhill does credit to their memory with this book. Using a light writing style, humorous anecdotes, and fascinating descriptions, Brickhill has created an entirely readable adventure with charismatic protagonists who gain the readers respect and sympathy from page one.
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Summary: Makes You Proud To Be A Member Of Western Civilization
Review: The escape scheme these imprisoned Allies brought off during World War II vindicates the absolute superiority of Earth's free people. Prisoners from any background other than capitalistic democracies such as the UK and the USA would not have had the will, the initiative, the creativity and the sheer gall to achieve what these men did (and it compares in no way to a bunch of fanatic brutes who simply hijack some planes and crash them). (And, we certainly don't see any of those Al-Queda thugs escaping from the US Army's prison compound in Cuba!) The conception, the planning, the attention to detail, the manufacture of materials (including coercion of foolish German louts who fell into blackmail traps) and the execution make this one of the most riveting stories, war or otherwise, ever told. Everyone should read this incredible, true, adventurous, suspenseful tale of an elegant plot and the genuine men who carried it out.
Rating:
Summary: Makes You Proud To Be A Member Of Western Civilization
Review: The escape scheme these imprisoned Allies brought off during World War II vindicates the absolute superiority of Earth's free people. Prisoners from any background other than capitalistic democracies such as the UK and the USA would not have had the will, the initiative, the creativity and the sheer gall to achieve what these men did (and it compares in no way to a bunch of fanatic brutes who simply hijack some planes and crash them). (And, we certainly don't see any of those Al-Queda thugs escaping from the US Army's prison compound in Cuba!) The conception, the planning, the attention to detail, the manufacture of materials (including coercion of foolish German louts who fell into blackmail traps) and the execution make this one of the most riveting stories, war or otherwise, ever told. Everyone should read this incredible, true, adventurous, suspenseful tale of an elegant plot and the genuine men who carried it out.
Rating:
Summary: A must read for fans of the movie
Review: The Great Escape by Paul Brickhill is a great retelling of the now famous mass escape from Stalag Luft III near Sagan, Germany in the spring of 1944. Brickhill documents in great detail all the little things the prisoners had to do to escape from the so called "perfect camp" they had been placed in. Hundreds of prisoners played a part in the digging of the three tunnels(Tom, Dick, and Harry), forging hundreds of papers, making clothes for all the escapees, watching for the German guards, "ferrets", and so much more. It is astounding as you read the novel how much actually went into the mass escape of 250 officers. Unfortunately, only 76 prisoners made it out before the tunnel was discovered. The book also documents the aftermath of the famous escape as the prisoners attempt to make their way to freedom, and then their subsequent executions at the hands of the Gestapo and SS. This is an excellent book that tells the true story of what really happened during the Great Escape. If you haven't seen the movie The Great Escape, I highly recommend reading the book and watching the movie. While watching the movie, you can see what characters are based on the real people who took part in the escape. The movie takes some liberties, but it is an excellent companion to the book. An interesting fact is that author Paul Brickhill was one of thousands of prisoners at Stalag Luft III where he documented this incredible story. Also taking part in the movie was tunneller, Wally Floody, who served as a technical advisor to director/producer, John Sturges. For an excellent depiction of the famous mass escape from Stalag Luft III, check out The Great Escape, and the movie too!
Rating:
Summary: A must read for fans of the movie
Review: The Great Escape by Paul Brickhill is a great retelling of the now famous mass escape from Stalag Luft III near Sagan, Germany in the spring of 1944. Brickhill documents in great detail all the little things the prisoners had to do to escape from the so called "perfect camp" they had been placed in. Hundreds of prisoners played a part in the digging of the three tunnels(Tom, Dick, and Harry), forging hundreds of papers, making clothes for all the escapees, watching for the German guards, "ferrets", and so much more. It is astounding as you read the novel how much actually went into the mass escape of 250 officers. Unfortunately, only 76 prisoners made it out before the tunnel was discovered. The book also documents the aftermath of the famous escape as the prisoners attempt to make their way to freedom, and then their subsequent executions at the hands of the Gestapo and SS. This is an excellent book that tells the true story of what really happened during the Great Escape. If you haven't seen the movie The Great Escape, I highly recommend reading the book and watching the movie. While watching the movie, you can see what characters are based on the real people who took part in the escape. The movie takes some liberties, but it is an excellent companion to the book. An interesting fact is that author Paul Brickhill was one of thousands of prisoners at Stalag Luft III where he documented this incredible story. Also taking part in the movie was tunneller, Wally Floody, who served as a technical advisor to director/producer, John Sturges. For an excellent depiction of the famous mass escape from Stalag Luft III, check out The Great Escape, and the movie too!
Rating:
Summary: As If I were actuall there....
Review: This book tells the true story of the POW Prison Camp in Germany, and how the Prisoners escaped in a brilliant plot! Paul Brickhill, who was actually in the camp, wrote a journal of all the events, and turned into a really brilliant book, that, in my oppinion, is definetly one of the Top war-books ever written(Alongside "The Wooden Horse" by Eric Williams) This book kept me intrested at all times. It goes into exact detail, of every incident that occured during that period. This book is twice as good as the film, which REALLY says something! A must read!
Rating:
Summary: Great
Review: This book was great anyone who liked the movie, will love the book. This one of the best adventure stories of all time.
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Summary: Courage under wire
Review: This is an engrossing tale of courage and ingenuity. Amazingly, under the paranoid eyes of their German captors, 76 RAF prisoners of war managed to tunnel their way to (at least temporary) freedom. The story is presented as a factual account - there isn't much dialogue, and characterisation is sketchy, but this is inevitable; a novelisation of the book would have spoiled it, for me at least. The blow-by-blow details of how the escape was accomplished are engrossing, and the author generates tension skillfully. I found myself in the tunnel with the roof collapsing, and shivering in the snow outside the wire fretting about the guards and searchlights. A cracking read from start to finish.
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