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The Phantom Major cover art

The Phantom Major

By: Virginia Cowles
Narrated by: Robert Whitfield
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Summary

In the dark and uncertain days of 1941 and 1942, when Rommel's tanks were sweeping towards Suez, a handful of daring raiders were making history for the Allies. They operated deep behind the German lines, often driving hundreds of miles through the deserts of North Africa. They hid by day and struck by night, destroying aircraft, blowing up ammunition dumps, derailing trains, and killing many times their own number.

These were the SAS, Stirling's desert raiders, the brainchild of a deceptively mild-mannered man with a brilliant idea. Small teams of resourceful, highly trained men would penetrate beyond the front lines of the opposing armies and wreak havoc where the Germans least expected it.

The Phantom Major is the classic account of these desert raids, an amazing tale of courage, impudence, and daring, packed with action and high adventure. An intimate record based on eyewitness accounts, this book still stands as the definitive history of the early years of the SAS.

(P)2001 Blackstone Audiobooks
  • Unabridged Audiobook
  • Categories: History

Critic reviews

"This military story is ideally suited to audio: maps aren't necessary to follow its excitement, and the reader adds a pleasing dimension with his skill at accents, reminding us of whom the story is about." ( AudioFile)

What listeners say about The Phantom Major

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Informative and very enjoyable.

Great from beginning to end, great narration and incredibly easy to listen to. Would greatly recommend.

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Very engaging

Extremely well written and some great first hand accounts. It feels like you are on the raids with them

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THE S.A.S and Major Stirling .

The narration of this book was exceptional, told the amazing story as it was,would highly recommend this exceptional book,the courage and confidence of the S.A.S in what a small number of men can achieve was outstanding.

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Great story, terrible accents

The story is superb and well read. If you have ever seen their 1984 reunion interviews you realise that their accents are made up.

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excellent

Good primer for the regimental history, a good place to start reading if you have watched rogue heroes

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wow what a gem of a book!

absolutely brilliant book very engaging, well read I really enjoyed hearing about the brilliant David Sterling

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Good Historical book. Very humbled listening to it

Interesting book of a man and men of whom we owe so much to. Worth a listen if only to educate yourselves of military history.

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Thoroughly enjoyable

Funny, insightful, beautifully written and narrated. One of my most enjoyable listens to date! Highly recommend

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  • 12-07-15

Exceptional a must get for all potential SF operators!

Do you want to understand what it is to be a blade.

Listen no further, this is the place to start!

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Brilliant

Well written gripping story line. historic rendering of a section of the second world war that has been underplayed in the passed.

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