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The Real Great Escape
- Narrated by: Richard Burnip
- Length: 13 hrs and 17 mins
- Unabridged Audiobook
- Categories: History, Military
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- By Terri on 23-11-21
Summary
In early 1942 the Germans opened a top-security prisoner-of-war camp. Called Stalag Luft III, it soon contained some of the most inventive escapers ever known. They were led by Squadron Leader Roger Bushell who masterminded an attempt to smugglehundreds of POWs down a tunnel built under the noses of their guards. The escape would come to be immortalised in the famous film The Great Escape, but in this book Guy Walters takes a fresh look at this remarkable event and asks what was the true story?
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What listeners say about The Real Great Escape
Average customer ratingsReviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
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- Del
- 20-09-17
A thoroughly researched re-telling.
Any additional comments?
The story of 'The Great Escape' is well known and admired for its daring and spectacular attempt to disrupt the German forces on their home front. This book, however, asks some critical questions - not least of which is, should it have actually been attempted at all?
This incredibly well researched and detailed book looks at the central characters on both sides. Explains the similarities and differences between the commonly known accounts of the escape and the actual records pertaining to it and the individual experiences of the escapers themselves, before during and after the event.
It looks at the reasons why the 50 were shot and insights into the motivations of those who executed them.
I loved the famous all star film. I have seen documentaries and read previous accounts. Without doubt, this is a brilliant book, well balanced and a fitting story for the REAL Great Escape.
9 people found this helpful
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- Dinah
- 24-12-13
This Is The Great Escape
What did you like most about The Real Great Escape?
This book has had such good reviews this year and the audio book lives up to these expectations. It is so topical at this time of year when we are faced with re-runs of the 1963 film, The Great Escape on television.
The build-up to the break-out is gripping. 40 per cent of the men who emerged from the tunnel codenamed 'Harry' were non-British (they included Poles, Czechs, Australians, French and Danes) and that the three ultimately successful escapers were two Norwegians and a Dutchman.
Walters also emphasises that the escape was crucially aided by the complicity of some of the captors who provided money, maps, radio equipment and even a camera, usually in exchange for much coveted coffee, soap and cigarettes from Red Cross parcels.
Who was your favorite character and why?
In 1942, the Germans did build a high security prisoner of war camp for officers and former ‘escape artists’ called Stalag Luft III. The leader of the escape team was Squadron leader Roger Bushell.
What about Richard Burnip’s performance did you like?
The narration was done in a 'documentary' style which was entirely appropriate to the story and added credibility.
Did you have an emotional reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?
I was very involved with the story. This book tells it how it really was and it is a fascinating historical novel which ‘lets slip’ some insights in to how cinema created such unreal perceptions. Such as the fact that in the prison camp, the officers were not mainly British, but were from all over Europe, mainly Poland.
Any additional comments?
This is a book which would make a great gift for dad’s and grandad’s and for everyone who is a fan of the 1963 film.
7 people found this helpful
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- Bradders
- 15-09-21
Not so great
what a tragic waste of life. as regards to the book very informative and well put together. the only thing I worry about is some of the words are not obvious as to what they mean.And makes it sound a bit elitist in my view. we want people to learn about this kind of history but using words that people don't know or even those with grammar don't know. is not the best idea need to dump the public schoolboy feel.
3 people found this helpful
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- Mr. A. Moore
- 24-06-15
A must for any WW2 history buff.
A brilliant telling of the full story. Forget the film, this is definitive. Fantastic. Recommended.
3 people found this helpful
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- Adrian Chan-Wyles Ph.D
- 01-12-20
Important History
This might well be the definitive account of the 1944 Great Escape of British RAF POWs from a Nazi German prison camp - which clarifies much and dismisses many misconceptions, lies and misunderstandings. The bravery of these men must never be forgotten.
2 people found this helpful
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Overall
- Sp Wickes
- 25-02-15
Love this book
This is a great book, looks at the truth as well as the myths. Well written and well narrated. So much so I have listened to it many times
1 person found this helpful
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- Mr. R. Taylor
- 15-06-22
The real great escape
This book is a very good read if you have watched the Great Escape film.
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- Ben in Herefordshire
- 16-05-22
Superb
A thoughtful and balanced telling.
This book benefits frome it distance from the events.
This achieved without destroying the legend.
A good book I can see me listening to many times
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- Purchaser
- 16-06-21
Nicely written telling of this story
This book gives a good telling of the story of the Great Escape. Worth the purchase.
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- Ian Morrison
- 03-05-21
Real Great Escape
Fantastic writing and really good to hear the story which is more aligned to the truth after having g the film of the same name in one's mind for so long