Johns Captain W E 01

Reviews & Overviews by Rod Cameron

Biggles learns to fly – Captain W.E. Johns

Now don’t laugh. I was in a “remaindered book” shop, and there were a number of Biggles books available at bargain prices. So who could resist? It is over 30 years since I read any of Captain W.E. Johns’ work. And I confess that in the past I was always more interested in his space opera series.

But what a joy, this book was very readable. It gives a wonderful feel for what it must be like to fly a biplane. Obviously a trifle dated, BUT the Captains experience of combat more than makes up for it - born in 1893, he flew with the Royal Flying Corps in the First World War and escaped from a German POW camp in 1918.

Although this book describes Biggles learning to fly, it was written three years after the first published Biggles novel Biggles the Camels are Coming. He went on to write 102 Biggles books an all! So if you see any of these books on the shelves don’t hesitate to give one a try.

Publisher: Red Fox
Date: 2003 (1935)
Pages: 204 Pages
Price: £4.99
ISBN: 0-09-993820-0
Format: Paperback
Reviewed by: Rod Cameron
Date Reviewed: March 2006

Biggles learns to fly – Captain W.E. Johns
Now don’t laugh. I was in a “remaindered book” shop, and there were a number of Biggles books available at bargain prices. So who could resist? It is over 30 years since I read any of Captain W.E. Johns’ work. And I confess that in the past I was always more interested in his space opera series. But what a joy, this book was very readable. It gives a wonderful feel for what it must be like to fly a biplane. Obviously a trifle dated, BUT the Captains experience of combat more than makes up for it - born in 1893, he flew with the Royal Flying Corps in the First World War and escaped from a German POW camp in 1918. Although this book describes Biggles learning to fly, it was written three years after the first published Biggles novel Biggles the Camels are Coming. He went on to write 102 Biggles books an all! So if you see any of these books on the shelves don’t hesitate to give one a try.
Publisher: Red Fox Date: 2003 (1935) Pages: 204 Pages Price: £4.99 ISBN: 0-09-993820-0 Format: Paperback Reviewed by: Rod Cameron Date Reviewed: March 2006