Goshawk Squadron

RE: Sagittarius Rising.

Hi Kev,
Glad you enjoyed it mate :).He also wrote various follow-on works in the light of the success of this his first book:
Sagittarius Surviving
All My Yesterdays
Farewell To Wings
Gemini to Joburg
I haven’t managed to get hold of a copy of any of these,but I’m on the hunt for them on the basis of the first book.Anyone read any of them?
There’s a page about Lewis on the excellent firstworldwar.com website:

www.firstworldwar.com/poetsandprose/lewis.htm
Attachments:

RE: Sagittarius Rising.

Ant,

just finished Sagittarius Rising and you were right it is a treat. The language of the day coupled with the authors truly eloquent writing style makes it a pleasure to read. The story is told well and certainly keeps your interest. A cracking read and now a book which will be reread more than once.

If anyone is interested I can recommend two fantastic books about the war in the trenches. The first, a novel, is ‘Covenant With Death’ by John Harris, a superb story about the formation and ultimate destrucyion of a fictional ‘pals’ battalion on the Somme. The second is taken from an Officer’s letters home and is titled ‘War Letters to a Wife.’ The fact that Officers mail was uncensored meant that this Officer’s letters home were far different from many others. His descriptions of the actions he takes part in are incredible and very very gritty.

So now, thanks to Moggy, it’s onto War Story.

Regards,

kev35

RE: I just had to post this!!

Moggy

“Never been able to pick Kev up on a factual detail before but, re-reading an earlier part of this thread he wrote…”

You really haven’t been trying then have you? I’m sure I’ve messed up before and no doubt will do so again.

You mentioning the last RFC airman dying within the last few weeks reminded me I had seen an article. I agree it is a sad occasion, all those memories that have not been recorded are now lost forever.

Regards,

kev35

RE: I just had to post this!!

Never been able to pick Kev up on a factual detail before but, re-reading an earlier part of this thread he wrote…

“It would be interesting to hear the opinions of Great War airmen, but sadly it’s far too late for that.”

Not ‘far too late’ Kev. The last WW1 RFC pilot died within the last 2 weeks aged 106.

Mind you, I suppose even 2 weeks is far too late really 🙁

Moggy

RE: Goshawk Squadron

As long as we remember that it’s a work of FICTION, then reading ‘Piece Of Cake’ is very enjoyable-those that criticise it tend to be the sort who take things WAY too seriously! Personally, I treasure my signed first edition hardback and letter that I got from Robinson himself some years ago.

Talking of ‘Kellaway’, he crops up also in the POC ‘sequel’ ‘A Good Clean Fight’, which is quite a different sort of book, set this time in the desert and with a few other POC characters in it-Fanny Barton, though living through the BoB has REALLY changed his character, Skull the inteligence officer, and there’s even a mention of dear old Moggy in there, too!

RE: Goshawk Squadron

Moggy,

Thanks very much, it really is appreciated.

Reagrds,

kev

RE: Goshawk Squadron

Don’t bother – it’s in the post to you tomorrow!

Moggy

RE: Goshawk Squadron

Moggy,

You’ve just given me another book to read. I’ll see if I can get hold of a copy of War Story.

Regards,

kev35

RE: Goshawk Squadron

Sorry,

Was Kellaway not in Goshawk Squadron?

Must have been ‘War Story’ then (You have reminded me it is a while since I’ve read either of them)

Mogs

RE: Goshawk Squadron

Moggy,

presumably you mean Woodruffe? If so, aged a bit and gained some flying experience.

Regards,

kev35

RE: Goshawk Squadron

You’ve probably realised that Kellaway, the adjutant of Hornet Squadron in Piece of Cake was a main character in Goshawk Squadron having aged a bit.

Moggy

I loved it, and War Story too. But they are light fiction, not attempted documentary and should be read as such.

RE: Goshawk Squadron

Hi Ant.

I see what you mean about his writing, his stories fairly rattle along. It’s just that now and again I wince or even cringe when one of his characters does something totally outrageous. I don’t know whether it’s because he’s guilty of over dramatisation or whether it’s because I just don’t want to believe that a character would do such a thing. Either way it’s a damn good read. Just not too sure how close to the truth it runs.

It would be interesting to hear the opinions of Great War airmen, but sadly it’s far too late for that.

I’ll let you know what I think of Sagittarius Rising.

Regards,

kev35

RE: Goshawk Squadron

Hi Kev,
I’ve not personally read Goshawk Squadron,but having read Piece of Cake,I think I can guess the kind of characters in the book.One or two cowards,a couple of reckless daredevils,one total b*****d and perhaps even an axe murderer to liven things up a bit.Ok,ok so I’m probably going a bit too far,but this wouldn’t at all surprise me in one of Robinson’s books.I’ve had a good old rant about Piece of Cake before now,so I’m not going to again.(I hear a resounding ‘Phew!’)
The thing is that he is actually rather a good writer.The issue I have with his books is that they are aimed at the wider public and so the fairly sensational characters,plot etc are taken almsot as fact by the majority of readers,which I think is misleading.He should point out very clearly that his books are works of fiction because as it is it’s as if he’s saying ‘This is how it REALLY was’,which we know isn’t quite true.
Now Sagittarius Rising is something different altogether!Kev, you’re in for a treat.If there’s anyone reading this who hasn’t read it,then go out and find yourself a copy,IMHO it’s one of the best First World War bio’s you can have on your shelf.I finished it a few weeks back and I enjoyed it from cover to cover.Biographies,and particularly aviation ones,tend to be a bit romantic and ‘rosey’,but this book is different in that it is for the most part written in a very matter-of-fact way.I’d highly recommend it,and I’d be interested to hear what other people think of it.