Biggles Learns to Fly by W.E. Johns, 0099938200, Lowest Book Price Finder

Customer Reviews:

the beginning

this book is brilliant but sometimes quite sad. The last chapter about his old observer being wounded and his old flight commander being killed is very moving. The language is fantastic and suitable for 10+ readers.

How it all began

I found it hard to believe that the future Squadron leader was at first AFRAID to fly. although he obviously soon gets over it. His first assigned squadron flys B.E.2's unlike a review that sayd R.E.8's. Still I found that the book was very entertaining and accounts on Biggles' early adventures.

so thats how he got started

This book is packed with Biggles' early adventures when he was the pilot of a D.H.4 unlike his better known camel or spit, he has a certain peive with the airraft on the cover which wounds his gunner freind and sends biggles on a quest for revenge when he transfers to 266

The Young Aviator

This was not the first Biggles book to be published (that was THE CAMELS ARE COMING, of 1932), but chronologically it is the first book of Biggles' adventures in WWI. Although many of Biggles' exploits and experiences recounted here actually befell Johns and his fellow officers during the air war, there is a curious absence of real grit and immediacy, such as I have found in actual autobiographies of WW I fighting aces. I assume Johns, who quickly realized that young readers were his main audience, simply left them out. [I haven't had a chance to compare the original 1935 edition with later editions, revised as late as 1955. I assume what we have here is the 1955 version.]

One annoying feature of the present edition is a number of usually completely unnecessary footnotes. Quite often, the footnoted name or term is actually explained in the text itself, a line or two after the footnote! Bad editing by some casual meddler who was unwisely involved in the preparation of this circa 1992 paperback.

Anyway, if you love Biggles, and many do, including me, you'll want to read of these exploits that
take place just before he joined the famous 266 squadron and met Algy Lacey. Quite a bit of air-war excitement, and some of it authentic too.

Absolutely Fantasic. Unputadownable

This book was wonderfully written, sharing the triumphs and tragedies of a young man in the war. With humor and sadness, this book is truly one of the best.

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