The Boys From the Bridge

The Boys From the Bridge is an incredible true story of how, in 1976, Richard Attenborough directed the film A Bridge Too Far.

Attenborough created a group that became known as the APA, or Attenborough's Private Army. The APA consisted of a group of 50 handpicked young British actors who were brought together to train under the expert guidance of a former SAS officer who trained them so that they would be able to recreate, with exact military precision, the heroic deeds performed by the members of the British Paratroop Regiment who were able to hold, against incredible odds, the bridge at Arnhem, in 1944.

The APA worked for a half year with major stars of the day such as Michael Caine, Sir Laurence Oliver, Sean connery and Anthony Hopkins.

The account of what happened is revealed in this thrilling and amusing account by someone who was actually there throughout it all, a member of the APA, a then young British actor by the name of Sebastian "Seebo" Abineri.

He tells stories of how they drank the town dry (do remember that 1976 was the hottest, driest summer in decades) and how they spent three weeks hard infantry training to be able to not just act the part of soldiers but be the part of soldiers. The first time such a feat had been attempted in the history of film making.

There are stories of camaraderie and of incidents and injuries both on and off the set.

Seebo also touches on his acting career both before and after A Bridge Too Far. Including causing a bit of a stink at a casting call. Literally causing a stink. It's an amusing story and told in the self-deprecating and entertaining manner that he employs throughout this very readable book.

Included is the story of a man who had the ability to swallow and regurgitate whole pickled eggs to order, and the fellow actor called  Patrick Hannaway who laughed so much at the egg man and an ensemble performance of "I've Got a Lovely Bunch of Coconuts" that his lungs collapsed and he was close to death when he was taken by ambulance to a Dutch hospital were surgeons were able to save his life.

All-in-all this is a great memoir published at £9.99 by The Book Guild and it will make a fantastic Christmas present.

It's available for purchase here https://goo.gl/wdCFDG.

Saving Africa

Saving Africa is a very thoughtful book on the situation in Africa, by Ivorian author N. Timolen Amessa.

In his book Amessa identifies several important factors that he believes are an inhibiting factor in developing countries, with particular emphasis on post-Colonial Africa.

He examines the impact on the social life of the peoples of Africa and explores a range of cultural factors such as problem in reconciling varied cultural traditions and practices with the more westernised way of life.

He also gives consideration as to the potential impact of how political and economic systems that are currently in place may increase or add to these problems.

Amessa employs to very good effect the case of Cote D'Ivoire (the Ivory Coast) as a main example. He uses this to illustrate how the legacy of colonial rule and the scale of local corruption amongst the political elite, when one factors in other problems such as poor infrastructure, managerial inefficiencies and limited provision of educational services, causes endemic problems with the lifestyles of most citizens of African countries.

But what's to be done? Amessa outlines a blueprint for change, a plan for how to bring about an evolution in Africa.

Should his plan be implemented it would allow all African people to enjoy the benefits of living within a modern society, with a stable economic system and a sound political structure, yet which would preserve the best of its traditions and customs, yet which also take advantage of opportunities that Western culture can also offer.

It's a well-written book which, although well researched, is not an arid exercise in academic speak and is to be heartily recommended to all students of Africa, third world issues, foreign aid and the like.

This will make a moist excellent and thought-provoking Christmas gift.

It is published by Matador at £10.99 and is available for purchase here https://goo.gl/wdCFDG.

Legacy of a Duelist

Legacy of a Duelist is a novel from author T. C. Sutton.

It opens with a child who is starving and dressed in a few pitiful rags of clothing. He is wandering through some woods, searching for anything that he can eat to assuage his gnawing hunger.

He hears the sounds of voices and laughter coming from within the woods and he spies a scene that bewilders his youthful mind, so different is it from anything he has ever known before.

This chance meeting changes this scrap of a boy's life for ever, as fate intervenes and introduces him to a lifestyle through childhood into adulthood that he could never have dreamed of.

He finds ease, learning and the love of a family, becoming a member of the upper classes of 18th century English society, a far cry from his extremely humble origins.

However, his life is populated by fervent and dedicated foes, enemies who will do anything to bring about his destruction and death.

He must always be on the alert, ready to repel a foe, unable or unwilling to offer anyone his friendship or trust in case they might betray him. 

But will he be able to claim his own legacy after all?

Eventually the novel ends in a thrilling denouement with a duel to the death, where two implacable foes faced each other. But they had both been trained by the same man, so which would win?

This novel is a classic piece of 18th century adventure and is extremely well researched and very well-written. Readers will be taken to the time of duelists and will see and hear a duel to the death. A remarkably enjoyable book. An ideal Christmas present for £8.99 from The Book Guild.

It can be purchased here https://goo.gl/wdCFDG.

A Time for Role Call

It is post-war Britain, 1946 to be precise, and former debutante Sally Jardine-Fell, SOE operative is in jail, due to be put on trial for murder. But it is for a murder of which she is innocent.

The reader is invited to follow the twisting path of Sally from blitz-torn London to Yorkshire, where she meets up with the mysterious Adam.

She travels to the Rome of the Fascist regime and to the bedchamber of of member of Mussolini's government, who is her SOE target.

However, for reasons that are entirely beyond her control her operation is aborted and after the overthrow of Mussolini and the allied forces invasion of Italy she leaves Rome to escape Italy.

There follows a series of hairraising adventures as she meets up with German deserters, escaped POWs, a nun, Italian draft dodgers, Adam (again and only briefly) Italian partisans and shepherds.

Eventually back on post-war London a former SOE superior of hers tries to kill her. But (and not by her hand) it is he who ends up dead, and not Sally.

The judge appears bent on virtually ordering the jury to convict her on flimsy circumstantial evidence  and send her to the gallows. And yet, perhaps fate has something else in store?

It's a tightly written novel that carefully blends historical facts and very plausible fiction from previously published author Doug Thompson and is £8.99 from Matador and will make a most excellent Christmas present for fans of his work.

You can purchase it here https://goo.gl/wdCFDG.

All Change

All Change is a comedic debut novel from author M. M. Purkess.

Our protagonist James is a youthful and aspiring author.

James is renting a somewhat small flat in the less than salubrious apartment building owned by Mrs Mangalino. It was recommended to him by the best friend of his mother as being ideal for a writer. (But why?)

However, James is kidnapped, badly beaten and reapears the next day, though has no recollection of the events or where had had been taken.

This Is followed by a series of other equally inexplicable and unpleasant events and experiences of a similar nature. And why is it that previously perfectly sane, normal people begin to act as if they have become mentally deranged?

And what was the significance of the poisoned fish?

Meanwhile, all is normal in James' home village. Or is it? Because besides the normal pettiness and rivalries that tend to bedevil end of term festivities and the village fete, other things are beginning to stir.

And just what on earth was happening underground? Deep, deep underground?

What is the significance of the terrible subterranean machines? What had caused the floods? Who, or what, are the Sentinels? And who is in control? And what are they in control of, exactly?

This is a novel which is either amusingly terrifying, or terrifyingly amusing. I haven't quite been able to make my mind up quite yet!

The book is published by Matador at £8.99 and will make a wonderful Christmas gift for anyone who likes a chill and a laugh, sometimes at the same time.

Of special note is the back cover illustrations by J. D. Purkess, which are seriously good.

You can purchase the book here https://goo.gl/wdCFDG.

The Creators

The Creators is an important new series of novels from the pen of J. M. Collins.

It brings to life the turbulent times of the 1970s, as it tells the story of a group of young people.

It follow Pete Bridford and the close-knit group of friends who he gathers around him.

He has a glittering academic career at Cambridge University, but, amidst a time of student protests and political upheaval and turmoil, this career comes to an end.

He leaves academia for the world of business and makes some startling a perhaps unsettling discoveries. For example he exactly how much a secret can be worth and he also discovers that some friends are not really friends after all...

The series takes the reader through to the early days of the government of Margaret Thatcher which began in May 1979.

At this point, Pete must come to some important realisations. For example, which side should he, actually be on?

The series is a trilogy The Creators, Road to Nowhere, Flight to Destruction and The Turnaround.

It's an interesting series of books and brings to life a rather bizarre period of modern British social history from someone who obviously played a role in many key events. 

An interesting Christmas gift.

All cost £8.99 and can be bought here https://goo.gl/wdCFDG.

Mag-Iggle

Mag-Iggle, written by John Benneyworth, is a very amusing children's book with excellent illustrations.

It's ideal for parents to read too or with their children and it tells the story of Mag-Iggle as he has to employ a variety of magical spells and potions to come to the assistance of his mother-in-law, Myst-Iggle. Myst-Iggle, who has an unfortunate tendency to mix up her magic and create utter chaos!

Myst-Iggle is flying about, minding her own business, as you do if your a witch. Sharing her broomstick is her greedy  cat (who is also magical)  who is a vegetarian cat who is on a special diet. Which consists of eating nothing but daffodil sandwiches and spinach pie, served up with green custard.

But food is probably the last thing on poor kitty's mind as the cat is becoming more and more broomsick.

Myst-Iggle knows exactly what to do to make poor kitty better! It;s this potion here, right? Wrong! Myst-Iggle accidentally selects the right potion and the wrong words and things go hilariously awry!

But not to worry! Because, as ever, Mag-Iggle comes along to save the day!

This is a really fun read and will have everyone happy to read it this Christmas. It's got to be in the stockings this year, I feel.

And there are a lot of other Iggle books in the series, too, all of which are published by Matador. All of which are aimed at promoting reading by making them fun.

You can order the book here https://goo.gl/wdCFDG.

There's also lots of fun to be had, including pages to colour, at www.igglebooks.com.