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#4307000 - 10/28/16 03:19 AM WWI in fiction  
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Mortuus Offline
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Ottawa, ON
Hey folks,

I got to thinking the other day that I've really never looked at much of the fiction surrounding the Great War. I recently started watching an old BBC show called "Wings" (and to those who might object to me calling the show old, perhaps "ancient" is better - my mother was only 6 years old when the first episode aired!), but other than that the only other work of fiction set in that period that I have read is Donald Jack's Bandy Papers, albeit only the first three novels. Are there any other films, tv shows, books, et cetera, that you would recommend? Or, if you prefer, what are your opinions on the ones I've already mentioned?

#4307010 - 10/28/16 04:32 AM Re: WWI in fiction [Re: Mortuus]  
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zifnow Offline
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The old movies are somehow better than the new ones.

Check www.theaerodrome.forum, books and cinema section. That site is the best resource on everything concerning WW1 in the air

#4307028 - 10/28/16 08:17 AM Re: WWI in fiction [Re: Mortuus]  
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Trooper117 Offline
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I have the Wings series on dvd... I have watched the lot at least 3 times now. I never get tired of it either smile

#4307061 - 10/28/16 11:38 AM Re: WWI in fiction [Re: Mortuus]  
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Wodin Offline
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Derek Robinson trilogy is a must read. Goshawk Squadron, War Story and Hornets Sting.

#4307069 - 10/28/16 11:47 AM Re: WWI in fiction [Re: Mortuus]  
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Beat me to it, they are in my Kindle, along with the WWII series he has done... by the way, it's worth getting 'A Splendid Little War' set in 1919, where a British force has been sent over to Russia to help fight the Reds... all WWI era aircraft and up to his usual high standards smile

#4307075 - 10/28/16 12:08 PM Re: WWI in fiction [Re: Mortuus]  
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Polovski Offline
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Wings is one of the better shows as it gives you a good representation of the pilots view of the situation of the day, when the new enemy aircraft were unknown and rumours would feed the information spread. Officers were "gentlemen" and looked down on lower class and so on.
Even describing the poor gun mounting situation of the BE2c and starting of taking potshots with rifles and so on. Great stuff.


Regards,

Polovski,
OBD Software, developers of immersive flight sims;
Wings Over Flanders Fields and Wings Over The Reich
http://www.overflandersfields.com
http://www.wingsoverthereich.com
#4307087 - 10/28/16 01:02 PM Re: WWI in fiction [Re: Mortuus]  
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HarryH Offline
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"Winged Victory" by V.M.Yeates captures the time period extremely well, as do all the books by Arthur Gould Lee.


System: i5 8600K @ 3.6GHz,16GB DDR4 @2666MHz. RTX2080, MSI Z370 mobo, Dell 27" G-SYNC @ 144Hz. 2560x1440

#4307088 - 10/28/16 01:02 PM Re: WWI in fiction [Re: Mortuus]  
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actionjoe Offline
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Nord, France.
Quote:
Derek Robinson trilogy is a must read. Goshawk Squadron, War Story and Hornets Sting.


I have read the first one (the only that has been translated in french), and I found it quite good (well, except the numerous anti-frog comments wink )
I also received today "One Spring in Picardy", found it for a couple of euros at Abebooks. It is about a night bombing FE2 squadron. Don't know what it worth, but I like the cover.



And if we talk about fiction, there is also this one (which suits well the Halloween mood)



Manfred is a vampire, Edgar Allan Poe is sent by the Kaiser(who fell under Dracula's control) to help him writing "Der Röte-Töt Kampfflieger".
Adventure/detective novel, with WW1 background but a lot of historical characters. It was a fun read.

On french side, there is "The Crew" by Joseph Kessel, a "sentimental" fiction with the air war on the background. Kessel was gunner in SAL 39 in 1918, and he puts some of his experience in the book, and he pays hommage to his former Commandant in it. Some found the writing a bit "dated", but there's cool parts, especially at the end.

#4307185 - 10/28/16 08:37 PM Re: WWI in fiction [Re: Mortuus]  
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loftyc Offline
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anyone know if the wings you're talking about is available in some format for the US?

also, while I'm at it, I happen to have a European dvd for Black Adder, season 4, in WW1. If one of you blokes across the pond wants it, drop me a line and I'll send it over

#4307233 - 10/29/16 12:38 AM Re: WWI in fiction [Re: Mortuus]  
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Smosh Offline
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You can watch the Wings series HERE


Rabbits, break right and climb.
#4307254 - 10/29/16 02:47 AM Re: WWI in fiction [Re: Mortuus]  
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Banjoman Offline
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That's just season 1, he had both seasons but for some reason he removed the second season.


Member and provider of banjo music for the Illustrious BOC
#4307301 - 10/29/16 12:08 PM Re: WWI in fiction [Re: Mortuus]  
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loftyc Offline
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that's a good start for me; thanks!

#4307357 - 10/29/16 06:31 PM Re: WWI in fiction [Re: Mortuus]  
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olddog Offline
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england
I know this is a posting for fiction, but I have had the remastered version of the 1927 movie wings

https://willmckinley.wordpress.com/2012/...-ive-ever-seen/

even if you have the none Blu-ray version this latest is like a new move I have watched it over and over also they have released All quiet on the western front in remastered another must have.

#4307618 - 10/31/16 01:25 AM Re: WWI in fiction [Re: Mortuus]  
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rockmedic109 Offline
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There was a B&W movie called Ace of Aces that was pretty good. Dawn Patrol with Errol Flynn and David Niven was good.

Malcolm McDowell starred in one called Ace's High that was one of one of the better.

The Blue Max is the best.

Zeppelin is a guilty pleasure.



STAY AWAY FROM
Lafayette Escadrille and Flyboys. Hell's Angels too except for the scene with the flaming Zeppelin falling.



Books?
I enjoyed reading Arch Whitehouse when I was younger. Playboy Squadron, Squadron 44 and another I cannot remember. I didn't like Schilling Squadron or vice-versa. And his non-fiction is about as accurate as the History Channel lately.

Falcons for France was written by Nordhof and Hall who flew for France. They also wrote Mutiny on the Bounty.

I enjoyed reading

#4307688 - 10/31/16 12:56 PM Re: WWI in fiction [Re: Mortuus]  
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RAF_Louvert Offline
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L'Etoile du Nord
.

Lots of good WWI fiction out there and the list already going here is a good one. I agree about the "Wings" series being one of the better representations of what it must have actually been like.

I don't tend to read a lot of WWI fiction as I prefer the firsthand accounts written by those that were personally involved in the whole affair. A few such works have also already been listed in this thread and I agree with them being very much worth the read. And, as James Norman Hall was just mentioned in the previous post, I will say that I have just scored a pristine first edition, in original dust jacket, of his autobiography, "My Island Home". Another excellent read by the way, and in several chapters he talks further about his time with the Lafayette Escadrille.

.


[Linked Image]

Three RFC Brass Hats were strolling down a street in London. Two walked into a bar, the third one ducked.
_________________________________________________________________________

Former Cold War Warrior, USAF Security Service 1974-1978, E-4, Morse Systems Intercept, England, Europe, and points above.
"pippy-pahpah-pippy pah-pip-pah"

#4312146 - 11/15/16 01:19 AM Re: WWI in fiction [Re: Mortuus]  
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SteveW Offline
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Not aircraft related: I just came across a trilogy by an author named Pat Barker. The Regeneration Trilogy: 'Regeneration, The Eye in the Dust, The Ghost Road'. Very interesting, comes from sentiments of the British anti-war writers. Also one of my favorites, 'Three Day Road', by Joseph Boyden. About two Cree Indians who join the Canadian army. Being dissociated from the rest of the men by their race they take on the sniper role, being in those very lonely dugouts waiting for the target to appear. And what happens to them after being injured and use of morphine, etc. And coming back home and all that. Well written, very thoughtful.

Rockmedic, I'm with you, as a kid Arch Whitehouse was practically the only WWI aircraft author my very small library had on the shelves. I remember The Years of the Sky Kings, and The Early Birds. He kinda set my knowledge in place of WWI aviation.

Also loved Nordhoff and Hall, Falcons for France. And that of course got me to read The Bounty trilogy, (hm, must be attracted to trilogies), which are still my favorite sailing era stories.

#4312149 - 11/15/16 01:36 AM Re: WWI in fiction [Re: Mortuus]  
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JFM Offline
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You're welcome.



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