December Review, The Eagle Has Landed

Author Jack Higgens wrote 60 novels in his lifetime, his most recognizable and famous novel had to have been "The Eagle has Landed" (written in 1975)
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The Eagle has Landed was the first novel in his series known as "Liam Devlin" which go in order:
1.) The Eagle has Landed
2.) Touch the Devil
3.) Confessional
4.) The Eagle has Flown

For any of us fearing page numbers, it is at about the perfect amount for a heavy reader and a slow one. At 352 pages it's a rather easy read.

The story starts of with Mr.Higgens himself stumbling across the graves of German fallschirmjagers at a church graveyard around the town of Studley Constable, in Norfolk. He then discovers the secrets the small town has hidden since the Second World War.

The story then goes to the second world war itself. German high command gets knowledge that British Prime Minister, Sir Winston Churchill is taking a trip to the lightly guarded small town of Studley Constable, right along the Eastern coastline of England. After the successful rescue of Benito Mussolini from British captivity at Gran Sasso Hotel on the 12th of September 1943, Hitler dreamed up the daring plan to capture Winston Churchill and send him straight to Berlin.
The idea was considered mad however Himmler, kept pushing on with the idea to the point where the commando raid to the small town takes place.

Oberst Steiner, an oucasted German officer who refused to participate in the killing of Jews is now serving in a penal battalion in the channel islands sending suicide bombs at cargo ships. His only way out is to lead the daring mission.
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Played by none other in the film version than one of my acting demigod's

Michael Caine

They land successfully in England, disguised as Polish free forces; suddenly the dream plan of capturing British Prime Minister Winston Churchill becomes a very plausible reality. I won't go into any more detail or story plot, spoilers
For my overview on what I thought of it read below:

I enjoyed the novels style of writing and found the characters themselves, and their growth in the story to be very impressive. I haven't read all to many thrillers so perhaps it would be a rather silly if I were to say the climax was rather..."thrilling" however it was exactly that, thrilling.
The story reached most of my any expectations, I honestly picked it up at my local Goodwill with absolutely no idea what I was getting into.
It did however fail to meet a few expectations, it's rather dry for the first half as not much happens but the climax and story more than makes up for it.
I would say the novel is worth buying, it is worth reading and if you want to watch the film; it's worth watching.

It's been a couple years since I sat down to read this one myself, so please excuse any lack of attention to detail, and the rather short review. I wanted to get one in this month and I only had an hour to work on it. Next months will be much better I promise. So I hope this was enough to incite you guys enough to read the December Reviewed novel. Or if you don't have the time I'd also recommend the film, last time I checked it was on Netflix instant watch. I hope you guys enjoy!

 

It's certainly a good read and was a massive best-seller for 'Jack Higgins' ( real name Harry Patterson ). He admitted at the time that he leant very heavily on the plot of the wartime propaganda movie 'Went The Day Well' for the basic idea and several of the incidents used.....

 

Thora Hird...went the day well...Excellent reminder Martin...I got hold of a copy in a charity shop last week.

Good review Tom. Your precis on Mussolini being rescued from the British though?

 

He wrote at least one novel, A Game for Heroes, under the pseudonym Ian Stuart, in a style that was very recognizably Higgins. Among other things he reused the names Steiner and Radl, the setting of the Channel Islands, and the phrase "a fast boat and a passage by night".

 

The Mussolini rescue was what made Hitler dream up this sort of plan.

 

Yes mate, but I'm wandering as to why you think he was rescued from the British?

 

OH! I SEE sorry, well he was rescued from British captivity to help keep a hold on the fascist part of Northern Italy, known as the Italian Social Republic.

You can read about them here
Italian Social Republic - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

 

Thanks Tom, definately a fine summer read I'd say. One of the few times a film was as good as the book as well.

 

Sorry mate we are at odds on this...The British did not hold Musso. The Italians had him imprisoned. He was not a prisoner of the British when rescued by Germans.

 

I do apologize urgh, as I said it has been a while since I read the novel and I tried not to use any information that wasn't on the top of my head. I also understand know, what you were saying about your English, thank you very much for the foreknowledge about this.