Roger Bushell was 'Big X', mastermind of the mass breakout from Stalag Luft III in March 1944, immortalised in the Hollywood film The Great Escape.
Very little was known about Bushell until 2011, when his family donated his private papers - a treasure trove of letters, photographs and diaries - to the Imperial War Museum. Through exclusive access to this material - as well as fascinating new research from other sources - Simon Pearson, Chief Night Editor of The Times, has now written the first biography of this iconic figure.
Born in South Africa in 1910, Roger Bushell was the son of a British mining engineer. By the age of 29, this charismatic character who spoke nine languages had become a London barrister with a reputation for successfully defending those much less fortunate than him. He was also renowned as an international ski champion and fighter pilot with a string of glamorous girlfriends.
On 23 May, 1940, his Spitfire was shot down during a dogfight over Boulogne after destroying two German fighters. From then on his life was governed by an unquenchable desire to escape from Occupied Europe.
Over the next four years he made three escapes, coming within 100 yards of the Swiss border during his first attempt. His second escape took him to Prague where he was sheltered by the Czech resistance for eight months before he was captured. The three month's of savage interrogation in Berlin by the Gestapo that followed made him even more determined. Prisoner or not, he would do his utmost to fight the Nazis. His third (and last escape) destabilised the Nazi leadership and captured the imagination of the world.
He died on 29 March 1944, murdered on the explicit instructions of Adolf Hitler.
Simon Pearson's revealing biography is a vivid account of war and love, triumph and tragedy - one man's attempt to challenge remorseless tyranny in the face of impossible odds.
"synopsis" may belong to another edition of this title.
Roger Bushell was the man at the centre of the Great Escape, the mass breakout of allied prisoners of war from Stalag Luft III in 1944, immortalised in Paul Brickhill's book and the film starring Richard Attenborough.
Simon Pearson is Chief Night Editor of The Times. His journalistic career has taken him from regional newspapers in England, through Hong Kong, China, Australia and the United States, to senior positions in Fleet Street. He has worked for the Daily Telegraph, the Sunday Times and The Times, which he first joined in 1986. His interest in military history was stimulated by his father, who served with the Royal Air Force during the Second World War. He lives with his wife, Fiona, who also works for The Times, and their three sons, in south London.
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Book Description Paperback. Condition: Very Good. The book has been read, but is in excellent condition. Pages are intact and not marred by notes or highlighting. The spine remains undamaged. Seller Inventory # GOR005247189
Book Description Paperback. Condition: Good. The book has been read but remains in clean condition. All pages are intact and the cover is intact. Some minor wear to the spine. Seller Inventory # GOR007094081
Book Description Paperback. Condition: Very Good. No Jacket. May have limited writing in cover pages. Pages are unmarked. ~ ThriftBooks: Read More, Spend Less 1.35. Seller Inventory # G1444760645I4N00
Book Description Paperback. Condition: Very Good. No Jacket. May have limited writing in cover pages. Pages are unmarked. ~ ThriftBooks: Read More, Spend Less 1.35. Seller Inventory # G1444760645I4N00
Book Description Paperback. Condition: Very Good. 435 pages. Roger Bushell was 'Big X', mastermind of the mass breakout from Stalag Luft III in March 1944, immortalised in the Hollywood film The Great Escape. Very little was known about Bus hell until 2011, when his family donated his private papers - a t reasure trove of letters, photographs and diaries - to the Imperi al War Museum. Through exclusive access to this material - as wel l as fascinating new research from other sources - Simon Pearson, Chief Night Editor of The Times, has now written the first biogr aphy of this iconic figure. Born in South Africa in 1910, Roger Bushell was the son of a British mining engineer. By the age of 29, this charismatic character who spoke nine languages had becom e a London barrister with a reputation for successfully defending those much less fortunate than him. He was also renowned as an i nternational ski champion and fighter pilot with a string of glam orous girlfriends. On 23 May, 1940, his Spitfire was shot down during a dogfight over Boulogne after destroying two German fight ers. From then on his life was governed by an unquenchable desire to escape from Occupied Europe. Over the next four years he mad e three escapes, coming within 100 yards of the Swiss border duri ng his first attempt. His second escape took him to Prague where he was sheltered by the Czech resistance for eight months before he was captured. The three month's of savage interrogation in Ber lin by the Gestapo that followed made him even more determined. P risoner or not, he would do his utmost to fight the Nazis. His th ird (and last escape) destabilised the Nazi leadership and captur ed the imagination of the world. He died on 29 March 1944, murde red on the explicit instructions of Adolf Hitler. Simon Pearson' s revealing biography is a vivid account of war and love, triumph and tragedy - one man's attempt to challenge remorseless tyranny in the face of impossible odds. Seller Inventory # 2099ad
Book Description Soft cover. Condition: Very Good. First Edition Paperback. Roger Bushell was 'Big X', mastermind of the mass breakout from Stalag Luft III in March 1944, immortalised in the Hollywood film The Great Escape. The Great Escaper: The Life and Death of Roger Bushell (Extraordinary Lives, Extraordinary Stories of World War Two) Very little was known about Bushell until 2011, when his family donated his private papers - a treasure trove of letters, photographs and diaries - to the Imperial War Museum. Through exclusive access to this material - as well as fascinating new research from other sources - Simon Pearson, Chief Night Editor of The Times, has now written the first biography of this iconic figure. Seller Inventory # 105850
Book Description Paperback. Condition: Fair. 440 pages. creased spine, wearTHE GREAT ESCA PERThe Life and Death of Roger Bushell by Simon PearsonHodder & Stoughton, UK, 2013ISBN 9781444760644trade pb, 440pp, b&w platesFAIR: creased spine, wearRoger Bushell was 'Big X' , mastermind of the mass breakout from Stalag Luft III in March 1 944, immortalised in the Hollywood film The Great Escape. Born in South Africa in 1910, Roger Bushell was the son of a British min ing engineer. By the age of 29, this charismatic character who sp oke nine languages had become a London barrister with a reputatio n for successfully defending those much less fortunate than him. He was also renowned as an international ski champion and fighter pilot with a string of glamorous girlfriends.On 23 M ay, 1940, his Spitfire was shot down during a dogfight over Boulo gne after destroying two German fighters. From then on his life w as governed by an unquenchable desire to escape from Occupied Eur ope. Over the next four years he made three escapes, coming withi n 100 yards of the Swiss border during his first attempt. His sec ond escape took him to Prague where he was sheltered by the Czech resistance for eight months before he was captured. The three mo nth's of savage interrogation in Berlin by the Gestapo that follo wed made him even more determined. Prisoner or not, he would do h is utmost to fight the Nazis. His third (and last escape) destabi lised the Nazi leadership and captured the imagination of the wor ld.He died on 29 March 1944, murdered on the explicit instructions of Adolf Hitler. Seller Inventory # 1135ai