Castle of the eagles : escape from Mussolini's Colditz / Mark Felton.

Author
Felton, Mark, 1974- [Browse]
Format
Book
Language
English
Εdition
First U.S. edition.
Published/​Created
New York : St. Martin's Press, [2017]
Description
xii, 308 pages, 8 unnumbered pages of plates : illustrations ; 22 cm

Availability

Copies in the Library

Location Call Number Status Location Service Notes
Firestone Library - Stacks D805.5.C415 F45 2017 Browse related items Request

    Details

    Subject(s)
    Summary note
    "The astonishing story of twenty-four British prisoners who used tunnels to break out of a highly fortified Italian castle-turned-prison during World War II. In March 1943, at Vincigliata Castle, a menacing medieval fortress set in the beautiful Tuscan hills of Italy, an extraordinary assemblage of middle-aged British POWs were finally ready to execute an escape. The castle, which became a special prisoner of war camp on Benito Mussolini's personal order, housed some of the most senior officers of the Allied army during World War II and was guarded by almost two hundred Italian soldiers and a vicious fascist commando who answered directly to Il Duce, Mussolini himself. The POWs housed there spent six months digging a tunnel, crafting civilian clothes, forging identity papers, gathering rations, and even constructing dummies to place in their beds. Castle of the Eagles tells the story of this unbelievable escape, which today is a little-known marvel of World War II. With an eccentric cast of characters, a riveting story, and exceptional writing, Mark Felton tells a remarkable story that reads like fiction but is nonetheless true to its core."--Jacket.
    Bibliographic references
    Includes bibliographical references (pages 281-308) and index.
    Contents
    • The prize prisoner
    • A gift of goggles
    • Mazawattee's mad house
    • Men of honour
    • Advance party
    • The travelling menagerie
    • The eagles' nest
    • Trial and error
    • Going underground
    • Six seconds
    • The ghost goes west
    • Under the dome
    • Through the night of doubt and sorrow
    • The pilgrim band
    • Elevenses
    • Boy scouting
    • Mickey blows the gaff
    • Night crossing.
    ISBN
    • 9781250095855 ((hardcover))
    • 1250095859 ((hardcover))
    LCCN
    2017009311
    OCLC
    981761476
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