Hello, everyone! Welcome or welcome back to my blog. I am here with another book review. This time, it is one of my favourite Alistair MacLean books: Where Eagles Dare. It is an action-thriller and is completely fictious. If you haven’t already read my other book reviews, please do so here. But for now, let us begin.
About the Author:
Alistair MacLean was born in 1922. He grew up in the Scottish Highlands. His father was a Scot minister. In 1941, when he was eighteen years old, he joined the Royal Navy. For two and a half years, he served aboard a cruiser; it later gave him the background and idea to write his first novel, an outstanding documentary of war at sea – the bestseller HMS Ulysses. After World War II, he applied for and received an English Honours degree at Glasgow University, after which he became a school master. In 1983, he received a D.Litt. from the same university.
His writing skills landed him the title of one of the top-ten bestselling authors in the world, and the top selling Briton, by 1970. Currently he is recognized as one of the outstanding writers of the 20th Century. His most popular novels The Guns of Navarone, Where Eagles Dare, Fear is the Key, and Ice Station Zebra have been turned into films. Apart from these, he wrote twenty-five bestsellers which have sold more than 30 million copies worldwide. Alistair MacLean died in 1987 at his home in Switzerland.
Where Eagles Dare:
Where Eagles Dare begins aboard an airplane bound on a secret mission, currently flying in enemy airspace. The time is the winter of 1943 – the middle of the second world war. On board the plane is a special team of British commandos, and an US Army ranger. Unknown to all of them but one, there is also a female secret service agent. Their mission is to rescue the US General Carnaby, who has been captured by the Nazis and is being held at the headquarters of the German Secret Service – Schloss Adler, a fortress high in the snow-covered Bavarian Alps. General Carnaby is obviously a very important person, but what is more important, is the fact that he has knowledge of the plans for the invasion of Normandy. The allied forces can be sure that the Germans will try their best to extract those.
The plane airdrops the special team among the snowy mountains. After they land, they find one of their comrades dead. Most likely, his parachute did not open, and he crashed into the ground, breaking the team’s main radio along with his neck. The team’s leader Major Smith tells everyone it was an accident, but later his examination indicated otherwise. They then make their way to the small settlement at the base of the mountain and enter a tavern. There, another one of their team is murdered – the one carrying their backup radio. This confirms Major Smith’s suspicion – there is another mission, and someone in their group is a traitor.
The story continues with the discovery and capture of the team by the German Alpenkorps. They are then taken up to Schloss Adler – the fortress of the Eagle – by a cable-car – the only way up to the fortress unless you are using a helicopter. They come across the traitors, act as traitors themselves, and try to rescue General Carnaby. The thriller comes close to its end with a final showdown on the roof of a cable car, in chilling temperature, hundreds of feet in the air.
Where Eagles Dare is one of Alistair MacLean’s most popular books and has been the inspiration for many films. It travels at a very fast pace, is not overly descriptive, and is undoubtedly one of my favourite Alistair MacLean books. Where Eagles Dare is an action classic.
Outro:
So that is it, guys. I hope you enjoyed the review. I strongly recommend you to read this book; you are sure to love it. If you wish to stay updated with the latest posts, please subscribe to the blog. Until next time, au revoir!