by George Millar ‧ RELEASE DATE: Sept. 29, 1980
The young, high life of ""Josh"" Millar, a well-born Scot with a Masterpiece-Theater complement of toney acquaintances and idiosyncratic kin, a strong streak of daring, a full measure of prewar British aplomb--and ultimately, in the maquis, a Mission. But under the easy manner is a fierce resolve. When he is four, Millar's beloved dog is peremptorily ""put away""--necessitating his removal from the scene (and from home) for a year. At twelve, he staves off a dreaded boarding-school hazing by kicking his chief tormentor ""with all my strength. . . in the testicles."" He is friendless thereafter, but not unhappy. A stay, at 18, with an equivocal, unnerving French family brings his first, brief, to-be-continued affair--with an older French woman whom he shortly sees, by chance, naked with another man. He takes up tennis and flying and other older women; puts in a stint, arranged by his worried mother, on a Glasgow newspaper--which to his surprise, he takes to; chucks it for a berth on a ship; meets headstrong Eliza--whom he'll marry; gets a toehold on Fleet Street by getting aboard the Prince of Wales' yacht, on the eve of Edward's notorious cruise with Wallis Simpson; establishes himself with Lord Beaverbrook; and goes to Paris for the Daily Express--at the onset of war. The frenetic pace is checked only by some sharp comments on newspapering and some personal strains--with Eliza, among others; but even the cameo appearances register. And Millar's London base is the Cavendish, where Rosa Lewis is a shrewd, fast friend. Still, it's not until well into Millar's war experiences that events coalesce. Millar enlists in a Highland regiment (and thrives); is captured (ruefully) in the desert; escapes from a prisoner-of-war camp (which he'd enjoyed); and in the course of making his way through France, encounters the smart, tough peasants who determine him, once back in England, to join the British unit aiding the Resistance--as secret agent/organizer and instructor in sabotage. Millar spent only three months with the Vieilly maquis, but in his mind he is still ""Emile,"" still exhilarated by the camaraderie, the hair's-breadth calculation, the very topography of ""his"" French villages. Light or serious, a spanking story.
Pub Date: Sept. 29, 1980
ISBN: N/A
Page Count: -
Publisher: Little, Brown
Review Posted Online: N/A
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Sept. 1, 1980
Categories: NONFICTION
© Copyright 2022 Kirkus Media LLC. All Rights Reserved.
Hey there, book lover.
We’re glad you found a book that interests you!
We can’t wait for you to join Kirkus!
It’s free and takes less than 10 seconds!
Already have an account? Log in.
OR
Trouble signing in? Retrieve credentials.
Welcome Back!
OR
Trouble signing in? Retrieve credentials.
Don’t fret. We’ll find you.