In March 1943 a team of expatriate Norwegian commandos sailed from the Shetland Islands - the most northerly part of Britain - for Nazi-occupied Norway. Their mission was to organise and support the Norwegian resistance. They were betrayed and only one man survived the ambush by the Nazis. Crippled by frostbite and snow-blind, hunted by the Nazis, Jan Baalstrud managed to find a tiny arctic village. There - delirious, near death - he found villagers willing to risk their own lives to save him. David Howarth narrates his ...
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In March 1943 a team of expatriate Norwegian commandos sailed from the Shetland Islands - the most northerly part of Britain - for Nazi-occupied Norway. Their mission was to organise and support the Norwegian resistance. They were betrayed and only one man survived the ambush by the Nazis. Crippled by frostbite and snow-blind, hunted by the Nazis, Jan Baalstrud managed to find a tiny arctic village. There - delirious, near death - he found villagers willing to risk their own lives to save him. David Howarth narrates his incredible escape in this gripping tale of courage and the resilience of the human spirit.
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I originally read this book in 1967, as a twelve year old. It is the story of Jan Baalstrund, a Norwegian expatriot, and the lone survivor of an ambushed ship attacked by the Nazis during World War II. He has to cross Norway and get to Sweden in order to escape. It is the story of his journey, through a bitter winter, and the people who helped him along his journey, putting their lives at risk. The descriptions of Norway and its people was rich and makes you want to see if such a beautiful land and such courageous people really exist. I would recommend this book to those who love adventure and history buffs. I have read it twice as an adult.
Bluegrassfan
Jun 18, 2010
Astonishing story
I wandered into a used bookstore in Plymouth, CA (now gone) as a break from the Bluegrass festival down the block. Proprietor was wearing army fatigues. He said, "Ever read this book? It's the greatest book ever". Well for 50cents, who was I to quibble. Book lived in my bike bag for years. I finally read it. Greatest book ever? No, but up there with the best adventure/survival books. I didn't notice the poor writing another reviewer was annoyed by. You have to love the bravery of all the people, and toughness of the main character. Steinbeck's "The Moon is Down" will give you a flavor of what the civilians were like in Norway at that time.
