General Chat

Would anyone consider Biggles books too young for a 15 1/2 year old who belongs to the ATC and wants to join RAF.
I would appreciate your thoughts.

Thank you

Phyll

Why dont you ask him or her.

George

It's supposed to be a surprise if possible....... I don't know anything about biggles

I was reading Biggles when I was perhaps ten years old. It's awfully good fun old chap. Tally ho and all that stuff.

'Bigglers' as I called him because I was considered very funny when I read him out loud within the family, using all sorts of awfully English Tally-Ho chaps voices was an amazing character given that he served without much age change in a lot of places and through a lot of years - or so it seemed to me.

The stories were aimed at young males around the time of WW1. I never met another girl besides my sibling, who read them. The last one I remember reading was Biggles Defies The Swastica. It was about 1972 when I was thirteen and I was stuck in an airport due to some delay. Everyone around me was moaning but I had my head in a book so I was happy.

I can't tell you if they are too young for your young man. Early on, the books were quite interesting historically but I think that later on, not so much. For an idea of what the RFC (Royal Flying Corp) later the RAF was all about, it's a good read and also educational as to the social structure of our nation at that time. Capt. WE Johns was himself a pilot of the time so I presume that he based much on his own experiences.

I've just Wiki'd Biggles and can't believe that there are 98 Biggles books listed. I would recommend the earlier ones purely from the historical point of view.

Hope this helps. Jill

I used to go to bed with Biggles (book) as a married wom an with childrten, loved them. :-D

Well, thanks for that Jill. I will certainly have to have a look at them now.
I have to say he is still very much a boy even at this age.

Phyll

Oh I say Phyll. How spiffing that my reply helped. Sorry! Brought back some very pleasant memories thinking about old Bigglers (Tally-Ho) and reading aloud in some badly affected English voice and bringing back into play the severe lisp I had but was 'cured' of. The sort that you get in the old 40s and 50s English films where everyone speaks plummy. Just had an idea old thing. Took a look at Amazon what and would you believe it, you can do a 'look inside'. Anyway, here is the jolly old link to the page. Then if you click on the image of the book where it says 'Look inside' and scroll down a few pages to the story text.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Biggles-Learns-Fly-W-Johns/dp/0099938200/ref=sr_1_1? ie=UTF8&qid=1349467626&sr=8-1#_

If you want to look inside other Bigglers books, this is the link to the page with the books on. http://www.amazon.co.uk/s/ref=nb_sb_ss_i_1_4?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=biggles&sprefix=bigg%2Caps%2C246

Take a look. I might do the rounds of the charity shops at some point and see if I can pick up any old copies.

Jill

I also read Biggles as a 10/11 year old girl :-D

ONLY IF ORIGINAL COPIES TO BE KEPT
FIRST EDITIONS,
MY GRANDSON IS 13 AND WOULD FIND THEM TOO YOUNG
WHAT ABOUT SEARCHING FOR ORIGINAL. ATC BOOKS

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/WWII-PRACTICAL-CALCULATIONS-FOR-THE-ATC-1942-RAF-022-/200827524917?pt=UK_Collectables_Militaria_LE&hash=item2ec240d735

I agree with Dizzi - if they are old - not necessarily 1st editions though - there's also more of a historic view.

on further thought:

I suppose I don't really believe in the too old too young view.
I gave my (then) 3 year old grandson a book I'd picked up in a charity shop of the history of tractors -a bit of a 'nerd' book, but with photographs of tractors through the ages. it's still, a year later, his favourite book!

One of my nephews, never a good reader, decided, aged 25 to increase his reading. I suggested any John Wyndham and one book in particular, short stories by John Steinbeck - The Red Pony and other stories - all books I had read aged about 10.

He loved them, and said some interesting things, that, aged 10 I hadn't noticed. So, aged 40+ I read them again - and thoroughly enjoyed them once again from a different perspective

:-D :-D

Morning all.

I didn't mean that the first editions would be more interesting from a historical point of view. I meant that that the earliest stories would be because they seemed to hold more resemblance of reality than much later ones.

Tally-Ho Chaps

Hi all

Just want to say thanks for all your comments. Will have a look to see what's what, probably ask his Mum what she thinks.
Phyll

I would suggest that although at the time they were written your nephew would have been of the age they were aimed at, that today he would be too old for them.

However, as Dizzi has said, why not over the new few years buy some older copies and put them away and give them to him as a present for his 18th?

Good quality hardback editions (preferably with dust jackets) are to be found on Ebay and in charity shops. And can be seen as a long term investment. Good 1st editions may be a bit harder to find.

The odd thing is that by the time he is 18 he will appreciate them more. He is now of an age when they probably would not be 'cool' to own.

Good idea PigletsPal. Thanks

What-Ho chaps, just got back from a sortie, nearly copped a packet from Archie going
over our lines don’t y know!
It was pretty busy but I managed to bag one Albatross and a put a few rounds in
another before my guns jammed and some chap in a red Triplane shot my Camel full
of holes!

Now look what you’ve done got me all nostalgic!

I believe Biggles is in the dog house with the PC brigade rather like Enid Blyton’s Famous
five these days and reprints moderate his opinion of “foreigners” although in fact it’s a bit
unfair as often his adversaries are given credit for behaving in a chivalrous manner.

As others say they do give a good insight into the history of the time and are written at a pace that will keep a readers interest. As a lad I remember just one yucky bit in one of the early books where he gets a crush on would you believe it a girl of all things! Thankfully he’s soon over that and back to giving the baddies a good thrashing!

Tally-Ho!
Mayfield

Which is why with the PC brigade I recommended buying old copies of these wonderful books.

Look at Amazon under books, put Battle of Britain Flight in search, there are some great books all prices.

If he's keen on the RAF these books with the real history and some great pictures will be appreciated.

My son was given a book about the Spitfire, he was about 13. He's nearly 40 it's still in his bookcase and he still reads it occasionally.

Pat :-)

What-oh Mayfield old thing. Glad the old sortie with the balls worked out. I'm certain that old Bigglers is just as dog-housed as Famous Five. Re-read some of them recently and story included cousin who was a flyer and an all round jolly good chap.

I do sometimes think that we take pc just a little too far. I suppose we must think we're lucky not to have had so many more 'classics' sanitised.

I don't know about Biggles ,but I reckon it will be a great surprise.
I bought myself a Famous Five book not long ago and I'm 58 :-D