Post by Dave Homewood on Apr 26, 2006 22:52:54 GMT 12
I mentioned 'Long Way Home' in my recent thread on the death of Errol Brathwaite. I picked this book up last week at the RNZAF Museum for just $15, not bad for a new paperback.
When I purchased it I said to the bloke at the counter "What's the story with this book? Is it fairly old?" He answers, "No it's actually quite a recent one."
When I get it home and have a look, it was published and printed in 1964. I guess it's all relative to how old you are...
I would guess that after Errol's death maybe a box load of these books were found in his belongings and given to the museum, where he used to be a guide. They are certainly in brand new condition and not 2nd hand. So if you want a coipy, be in now.
Having started to read mine, though only 20 pages in, I have to say it is up to Errol's great standards. Yes, it is an RNZAF book. However unlike his many other, not set in WWII. This was set in modern day 1960's. The place is Wigram, and the aircraft being operated are Harvards, TBF Avenger target tugs, and the Devon.
The story revolves around the crash of Devon '03 whilst on a navigational exercise, somewhere between Hokitika and Christchurch, and where I'm up to the Wigram officers are swinging into action to start a search for the aircraft which has failed to show up. Oh yes, and a great huge southerly has rolled in to make things worse.
[interestingly, Devon '03 never did crash in reality and is actually the Devon on display in the RNZAF Museum. Maybe they should make something out of this in the publicity for selling this book!]
Anyway, it's a great story, and as with all of Errol's fictional books, it has great characterisations. I am really enjoying it.
So, be in quick if you want this rare item, it didn't look like the RNZAF Museum had too many more on their shelf.
When I purchased it I said to the bloke at the counter "What's the story with this book? Is it fairly old?" He answers, "No it's actually quite a recent one."
When I get it home and have a look, it was published and printed in 1964. I guess it's all relative to how old you are...
I would guess that after Errol's death maybe a box load of these books were found in his belongings and given to the museum, where he used to be a guide. They are certainly in brand new condition and not 2nd hand. So if you want a coipy, be in now.
Having started to read mine, though only 20 pages in, I have to say it is up to Errol's great standards. Yes, it is an RNZAF book. However unlike his many other, not set in WWII. This was set in modern day 1960's. The place is Wigram, and the aircraft being operated are Harvards, TBF Avenger target tugs, and the Devon.
The story revolves around the crash of Devon '03 whilst on a navigational exercise, somewhere between Hokitika and Christchurch, and where I'm up to the Wigram officers are swinging into action to start a search for the aircraft which has failed to show up. Oh yes, and a great huge southerly has rolled in to make things worse.
[interestingly, Devon '03 never did crash in reality and is actually the Devon on display in the RNZAF Museum. Maybe they should make something out of this in the publicity for selling this book!]
Anyway, it's a great story, and as with all of Errol's fictional books, it has great characterisations. I am really enjoying it.
So, be in quick if you want this rare item, it didn't look like the RNZAF Museum had too many more on their shelf.
