Error loading page.
Try refreshing the page. If that doesn't work, there may be a network issue, and you can use our self test page to see what's preventing the page from loading.
Learn more about possible network issues or contact support for more help.
Title details for The Last Escaper by Peter Tunstall - Available

The Last Escaper

by Peter Tunstall
John Lee
Audiobook
1 of 1 copy available
Borrow Listen to a sample Listen to a sample
1 of 1 copy available
The product of a lifetime's reflection, The Last Escaper is Peter Tunstall's unforgettable memoir of his days in the British Royal Air Force and as one of the most celebrated British POWs of World War II. Tunstall was an infamous tormentor of his German captors. Dubbed the "cooler king" on account of his long spells in solitary, he once dropped a water "bomb" directly in the lap of a high-ranking German officer. He also devised an ingenious method for smuggling coded messages back to London. But above all, he was a highly skilled pilot, loyal friend, and trusted colleague.


Without false pride or bitterness, Tunstall recounts the hijinks of training to be a pilot, terrifying bombing raids, and elaborate escape attempts at once hilarious and deadly serious—all part of a poignant and human war story superbly told by a natural raconteur. The Last Escaper is a captivating final testament by the "last man standing" from the Greatest Generation.

  • Creators

  • Publisher

  • Release date

    February 17, 2015

  • Formats

    • OverDrive Listen audiobook

      • ISBN: 9781494529420
      • File size: 325873 KB
      • Duration: 11:18:54

  • Languages

    • English

  • Reviews

    • AudioFile Magazine
      Author Peter Tunstall tells listeners early on that his account of being a POW in Germany during WWII isn't an adventure story. Still, John Lee's hearty narration sometimes makes it sound like one as he keeps the British airman's bravery and enthusiasm on listeners' minds, especially in the early chapters about young Tunstall's love of flying. Even the stories about escape attempts are laced with Tunstall's wry humor and warm feelings toward his fellow prisoners. However, listeners will hear more than good yarns. The failed escape attempts carry a sense of frustration and risk. POWs' daily problems, hunger most particularly, also are made clear, showing the constant undercurrent of war's human toll. J.A.S. © AudioFile 2015, Portland, Maine
    • Publisher's Weekly

      November 24, 2014
      In this posthumous memoir, Tunstall (1918–2013) relates his experiences as an RAF pilot during WWII. Captured early on, he spent the duration of the war at several different POW facilities, and he offers gripping details of his prison life, especially his many harrowing escape attempts. There is no doubt that he was an innovative escape artist, pioneering many tricks of the trade—including the immediate costume change—and helping intelligence operations with his use of “split photographs” combined with codes, in which he hid information between the layers of paper photographs. Tunstall also shares some impressive methods for manufacturing the clothing, documents, and other items needed for a successful escape. He spends the book’s closing pages defending the Allied bombing offensive that may have hastened Germany’s surrender, perhaps due to the postwar outcry against it. Tunstall’s informal prose reads like a letter home and is heavily flavored by the author’s perceptions. But the historical account of behind-the-scenes drama makes this a valuable addition to the period literature.

Formats

  • OverDrive Listen audiobook

subjects

Languages

  • English

Loading