Where Eagles Never Flew: A Battle of Britain Novel Paperback – 11 Nov. 2020

A good read that shares The Battle of Britain story, though the eyes of people on both side of the battle, where German and British characters are equally developed, and the historical research underpinning the novel is strong, setting the stories in a context that comes to life.The strong narrative brings out the many perspectives of war – from both allies and enemies; through fanatical and fearful flyers; parents and children; civilians and military, those falling in love and out of love and who will never love again. A strength is that the book does not create hero’s. Though there is a central “couple” falling in love, there are many other well rounded characters (whose stories are shared further in the books that follow). The tensions, tiredness, uncertainties and sudden death in war are captured through the lives of these people. The growing importance of women’s in The Battle of Britain is interwoven with the men’s stories, giving them recognition often lacking in other histories and stories. The battle on the ground, by “erks” and many others, to keep planes flying, airfields operational, pilots trained and other services running is another thread that unfolds through the book.Though a long novel, this book is a good read which flows and is hard to put down.

This novel describes all aspects of the Battle of Britain: the British and the Germans, the strong and the weak, their lovers and mistresses; the ground crews, their sleepless nights repairing aircraft and awaiting their return; the families and relatives; the dogfights and the boring patrols; the sleepless nights and the terrifying days; the welcome rains and the unwelcome clear skies.It brings to life the whole period in vivid detail.

It is a well written and well researched story of the Battle of Britain. It is a great novel because of several reasons. One is that the pilots are not portrayed as glorified heroes, but young men who are afraid, have doubts and shortcomings, but they manage to overcome these and that is what makes them real heroes. An other is that it is not just about pilots fighting for Britain but also about their land crew, their loved ones and about the other side as well - the German pilots and their land crew. And still an other is that when immersing in the story - even though we know the outcome - one is not really sure if Britain could win. The reason why I did not give 5* was the quality of printing, it not being very good. Somehow the printers did not like their space between words which resulted in whole sentences printed in one.

A good fictional account of the Battle of Britain from both sides.Although primarily fictional it provides a powerful insight into the battles human cost among men and women of the RAF who faced a numerically superior opponent.

The most gripping aspect of this story is that I could really believe that Britain might lose. Given that many readers will, as I have, read a number of history books with various theories on how and when the battle was won - or indeed if it was won - it is a major achievment to retell the story and make it compelling. There are a number of nice detailed touches: "appeasers" in the RAF, the German Stuka pilots are more highly regarded than the fighter pilots.There are some template characters but none are entirely and only stereotypes. There is a central hero and heroine but although the romantic pairing have their problems it is never trouble for the sake of trouble, and the element of farce is neatly avoided.It's not perfect: all the 109's are Me109 when the purist in me wants to insist on Bf109 - but some contemporary German and British records use the Me109 form. I've never, in anything I have read or in my own flying training, encountered an aeroplane being "reefed around" .. or one that "stalls out" .. and personally a Spitfire is always an aeroplane and never an airplane ... but the narrative and the detail and the characters carried one clear of these slight snags.Five stars. Highly recommended.

Nothing to dislike

A good book even if it took a while to get going. Some excellent research into the battle of 1940.

Although only a novel, it contains so many references to actual places and events that it feels entirely real. The equal of anything by the likes of Len Deighton. As someone who’s father was an “erk” during that period it chimes with the stories he told.

a good book..in my opinion

The thorough research necessary to produce such an excellent book is both awe- inspiring and delightful. I look forward to the subsequent books as soon as Christmas is over. My regards to the author, who deserves a coveted pat on the back. I agree that this is the most in-depth (fictional )book on operations of the RAF in World War II that I’ve ever read.Good show Dr. Schrader !

As accurate as any novel or book I have read about The Battle of Britain, excellent read, completely believable.

The Battle of Britain of 1940, in which the Royal Air Force desperately yet decisively defeated the overconfident Luftwaffe and their unrelenting attempt to bomb the British Isles into submission, is a popular subject and the setting of countless books of fiction. Yet few accounts, fictional or non-fictional, capture the tension, the uncertainty, the dangers and the risks so vividly as Helena P. Schrader’s “Where Eagles Never Flew.” This exceptional novel is nothing short of a vicarious transport to a not so far away era, when barely trained young men on both sides of the English Channel blasted into the air at the controls of beastly powerful Spitfires, Hurricanes, Me109s, and Stukas for yet another daily mission from which safe return could easily become a losing bet.Schrader isn’t known for neglecting the roles and importance of women in both war and peace; Where Eagles Never Flew doesn’t break with her established tradition. Her female characterizations, whether of the strong or the weak, are seamlessly integrated with the male in situations, romantic or otherwise, which rival the military and air combat aspects in intelligent presentation, intrigue, and pure excitement, while successfully avoiding any hint of feminist cliches.Particularly outstanding is Schrader’s inclusion of equally well-developed German characters, their wartime environment with all its dangers from both Allied forces and the fanatical Nazis holding Germany in an iron grip, the struggles of those aware of the evil pervading the very soul of their homeland, and the easy, luxurious complacency of those who bought into the grand Nazi fabrications, whether as a matter of course or one of survival.I could easily fill pages with discussion of and praise for Where Eagles Never Flew, but will leave it as the next best thing to cranking up a Spitfire, taxiing to the runway, and opening the throttle all the way!

A well put together novel set during the Battle of Britain. Factually very good and well written. Enjoyable.