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A review by kurtwombat
Prisoners of the Castle: An Epic Story of Survival and Escape from Colditz, the Nazis' Fortress Prison by Ben Macintyre
adventurous
dark
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
sad
medium-paced
4.5
It’s almost like I’ve always been waiting to read this book. The hook was set early….as a kid I watched a lot of Hogan’s Heroes and loved THE GREAT ESCAPE with James Garner & Steve McQueen (just a tidbit, Garner was one of the few people to intimidate the cool McQueen). This compelling account of the Renaissance era Colditz Castle turned WW II era German prison camp satisfies the kid and adult versions of me. PRISONERS OF THE CASTLE follows the lives of those working and imprisoned there. Lots of rousing yarns are to be had yet the seriousness of their situation is never forgotten. The book is very good at balancing the two. The excitement, ingenuity and hutzpah of the escape attempts balance against the mind numbing drudgery of captivity and the lingering threat of dying even hundreds of miles behind the lines. Presenting the tedium of imprisonment without becoming tedious, is quite the achievement.
Gathered at Colditz were captured officers of the allied forces—especially those that had shown a strong desire to escape from other camps. The narrative introduces us to many of them—thoroughly vetting quite a few so that I felt personally acquainted. At times amusing—partly from the insanity but largely from the efforts to remain sane. So many bright and motivated people suddenly rendered immobile created the need for outlets. Harassing guards, putting on randy plays, creating sports that make rugby look tame but most of all making plans to escape all served restless minds. The narrative moves briskly avoiding getting bogged down in backstories—long winded diversions being it’s own kind of imprisonment. As I was reading I looked forward to the end of the war for the benefit of the prisoners but not myself. I wanted to keep reading. And of course, the final days of the war offered their own quite dramatic complications. Compelling all the way through.
Gathered at Colditz were captured officers of the allied forces—especially those that had shown a strong desire to escape from other camps. The narrative introduces us to many of them—thoroughly vetting quite a few so that I felt personally acquainted. At times amusing—partly from the insanity but largely from the efforts to remain sane. So many bright and motivated people suddenly rendered immobile created the need for outlets. Harassing guards, putting on randy plays, creating sports that make rugby look tame but most of all making plans to escape all served restless minds. The narrative moves briskly avoiding getting bogged down in backstories—long winded diversions being it’s own kind of imprisonment. As I was reading I looked forward to the end of the war for the benefit of the prisoners but not myself. I wanted to keep reading. And of course, the final days of the war offered their own quite dramatic complications. Compelling all the way through.