The Colonel of Tamarkan - Philip Toosey and the Bridge on the River Kwai (Paperback, Ed)

Written by Toosey's granddaughter, this remarkable portrait of a forgotten British hero and leader is essential reading for anyone interested in the Second World War. 'Truly uplifting ... It makes you proud to be British.' The Guardian Alec Guinness won a Best Actor Oscar for his portrayal of the dogmatic but brittle commanding officer in David Lean's film The Bridge on the River Kwai. While a brilliant performance, it owed more to fiction than fact, as the man who actually commanded the POWs ordered to build the infamous bridges -- there were in fact two: one wooden, one concrete -- was cut from very different cloth. Lieutenant Colonel Philip Toosey was the senior officer among the 2,000-odd Allied servicemen incarcerated in Tamarkan prison camp, and as such had to comply with the Japanese orders to help construct their Thailand-Burma railway. With malnutrition, disease and brutality their constant companions, it was a near-impossible task for soldiers who had already endured terrible privations -- and one which they knew would be in the service of their enemy. But under Toosey's careful direction, a subtle balancing act between compliance and subversion, the Allied inmates not only survived but regained some sense of self-respect. Re-creating the story of this remarkable leader with tremendous skill and narrative flair, and drawing on many original interviews with Second World War POWs from the Asian theatre, The Colonel of Tamarkan is a riveting blend of biography and history.

General

Imprint:	Simon & Schuster
Country of origin:	United States
Release date:	May 2006
Authors:	Julie Summers
Dimensions:	198 x 130 x 29mm (L x W x T)
Format:	Paperback - B-format
Pages:	432
Edition:	Ed
ISBN-13:	978-0-7434-9573-8
Categories:	Books > Language & Literature > Biography & autobiography > Historical, political & military Books > Humanities > History > Asian / Middle Eastern history > General Books > Humanities > History > History of specific subjects > Military history Books > Social sciences > Warfare & defence > War & defence operations > Battles & campaigns Books > Humanities > History > World history > From 1900 > Second World War Books > History > Asian / Middle Eastern history > General Books > History > History of specific subjects > Military history Books > History > World history > From 1900 > Second World War Books > Biography > Historical, political & military Promotions
LSN:	0-7434-9573-X
Barcode:	9780743495738

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