Bomber. Len Deighton. R4Extra

[Gene Vincent]

Listened to this in real time about 20 years ago and it was utterly brilliant.

It is repeated, again in real time, this Friday.

The best radio drama ever IMO and not to be missed at almost any inconvenience.

Link provided:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b01708wx/episodes/...

Try to catch it if you can.

[Eric Mc]

Absiolutely harrowing and one of the most accurate renditions EVER of bomber ops.

The book is good too.

[Gene Vincent]

Eric Mc said:

Absiolutely harrowing and one of the most accurate renditions EVER of bomber ops.

The book is good too.

You're not wrong, when I worked in Bracknell I met an ex-crew member of a Lancaster involved in exactly the sort of run in the radio play, he told me it was so accurate that he could hardly bear to listen to it right through but did,he found the radio chat on the flight and runs were almost word for word of the conversations he had.

Best bit of radio of its type ever broadcast in my and his opinion, he died in 2002, I went to his funeral, he was the last one to die of all his flight buddies, no-one could find a crew member from any of the birds he flew in.

[Eric Mc]

I read the book when I was about 14 (a LONG time ago) and thought it was fantastic.

I have heard the programme on a BBC Audio Cassette and it is almost unbearable to listen to - but compulsive at the same time.

It should be on every school curriculum.

[Gene Vincent]

Eric Mc said:

It should be on every school curriculum.

Oh Christ yes!

[Skii]

A truly epic book. I'll never forget the bit where he describes little orange spiders running across the perspex canopy of a doomed lancaster, the realisation by the remaining crew that these were the reflection of the flames of the city below as the bomber is rolling out of control.

A must read.

[Gene Vincent]

Bump.

Starts in one hour.

Radio 4extra 14.30hrs

[RicksAlfas]

Just discovered it's available as an audio book for those (like me) not near a radio:
http://www.play.com/Books/AudioBooks/4-/159106/Bom...

[ritmo]

RicksAlfas said:

Just discovered it's available as an audio book for those (like me) not near a radio:
http://www.play.com/Books/AudioBooks/4-/159106/Bom...

you'll be able to catch it on iPlayer for a few more days yet.

i read all of Deighton's books as a kid and consider this to be his best - one of those books you just can't put down.
I'd forgotten how compelling and moving the BBC adaption was and i can't believe it's 16 years since it was broadcast. Only the BBC would make such a programme.
I am hoping for a reshowing of 'Game,Set & Match' but i think LD has vetoed it.

[Lucas CAV]

ritmo said:

RicksAlfas said:

Just discovered it's available as an audio book for those (like me) not near a radio:
http://www.play.com/Books/AudioBooks/4-/159106/Bom...

you'll be able to catch it on iPlayer for a few more days yet.

i read all of Deighton's books as a kid and consider this to be his best - one of those books you just can't put down.
I'd forgotten how compelling and moving the BBC adaption was and i can't believe it's 16 years since it was broadcast. Only the BBC would make such a programme.
I am hoping for a reshowing of 'Game,Set & Match' but i think LD has vetoed it.

You can buy ok copies online -- but it was poorly cast (for some characters) IMHO - particularly Bernard Samson and Dicky Cruyer -

Brett and Silas are spot on though! as is Werner

[ritmo]

Lucas CAV said:

You can buy ok copies online

Do you have link ?

[downthepub]

I have almost all of Len Deighton's books (ie minus the cookery books ), the Samson series is unparalleled in my opinion. In terms of the WW2 books; Goodbye Mickey Mouse is extremely good - I believe that some US airmen were convinced that LD served as a USAF officer. SS-GB is worth a read too. It's been about eighteen months since I finished the last Samson book, Charity, and I'm waiting to re-read the series.

Those Samson DVDs, are they proper copies or a dodgy copy off 1980s VHS?

[Lucas CAV]

downthepub said:

I have almost all of Len Deighton's books (ie minus the cookery books ), the Samson series is unparalleled in my opinion. In terms of the WW2 books; Goodbye Mickey Mouse is extremely good - I believe that some US airmen were convinced that LD served as a USAF officer. SS-GB is worth a read too. It's been about eighteen months since I finished the last Samson book, Charity, and I'm waiting to re-read the series.

Those Samson DVDs, are they proper copies or a dodgy copy off 1980s VHS?

Dodgy I would imagine

There's a clip or two on youtube too -- doesn't sell it well!

[Porkbrain]

Thanks for the info on this, still a few days left to listen to this on iPlayer.

Very moving stuff.

I can remember reading the book many years ago.