The Narrow Door at Colditz

by Robert L. Wise

In the brooding medieval castle of Colditz located near the German border with Czechoslovakia, Allied prisoners of the Second World War devised every method of escape from twisting tunnels to an improvised glider flight from the dreaded Nazi-held castle. In 1942, only Sergeant Tony Irving and five Allied accomplices discovered how to march through the narrow door and escape. Acting with faith and patriotism, the Allied soldiers break out and run toward Switzerland.

Genres: Historical Fiction

320 pages, Paperback

First published May 1, 2004

About the author

Robert L. Wise, Ph.D. is the author or coauthor of twenty-four books. He is a bishop in the communion of Evangelical Episcopal Churches and has planted churches around the world. Dr. Wise and his wife, Margueritte, live in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.

Reviews

[David · Rating 3 out of 5]

While generally well written, I kept wondering why. The author didn't really have anything new to say. It felt like he took P.R. Reid's books and inserted his own character in the Colditz story. But I don't know why. Reinhold Eggers wrote an excellent book on the German side of Colditz; Reid's books a seminal, and I kept looking for a new perspective on the story. Wise's book places an emphasis on faith, something rarly spoken of in POW narratives, but that by itself doesn't bring anything new to the story. And why make his protagonist, Tony Irving of Texas, a sergeant who has been misidentified as a British officer? There seems to be no point to this, other than to try to make the Colditz story about a plucky American underdog? Which it isn't. And what of the other men of Colditz? Wise ignores just about all of them in favor of focusing on Wardle, Lawton, Fowler, Van Doornink and Sas. In the end, while I enjoyed the book, it left too many questions.

[Jason · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a very good story about how God can work in incredible ways. The story flows fairly well, and the story avoids terrible cliches, although just barely. Honestly, that’s the only reason it is not getting five stars. There were a coupon times when the story, especially the thoughts of the main character, just seemed a bit... off. Otherwise, I thoroughly enjoyed this book.

[Alex Burciaga · Rating 5 out of 5]

no

[Joy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great

[Lisa · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very typical story about escaping ww2 prisoner camp. A few fun moments to help progress the story tying nicely with finding and keeping faith in God.

[Joe Oaster · Rating 5 out of 5]

this book is a quick read and very good. I enjoyed the story and the underlying theme of faith in God. I love the different nationalities weaved into the story. The main character, Tony Irving is very likable and a sterotype Texan.

[Steve Markham · Rating 1 out of 5]

This book was truely awful! I have read a few propper histories of Colditz and although this book is fiction it is lucely based on fact. The author has not thought up much to be perfectly honest and has just used the escapes that really happened and stuck Toney in with them. It is more a book about god and how believing can get you anything if you believe enough. I don't have a problem with people who believe but this book pushes the point too far in my oppinion.

It is also not accurate in several ways. The RAF don't have captains, they have group captains, the dutch and Polish officers wouldn't have said mate and the English wouldn't have called the Germans jerks either. A pore effort and I wish I hadn't read it. It cost me £0.74 and that is too much!

[Brody Thomson · Rating 3 out of 5]

I quite liked this book. It was a very simple and easy read. There was a lot happening in this book and the pace was quick. If your looking for a quick read I would recommend this book. I enjoyed reading about the conditions in a prison camp as well as the struggle to try and find an escape towards freedom.

[Andrew Brown · Rating 5 out of 5]

i absolutely loved this book. anyone that likes a war or escape story would enjoy it. in WW2 Germany, an american named tony irving is captured by the Germans. he is then transported to colditz castle, the toughest POW camp in all of the german reich. life is hard. other POWs have problems with tony; and most of all he misses his home. does he have what it takes to escape? read and find out.

[Mick · Rating 1 out of 5]

Even though I had not read any of the 25 books written by this author, I was looking forward to this. Fiction it was supposed to be, but the "Roy of the Rovers" comic book style of adventure writing of the first few pages instantly had me add this to my "don't bother" list.

[Haritha · Rating 1 out of 5]

This book is has to be the worst book I've put my hands on in a long, long time. I just couldn't make myself go past page 21 (I'm proud to have made it that far). I've read cheesy romance novel paperbacks which were written better. This book is going back to the library ASAP.

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fairly interesting account of the escapes that happened at Colditz Castle during World War II. I do wonder why the main character needed to be an American, but the narrative was quick to read and the characters were fairly engaging.

[Rob · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not very good, quit about halfway through.