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The Second World War Series #1
Escape to Dunkirk
1940.
As the German Blitzkrieg rolls across France, the British Army is forced to retreat back to the coast.
It seems, as the net tightens around the surrounded divisions, that only a miracle can save them from destruction.
As the Royal Navy attempts to rescue the men from the beaches, the British rearguard is locked in a vicious struggle to prevent the Germans from breaking through.
Jack and his section, after weeks of brutal action, are forced to struggle on against the relentless enemy, the men standing together as they fight their way back to the blood soaked beaches, where their only hope of salvation lies beneath the smoke filled skies of Dunkirk.
This is the first novel in a new series by Stuart Minor.
As the German Blitzkrieg rolls across France, the British Army is forced to retreat back to the coast.
It seems, as the net tightens around the surrounded divisions, that only a miracle can save them from destruction.
As the Royal Navy attempts to rescue the men from the beaches, the British rearguard is locked in a vicious struggle to prevent the Germans from breaking through.
Jack and his section, after weeks of brutal action, are forced to struggle on against the relentless enemy, the men standing together as they fight their way back to the blood soaked beaches, where their only hope of salvation lies beneath the smoke filled skies of Dunkirk.
This is the first novel in a new series by Stuart Minor.
283 pages, Kindle Edition
Published March 25, 2019
161 people are currently reading
52 people want to read
About the author
Stuart Minor
45 books15 followersStuart Minor was born and raised in the rural county of Shropshire. Before becoming a professional writer he worked in a number of different trades and countries, seeing the world and doing everything from labouring to management. He has a degree in history and has been writing full-time since 2014 when he published his first novel: The Call of War. Since then he has seen considerable success, his series of sixteen books set in the First World War receiving high acclaim.
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Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews
December 28, 2022
This is the first book in a series about World War II. The book starts in the chaos of the retreat to Dunkirk by the British Expeditionary Force. The author's title of "escape" rather than "retreat", the usual descriptive term, works in that the story follows a section of the fictional Northshire battalion as they encounter a number of lethal challenges from which they must escape in order to make it Dunkirk.
Minor writes with a descriptive palette of the noise, confusion, fear, exhaustion, and horror of the battles. The descriptions create a sense of the context of the battle and the soldiers' responses to the firefights and the anxiety of the flight to the coast. Sometimes I found myself skipping through some of the description when I was caught up in the story - what was going to happen next. The book is fast paced.
Th number of characters is relatively small. I got a good sense of Jack the main character and became invested in what was happening to him. Fred, the corporal, was revealed as the story moved along giving him depth that was helpful. Sometimes the corporal or sergeant or officer is portrayed in a cardboard manner. The other members of the section were not as identifiable to me with the possible exception of Peter especially as their escape to Dunkirk was at hand.
I enjoyed the book and will soon start the second book in the series which takes place in North Africa.
Minor writes with a descriptive palette of the noise, confusion, fear, exhaustion, and horror of the battles. The descriptions create a sense of the context of the battle and the soldiers' responses to the firefights and the anxiety of the flight to the coast. Sometimes I found myself skipping through some of the description when I was caught up in the story - what was going to happen next. The book is fast paced.
Th number of characters is relatively small. I got a good sense of Jack the main character and became invested in what was happening to him. Fred, the corporal, was revealed as the story moved along giving him depth that was helpful. Sometimes the corporal or sergeant or officer is portrayed in a cardboard manner. The other members of the section were not as identifiable to me with the possible exception of Peter especially as their escape to Dunkirk was at hand.
I enjoyed the book and will soon start the second book in the series which takes place in North Africa.
September 14, 2023
I could feel the raw fear if the men who fought.
I’ve read many WWII historical novels. This is one of the best at capturing the fear and deprivation this group of soldiers faced. No water or food as they withdrew, the toll of marching across France. Minor did an excellent job in describing the soldiers conditions, while not creating a hero but focusing on an everyday man as the protagonist.
This is an excellent book and I highly recommend it. Looking forward to reading the rest of the series. Be sure to the Afterwords for a sound description of the world condition.
I’ve read many WWII historical novels. This is one of the best at capturing the fear and deprivation this group of soldiers faced. No water or food as they withdrew, the toll of marching across France. Minor did an excellent job in describing the soldiers conditions, while not creating a hero but focusing on an everyday man as the protagonist.
This is an excellent book and I highly recommend it. Looking forward to reading the rest of the series. Be sure to the Afterwords for a sound description of the world condition.
May 18, 2019
Stuart Minor Writes Of A Different War
Stuart Minor picks up the English saga of war in Europe. If I have read closely enough the irredeemable “Fred” from Stuart’s first series is present in this new series providing a link to the past. Nice! One thing more, Stukas we terrifyingly horrible.
Stuart Minor picks up the English saga of war in Europe. If I have read closely enough the irredeemable “Fred” from Stuart’s first series is present in this new series providing a link to the past. Nice! One thing more, Stukas we terrifyingly horrible.
May 3, 2020
Excellent Read.
Escape to Dunkirk captures the tribulations, bravery and final confusion of the battle for France. Centred around a tight not unit it's builds up the drama as it explores how different personalities within the unit play their part.
A great read. I thoroughly recommend this novel.
Escape to Dunkirk captures the tribulations, bravery and final confusion of the battle for France. Centred around a tight not unit it's builds up the drama as it explores how different personalities within the unit play their part.
A great read. I thoroughly recommend this novel.
May 16, 2020
A bit of a yawn.
I think the author has watched the original John mills film of Dunkirk and wrote a lot of it into this book with extra blood and guts thrown in its a clinched lazy book wrote for people who don't no a lot about w.w.11.I don't think I would read any more of this series.
I think the author has watched the original John mills film of Dunkirk and wrote a lot of it into this book with extra blood and guts thrown in its a clinched lazy book wrote for people who don't no a lot about w.w.11.I don't think I would read any more of this series.
April 29, 2022
Read his Historical Notes first
I read the Historical Notes at the end of Minors novel. This gave me, a trained historian, a valuable appreciation of the book. So, read that section first unless you are totally familiar with the "big picture" leading up to the events this small group faced - non-professionals led by a veteran corporal with battle experience in the Great War.
I read the Historical Notes at the end of Minors novel. This gave me, a trained historian, a valuable appreciation of the book. So, read that section first unless you are totally familiar with the "big picture" leading up to the events this small group faced - non-professionals led by a veteran corporal with battle experience in the Great War.
April 23, 2019
Dunkirk Rescue
Another great novel by Mr Minor ,showing once again the courage and the stamina of the BEF in such critical circumstances . The story brought to life through the various characters and situations in the novel . A highly recommended novel in my mind .
Another great novel by Mr Minor ,showing once again the courage and the stamina of the BEF in such critical circumstances . The story brought to life through the various characters and situations in the novel . A highly recommended novel in my mind .
December 3, 2019
its a story that has been told before in books and films but its still a great yarn
loved the story , the pace and the characters
its the story of a bunch of soldiers with the BEF that Are caught behind the Nazi lines and are trying to get back to England.
well worth a read
loved the story , the pace and the characters
its the story of a bunch of soldiers with the BEF that Are caught behind the Nazi lines and are trying to get back to England.
well worth a read
December 25, 2019
Great start
I half expected a novel with a cast of super soldiers and instead got a novel of real soldiers...scared, tired soldiers. Very descriptive places and action. Look forward to the next novel.
I half expected a novel with a cast of super soldiers and instead got a novel of real soldiers...scared, tired soldiers. Very descriptive places and action. Look forward to the next novel.
May 24, 2020
This read like a first draft or a teenagers GCSE homework (which I'd give a C+). There were more cliches than I've had hot dinners (pun intended). The plot was thin but easy to follow. I struggled through but whinced too much to read any further installments. If the author reads this - check your facts - its NAAFI not NAFFI. How can I take the narrative seriously with such basic errors. I must be a pedant as plenty of decent reviews for this but to me it read like a comic. The best part by far were the 'historical notes' at the end. These were excellent but I can't believe they were written by the same peson as the main text. If they were, my advice would be to stick to non-fiction.
May 3, 2019
Fred returns ! Now it's WW2
The author has moved us on to the early dark days of WW2, its France and the B.E.F are fighting to survive.
The author has moved us on to the early dark days of WW2, its France and the B.E.F are fighting to survive.
December 17, 2020
Good read
Really enjoyed this book, I hope the rest of the series is just as good or even better. 4/5 :)
Really enjoyed this book, I hope the rest of the series is just as good or even better. 4/5 :)
September 7, 2023
How did they survive
I found this a read a lot of information what they must of gone through I don't think I would have. It showed it you stick together you can survive.
I found this a read a lot of information what they must of gone through I don't think I would have. It showed it you stick together you can survive.
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May 9, 2025It was well written and I enjoyed the book all the way through 10 out of 10
March 15, 2020
A sad story of a sadder event
One of the biggest horror stories of World War Two, a lot of both brave heroes and deaths. It is in perpetual epiphany in England.
One of the biggest horror stories of World War Two, a lot of both brave heroes and deaths. It is in perpetual epiphany in England.
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews