The Hill

by Ray Rigby

A brit hadsereg észak-afrikai büntetőtáborában Wilson főtörzsőrmester értelmetlennek látszó feladattal kínozza a foglyokat: kőből és homokból dombot építtet velük. Célja azonban nem más, mint hogy megalázza és megtörje a valaha szebb napokat látott exkatonákat. Egy reggel új különítmény érkezik: McGrath, a skót fenegyerek; Bartlett, az örök lógós; Bokumbo, a csupa szív, csupa derű fekete; Stevens, a gyámoltalan tejfelesszájú és a rejtélyes múltú hajdani törzsőrmester, Roberts - melléjük pedig az "új" smasszer, Williams. Öt tragikus emberi sors egy kitűnő amerikai regényben, amelyből Sean Connery főszereplésével 1967-ben nagy hatású film is készült.

Genres: Fiction, British Literature, War, Historical Fiction, World War II

224 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1965

Reviews

[Robin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Jeden z válečných příběhů, kdy ani jeho filmové zpracování (se Seanem Connerym) se nemá za co stydět. Pro ty, kteří si přečetli Král Krysa nebo se jím líbily filmy Most přes řeku Kwai či Velký útěk.

[Steve Cox · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is an interesting read. It gives an insight into a rarely seen or experienced world - a British military prison in North Africa during World War 2.
The story is absorbing and visceral and kept me reading to the end. However, I did find a few things unsatisfying. For instance the characters are described as ‘grinning’ in all sorts of situations, most when they would be expected to have very different facial expressions. It felt tedious and a lazy word choice by the end. Also, I didn’t follow some of the mood changes of the prisoners. I do accept, though, that this could be because I’ve not spent a lot of time with British soldiers in prison.
What was good, I thought, was the c0nstrictive environment and the impact this had on the prisoners. Despite this being a bit lumpen in its storytelling at times I was gripped until the end. Then I felt a bit let down as the climax was, to my mind, too sudden and not satisfying enough. That said, I did think the inmates would see it as very satisfying.

[Jan Kittler · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very compelling and excruciating story. Probably the best one to deal with the tyranny of marines — the war within your allies — I've read. Loved how the problems of masculinity were pouring like sweat from this. That terrifying hill to break you and the will to not let go of your dignity and justice.
Despite all that, I think it could have been written with a bit more thought. I felt like the language was too general, but at least it read easily. Other than that, very much in awe of this book.

Each man fighting his own war.

[peter ramsey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Better than the film

Downloader the book, and never put it down.
Totally absorbed in it. Having spent just a week in guardroom myself, while serving in the gulf. I have some idea. But nothing like this. Excellent read.

[amelia samsel · Rating 5 out of 5]

zostala mi polecona ze wzgledu na charakter glownego bohatera... definitywnie juz rozumiem dlaczego..:)
przyjemnie sie czyta
mocna rzecz, fajna ksiazka, z jajem
satysfakcjonujace zakonczenie.... :)

joe roberts-i feel you, even though our problems arent on the same scale, i get it man

[Jim Mitchell · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great read. Unexpected ending.

[Hattas Martin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oproti Milerovej knihe je Pahorek jedná veľká jazda po ktorej zostanete spotený k smrti.

[Van Roberts · Rating 5 out of 5]

This interesting World War II novel was made into a memorable Sean Connery movie with Ossie Davis. The story is about a prison camp in Africa for British soldiers who are criminals and/or deserters.

[Ryan Hornish · Rating 5 out of 5]

I couldn’t stop reading, through and through the boys of Cell 8 I was rooting for.

[Russell Johnson · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a great book. A brutal story about life in a war time military prison. It is also a gret film starring Sean Connery.

[Des Pemberton · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've been asked by Endeavour Press to write a review of a book I read about 50 years ago (1967). When I read this book I was going through British Army training, so although my own physical and mental torments were a fraction of those experienced by the prisoners in The Hill, I was able to commiserate with those characters. A few years later I came across a few Military Provost Staff during a military operation: to say these guys had doubtful parentage and ate babies for breakfast would just illustrate their good-natured side.

I recall I enjoyed The Hill and remember the experience of reading it nearly half a century and a few hundred other books later. If nothing else it taught me one important lesson while in the military: Don't get caught.

[J V Woods · Rating 5 out of 5]

Was a great film...

The Hill was great film and at last I've read the book. Probably better than the film. Looking forward to reading the sequel. Feel sorry for any serviceman that ends up in the glasshouse if it is anything like this portrayal. Any readers who have experienced it?