Lonesome Road

by George Harsh

The life story of George, who survived the Georgia prison system in the '30's, went on to join the R.A.F. during World War II, and took German prison camps in his stride. A middleclass young gunman on a ""perfect crime"" lark, Harsh was sentenced to life on the chain gang. He remembers not only the appalling cruelties and hardships but the men who died and those who escaped and were shot down. A prison camp investigation in which he cooperated, led to his transfer to a well-run prison where his self-taught medical work saved the life of a prisoner and won his release. A gunner in the R.A.F. (he joined in Canada), he was captured by the Germans and participated in the famous Stalag tunneling by handling ""security."" Mr. Harsh is given to a sentimental-to-cheerful detachment from these happenings, but he prompts a mild awe at the dangers undergone.

222 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1971

Reviews

[JD · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great book about a very interesting man. George Harsh lost his father at age 12 and inherited a small fortune. Coming from money and going to university, he and four friends decided to commit the perfect crimes, and during one of the robberies tragedy struck where he shot and killed a man. At his trial he was showed mercy and spared the death penalty, and was given a life sentence where he spent the first few years on a chain gang. This was a harsh life, yet he made many friendships with a wide range of people from different walks of life that made him grow as a person and he was an avid reader during his prison time where he never stopped learning. His last years in prison was spent at a camp hospital where on a stormy night when the doctor could not be contacted, he did an emergency operation to save a man's life and was pardoned after this (a life taken, a life saved), having served 12 years in prison.

He drifted after this and eventually decided to go to Canada and enlist there to go and fight in World War 2. where he joined the air force as an air gunner until he was shot down. He ended up in Stalag Luft III and was given charge of security in guarding the planning of The Great Escape from the Germans. During this time we are introduced to all the legends who planned and executed the escape. Harsh was eventually transferred to a punishment camp and endured the winter march along with other POW's away from Russian forces until he was eventually liberated by American forces.

Most of the book covers his time spent in prison before the war and the book is well written in a very mature fashion. Harsh does not make himself out to be a hero, and never does he portray himself as being innocent and he owns up to the murder he committed. Great book and highly recommended if you can find a copy.

[Katjusa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Picked this up from a dusty shelf upstairs in the True Crime room at Toad Hall in Rockford. What a find! Fascinating first-hand account of Harsh's 12 years on a Georgia chain gang in the '30s and his years in a German POW camp in the '40s.

[John · Rating 5 out of 5]

George Harsh grew up from a elk to do southern family. As a private school student commits felony murder at 16 life sentence served ten years in a chain gain performs an emergency appendectomy on a man without any medical training. Sentence immured by Georgia governor. Enlists in Canadian RAF as a ball turret gunner. shot down over Germany taken prisoner. Sent to stalag 3 where he was part of great eacape effort. Write in direct strong style without embellishment. Amazing story.

[Joe Trimble · Rating 5 out of 5]

I checked this book out of my local public library in 1975 when I was going into the 8th grade. I have read it multiple times over the course of my life and given used copies as gifts. Harsh goes from the top of town to the very depths of the Georgia prison system as an inmate on a chain gang. It is a tale of self discovery. This is unlike any memoir I have ever read.

[BLT · Rating 4 out of 5]

George Marsh is the only real Man.