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The Ariadne Objective: The Underground War to Rescue Crete from the Nazis
A committed band of partisans were a thorn in the side of the German occupiers of Crete from May 1941, with an unlikely group of British spies organizing, orchestrating and supplying them. This book tells the story of the operatives, including future travel writer Patrick Leigh Fermor, John Pendlebury and Xan Fielding, who lived in the Cretan mountains for years conducting sabotage operations culminating in the abduction of the German commanding officer. American-cut pages.
352 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2013
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Displaying 1 - 26 of 26 reviews
May 14, 2014
In principle, I should have loved this book. I am interested in WWII history, and I am always up for a story about daring young men performing amazing feats of bravery and ingenuity. This story, about a group of Englishmen and their Cretan comrades who kidnapped a German general from Crete and spirited him away to Cairo, should have be exactly my cup of tea.
Somehow, I can't give this book more than 2, or 2 1/2 stars.
First of all, I dislike books with misleading titles. The title "The Ariadne Objective", with its obvious reference to the myth of Theseus and the Minotaur, seems to have been taken from a Ludlum novel. I found no indication that the operation had ever been referred to by that name. Also, this is the story of the Resistance movement on Crete, with special focus on the plot to kidnap a German General. That does not count as "rescue Crete from the Nazis". Indeed, in view of the Nazi reprisals that followed, it can be argued that this plot only made the Occupation harder for the Cretans.
Second, I found the book slow to start. The actual plot to kidnap the general didn't get hatched or executed until the last third or so of the book. Most of the book up until then was taken up with mini-biographies of the principals (Patrick Leigh Fermor, John Dunbabin, William Moss, Xan Fielding). The author provided a lot of detail of about how the various undercover agents and Resistance fighters moved from one spot to another on the island, with frequent stays in caves and barns. He described the raucous parties in the house in Cairo that some of the main characters lived in when not in the field.
Third, I found the writing flat and unexciting. Even gunfights are dealt with in only a few sentences. It sometimes seemed to me that the author was so preoccupied with describing who was in what cave in what part of the island on what night, that he became engaged in a sort of mental accounting rather than in story-telling.
Fourth, the story is clearly conceived as an adventure story, nothing more. There is not much discussion of what this band of SOE officers exactly hoped to achieve by spiriting this general away from Crete. There seems to have been an idea that this kidnapping would break German morale. If so, there is not much evidence that this really happened. Terrible reprisals were executed immediately and a replacement general was brought in without delay. If they had planned this coup to capture a high-ranking officer whose information could be indispensable to winning the warm, then I would have had more sympathy for the scheme.
It can be argued that this fourth weakness is also the book's main attraction : the story does have swashbuckling heroes in the classical British tradition. Patrick Leigh Fermor, who later became a famous travel writer, is described here as an irrepressible adventurer, the kind of person who considered climbing up and down the goat paths of the Cretan countryside a splendid lark. The author lovingly describes the hijinks that "Paddy" and a handful of friends got up to while sharing a house in Cairo with a beautiful Polish Countess. It's not hard to sense that all that hard partying was the way that these young people dealt with the realities of war.
In conclusion : not a bad book, but not a highly recommended one, either
Somehow, I can't give this book more than 2, or 2 1/2 stars.
First of all, I dislike books with misleading titles. The title "The Ariadne Objective", with its obvious reference to the myth of Theseus and the Minotaur, seems to have been taken from a Ludlum novel. I found no indication that the operation had ever been referred to by that name. Also, this is the story of the Resistance movement on Crete, with special focus on the plot to kidnap a German General. That does not count as "rescue Crete from the Nazis". Indeed, in view of the Nazi reprisals that followed, it can be argued that this plot only made the Occupation harder for the Cretans.
Second, I found the book slow to start. The actual plot to kidnap the general didn't get hatched or executed until the last third or so of the book. Most of the book up until then was taken up with mini-biographies of the principals (Patrick Leigh Fermor, John Dunbabin, William Moss, Xan Fielding). The author provided a lot of detail of about how the various undercover agents and Resistance fighters moved from one spot to another on the island, with frequent stays in caves and barns. He described the raucous parties in the house in Cairo that some of the main characters lived in when not in the field.
Third, I found the writing flat and unexciting. Even gunfights are dealt with in only a few sentences. It sometimes seemed to me that the author was so preoccupied with describing who was in what cave in what part of the island on what night, that he became engaged in a sort of mental accounting rather than in story-telling.
Fourth, the story is clearly conceived as an adventure story, nothing more. There is not much discussion of what this band of SOE officers exactly hoped to achieve by spiriting this general away from Crete. There seems to have been an idea that this kidnapping would break German morale. If so, there is not much evidence that this really happened. Terrible reprisals were executed immediately and a replacement general was brought in without delay. If they had planned this coup to capture a high-ranking officer whose information could be indispensable to winning the warm, then I would have had more sympathy for the scheme.
It can be argued that this fourth weakness is also the book's main attraction : the story does have swashbuckling heroes in the classical British tradition. Patrick Leigh Fermor, who later became a famous travel writer, is described here as an irrepressible adventurer, the kind of person who considered climbing up and down the goat paths of the Cretan countryside a splendid lark. The author lovingly describes the hijinks that "Paddy" and a handful of friends got up to while sharing a house in Cairo with a beautiful Polish Countess. It's not hard to sense that all that hard partying was the way that these young people dealt with the realities of war.
In conclusion : not a bad book, but not a highly recommended one, either
November 4, 2013
The Ariadne Objective: The Underground War to Rescue Crete from the Nazis by Wes Davis is a non-fiction book about English spies fighting to save the island of Crete and block Germany’s march to the East.
The Ariadne Objective by Wes Davis takes place during the time when German military might seemed unstoppable. Hitler and his generals decided the Crete, the most populous and largest of the Greek Islands, would be the perfect foothold to start Germany’s invasion of the Middle East.
Enter the English Special Operations Executive, (SOE) a covert military organization of including many unconventional intelligence officers conducting audacious and aggressive operations worthy of Hollywood finest. When we think of special operations we think of highly specialized, well trained, muscled, professional soldiers. The guys from the SEO are writers, scholars academics and even archaeologists who became amateur soldiers due to circumstances.
This story is from their perspectives.
The cast of characters could not be invented by the most prolific author: John Pendlebury– an archeologist with a glass eye and a swordstick; future Times of London reporter Sandy Rendel ; Patrick Leigh Fermor – a classist and a writer who will find his future fame for his prolific and popular travel books; and last but not least Xan Fielding – future translator of French books including Bridge over the River Kwai and Planet of the Apes .
Dropped into occupied Crete, these spies plan a daring operation to kidnap the island’s German commander and bring him, through torturous terrain crawling with German soldiers, to Egypt and then to England.
The Ariadne Objective reads like a first rate World War II spy novel which could only be the product of the author’s fevered imagination. The fact the this book is non-fiction, with all the colorful characters, humor and fantastic adventures makes it all the better.
For more reviews and bookish posts please visit http://www.ManOfLaBook.com
The Ariadne Objective by Wes Davis takes place during the time when German military might seemed unstoppable. Hitler and his generals decided the Crete, the most populous and largest of the Greek Islands, would be the perfect foothold to start Germany’s invasion of the Middle East.
Enter the English Special Operations Executive, (SOE) a covert military organization of including many unconventional intelligence officers conducting audacious and aggressive operations worthy of Hollywood finest. When we think of special operations we think of highly specialized, well trained, muscled, professional soldiers. The guys from the SEO are writers, scholars academics and even archaeologists who became amateur soldiers due to circumstances.
This story is from their perspectives.
The cast of characters could not be invented by the most prolific author: John Pendlebury– an archeologist with a glass eye and a swordstick; future Times of London reporter Sandy Rendel ; Patrick Leigh Fermor – a classist and a writer who will find his future fame for his prolific and popular travel books; and last but not least Xan Fielding – future translator of French books including Bridge over the River Kwai and Planet of the Apes .
Dropped into occupied Crete, these spies plan a daring operation to kidnap the island’s German commander and bring him, through torturous terrain crawling with German soldiers, to Egypt and then to England.
The Ariadne Objective reads like a first rate World War II spy novel which could only be the product of the author’s fevered imagination. The fact the this book is non-fiction, with all the colorful characters, humor and fantastic adventures makes it all the better.
For more reviews and bookish posts please visit http://www.ManOfLaBook.com
May 5, 2014
I won my copy from Goodreads Giveaways!
Wow, this book took me A LONG TIME to finish. I have always been interested in reading history, but this was probably one of the driest accounts I've ever read.
Because it was an advance proof, there were no maps in the beginning, which made it difficult to follow since most of the book recounts detailed maneuvers and operations moving about the island in the surrounding areas. I believe the finished version contained maps so those will be critical for any reader to have as reference.
If you like, dry, straight-forward accounts of events such as "the ground was damp, the men slept then woke up and kept moving," this is the history book for you. I can applaud Wes Davis for not inserting his own narrative voice that could have otherwise colored the accounting, but at the same time, it made the writing very lack luster. Almost as if you were reading a product manual. Even when noting the smells of bombed out villages, the most descriptive Davis gets is that "there was an unpleasant smell in the air."
But essentially the "story" is an account of how British officers and spies worked to support Cretan resistance to German and Italian forces during WWII. The primary mission was a British abduction of a German leader without having reprisals rain down on the local citizenry. Such care illustrated a more thoughtful war than I anticipated. The primary name that I was able to grasp was Leigh Fermor, who sometimes goes by the name Paddy, but caution: there's another character named Paddy so things can get confusing. A lot of other names are thrown about, but due to the combination of present figures working for the British and recounts of past important historical figures, it was easy to become confused about who was relevant and who was a memory. Maybe more historically inclined readers would find it not as confusing. I can only admit my shortcomings.
The main thing Davis taught me was that being in a war is not glamorous. Even though you may be part of an elite force or have a dangerous job, there's a lot of waiting, and a lot of working to keep your mind occupied when there's down time. There's also a lot of bad alcohol available and you work primarily in the dark. I am thankful for men like Leigh Fermor, who seemed to be a man of a dying breed: the aristocratic scholar, a man of literature, poetry, and travel, who appreciates music and meaningful conversation. But this book is not for someone looking for a rich accounting of a war experience, but rather the bones of reality from someone without a memory for sensory details.
Happy Reading!
Wow, this book took me A LONG TIME to finish. I have always been interested in reading history, but this was probably one of the driest accounts I've ever read.
Because it was an advance proof, there were no maps in the beginning, which made it difficult to follow since most of the book recounts detailed maneuvers and operations moving about the island in the surrounding areas. I believe the finished version contained maps so those will be critical for any reader to have as reference.
If you like, dry, straight-forward accounts of events such as "the ground was damp, the men slept then woke up and kept moving," this is the history book for you. I can applaud Wes Davis for not inserting his own narrative voice that could have otherwise colored the accounting, but at the same time, it made the writing very lack luster. Almost as if you were reading a product manual. Even when noting the smells of bombed out villages, the most descriptive Davis gets is that "there was an unpleasant smell in the air."
But essentially the "story" is an account of how British officers and spies worked to support Cretan resistance to German and Italian forces during WWII. The primary mission was a British abduction of a German leader without having reprisals rain down on the local citizenry. Such care illustrated a more thoughtful war than I anticipated. The primary name that I was able to grasp was Leigh Fermor, who sometimes goes by the name Paddy, but caution: there's another character named Paddy so things can get confusing. A lot of other names are thrown about, but due to the combination of present figures working for the British and recounts of past important historical figures, it was easy to become confused about who was relevant and who was a memory. Maybe more historically inclined readers would find it not as confusing. I can only admit my shortcomings.
The main thing Davis taught me was that being in a war is not glamorous. Even though you may be part of an elite force or have a dangerous job, there's a lot of waiting, and a lot of working to keep your mind occupied when there's down time. There's also a lot of bad alcohol available and you work primarily in the dark. I am thankful for men like Leigh Fermor, who seemed to be a man of a dying breed: the aristocratic scholar, a man of literature, poetry, and travel, who appreciates music and meaningful conversation. But this book is not for someone looking for a rich accounting of a war experience, but rather the bones of reality from someone without a memory for sensory details.
Happy Reading!
April 24, 2021
Let me quote from the dust jacket blurb '...this book kept me up well past my bedtime: I couldn't go to sleep until I finished it"
Well, the blurb writer must have read a different book. Until the last 50 pages, nothing much happens. The principal characters, all of whom wrote extensive postwar memoirs, spend their time climbing up and down Cretan goat paths, drinking raki, and reading literature. The reader is treated to long discourses into the SOE operator's back stories going back to the 1930s. Plus you get interludes of the party scene in Cairo.
The author eschews context, providing little insight into how Crete played a role in the German war effort after its capture in May 1941. The author tells the story entirely as a synthesis of several SOE operators' personal histories and as such, does little to illuminate what was going on beyond the main characters.
Well, the blurb writer must have read a different book. Until the last 50 pages, nothing much happens. The principal characters, all of whom wrote extensive postwar memoirs, spend their time climbing up and down Cretan goat paths, drinking raki, and reading literature. The reader is treated to long discourses into the SOE operator's back stories going back to the 1930s. Plus you get interludes of the party scene in Cairo.
The author eschews context, providing little insight into how Crete played a role in the German war effort after its capture in May 1941. The author tells the story entirely as a synthesis of several SOE operators' personal histories and as such, does little to illuminate what was going on beyond the main characters.
April 22, 2020
This is an odd military history book. It reads as if the author couldn't quite make up his mind about what he wanted to write--A swashbuckling adventure tale? A carefully researched history? A series of short biographies? A full account of the Cretan resistance or just a focused history of the ill-advised kidnap? In the end Davis doesn't really decide, but gives us a bit of everything, and none of it done well enough to make you feel like you really understand what happened.
Rather than start with a pre-war history of Crete or details about the North Africa campaign and the roll-up to the German invasion, or even short accounts of other British guerilla wars like those of Stirling against Rommel, we get stories about the youthful escapades of key British soldiers who ended up "leading" the resistance on Crete (or more truthfully, trying to corral and coordinate Cretan resistance fighters, and steer them toward acting in the interests of Britain rather than their own). That fragmented and off-topic start is symptomatic of one of the book's major flaws: it treats the British figures who anchor this history as rollicking, do-no-wrong good ole boys, rather than the foolhardy and short-sighted misfits they really seem to have been. Unfortunately, the Cretans paid a high price for that "adventurous" approach to fighting the Germans. And, alas, that aspect of the story get short schrift. Instead, we get lots of info about the soldiers' raucous, drunken misadventures in Cairo and too much hero worship.
This is the first major work dealing with the war on Crete. And parts of it are indeed interesting. But "The Ariadne Objective" provides neither a full account of that war, nor a full account of the resistance fighting. It starts and stops abruptly, and jumps around in between. What could have been a major addition to WWII history ends up being a minor disappointment.
Rather than start with a pre-war history of Crete or details about the North Africa campaign and the roll-up to the German invasion, or even short accounts of other British guerilla wars like those of Stirling against Rommel, we get stories about the youthful escapades of key British soldiers who ended up "leading" the resistance on Crete (or more truthfully, trying to corral and coordinate Cretan resistance fighters, and steer them toward acting in the interests of Britain rather than their own). That fragmented and off-topic start is symptomatic of one of the book's major flaws: it treats the British figures who anchor this history as rollicking, do-no-wrong good ole boys, rather than the foolhardy and short-sighted misfits they really seem to have been. Unfortunately, the Cretans paid a high price for that "adventurous" approach to fighting the Germans. And, alas, that aspect of the story get short schrift. Instead, we get lots of info about the soldiers' raucous, drunken misadventures in Cairo and too much hero worship.
This is the first major work dealing with the war on Crete. And parts of it are indeed interesting. But "The Ariadne Objective" provides neither a full account of that war, nor a full account of the resistance fighting. It starts and stops abruptly, and jumps around in between. What could have been a major addition to WWII history ends up being a minor disappointment.
July 8, 2024
I picked this up expecting yet another entertaining, interesting story of SOE derring-do, which I knew I’d enjoy; I didn’t really expect to learn much new stuff, however. Shows what I know. I had known that the Germans took Crete by airborne assault and that their possession of that island helped their efforts in North Africa, but I had zero idea about the work of the Resistance there, and no clue that a German general had been kidnapped from there. Nor, despite being familiar with SOE operations in northern Europe, did I have a clue about the depth of the British establishment in Egypt and the Levant.
The use of Paddy Leigh-Fermor as a “main character” is well-done, the discussion of the social whirlwind of Tara society is unexpectedly engrossing, and the differentiation among the many, MANY Cretan Resistance fighters is deftly handled. The sheer amount of booze these people all consumed while conducting war-winning covert operations is breathtaking. All in all, this is a far more exciting story than I was expecting, one which is likely to spur more re-examination of the Mediterranean theater on my part.
April 29, 2021
Αδιάφορο βιβλίο για μια πολύ ενδιαφέρουσα σελίδα της Ελληνικής αντίστασης. Ευτυχώς που υπάρχουν οι τελευταίες 100 σελίδες, που αφορούν την απαγωγή του στρατηγού Κράιπε.
Είναι η δράση των μεμονωμένων Άγγλων της SOE στην Κρήτη, με ιδιαίτερο βάρος στο Λη Φέρμορ, τον Μος και Ρέντελ, με πολλές ανούσιες περιγραφές, πχ η ζωή στην βίλα Τάρα της Αιγύπτου, η ζωή της Ταρνόφσκα (μετέπειτα συζύγου του Μος) κλπ
"Ήταν σφάλμα - συναισθηματικό και αναληθές - να συνδέσεις υπερβολικά την αρχαία Ελλάδα με τους σύγχρονους Έλληνες. Σίγουρα όμως δεν μπορούσες να παραβλέψεις τη λαχτάρα των Ελλήνων για ανεξαρτησία και την έντονη αντιστασιακή παράδοση που διατηρούσαν ζωντανή από την οθωμανική κατοχή."
"Ένα εμπόδιο στο σχέδιο ήταν η διστακτικότητα των Κρητικών ανταρτών να συνεργαστούν στα σαμποτάζ. 'Ανατριχιάζουν ολόκληροι μόλις ακούγεται η λέξη' ανέφερε. Τα αντίποινα των Γερμανών ήταν ιδιαίτερα σκληρά. 'Δεν θέλουν να συμμετάσχουν'."
"Μην ψάχνεις άδικα να βρεις αύριο τι θενά γίνει, μ' από τις λίγες μέρες μας όποια σου δίνει μέρα η Τύχη καλοδέξου την και πες πως πως είναι κέρδος" (Οράτιος)
Είναι η δράση των μεμονωμένων Άγγλων της SOE στην Κρήτη, με ιδιαίτερο βάρος στο Λη Φέρμορ, τον Μος και Ρέντελ, με πολλές ανούσιες περιγραφές, πχ η ζωή στην βίλα Τάρα της Αιγύπτου, η ζωή της Ταρνόφσκα (μετέπειτα συζύγου του Μος) κλπ
"Ήταν σφάλμα - συναισθηματικό και αναληθές - να συνδέσεις υπερβολικά την αρχαία Ελλάδα με τους σύγχρονους Έλληνες. Σίγουρα όμως δεν μπορούσες να παραβλέψεις τη λαχτάρα των Ελλήνων για ανεξαρτησία και την έντονη αντιστασιακή παράδοση που διατηρούσαν ζωντανή από την οθωμανική κατοχή."
"Ένα εμπόδιο στο σχέδιο ήταν η διστακτικότητα των Κρητικών ανταρτών να συνεργαστούν στα σαμποτάζ. 'Ανατριχιάζουν ολόκληροι μόλις ακούγεται η λέξη' ανέφερε. Τα αντίποινα των Γερμανών ήταν ιδιαίτερα σκληρά. 'Δεν θέλουν να συμμετάσχουν'."
"Μην ψάχνεις άδικα να βρεις αύριο τι θενά γίνει, μ' από τις λίγες μέρες μας όποια σου δίνει μέρα η Τύχη καλοδέξου την και πες πως πως είναι κέρδος" (Οράτιος)
February 9, 2020
Enjoyed this book thoroughly, though I have to own up to being an avid reader of ww2 tales in Greece, so was already aware of some of the issues. Particularly how, according to historian Anthony Beevor, great pains were taken to avoid retaliations, and according to German military records many retaliations had little to do with the General's kidnapping. I am certainly hoping to make a visit to Villa Ariadne and see some of the locations referred to in the book, such is my admiration for it. 'The past is another country' has been said, and this book and the characters in it come from that different world in the not to distant past.
January 8, 2018
I enjoy reading this type of WWII history because it covers events rarely mentioned in the mainstream media who prefer to repeatedly cover ad nauseam the same well known battles and incidents. The UK did unbelievable and amazing things during the war. We need more books about their exploits. I'm always willing to read such books. This book was an amazing and enjoyable read!!!
October 19, 2021
A really fun summary about SOE's work in Crete against the Nazis, with a focus on the capture of a Nazi general; a well executed historical work that that is readable -- not dry. Made me really want to visit and hike around Crete.
July 15, 2020
The Ariadne Objective recounts the story of the hidden war on Crete carried out by guerrilla fighters (known as andartes) and British Special Operations Executive officers. The book begins with establishing the background for the British officers; all had study of Greek and broad travels in common. Next the book moves into the early years of the German occupation of Crete. During this time, John Pendlebury, who previously served in the cover role as vice-consul, worked to establish a resistance network on Crete. One of his right-hand men, Manoli Bandouvas, would go on to play a critical role in Allied operations on Crete as an andartes leader. After Pendlebury's death, an event with ramifications throughout the rest of the book, the main tale of the undercover operations switches to his replacements, Xan Fielding and Tom Dunbabin. Eventually, Patrick Leigh Fermor lands on Crete and joins Fielding and Dunbabin. Espionage and coordinating the andartes were the men's main job, as acts of sabotage led to repercussions against the Cretans. That said, there were still successful sabotage operations discussed, such as destruction of harbor mines and fuel depots. Two of the most important missions covered were the the extraction of the Italian General Carta and the planned abduction of the German general in charge of the island. About half of the book is dedicated to planning and conducting these missions. For the latter mission, William Stanley Moss joins Leigh Fermor and plays a critical role in both the planning and actual mission.
This the best history title I have read in over a year. The introductory material on the officers' and andartes' backgrounds firmly established them as common people, not mythical figures, while demonstrating their qualifications for their wartime roles. Many of the SOE officer's outlandish plans were reminiscent of the plans Colonel Hogan devised on Hogan's Heroes (one of my favorite shows). And the plans actually worked! If that is unbelievable, on more than one occasion Leigh Fermor attended parties with Germans and was not once suspected of being British! Then many of the men's off-duty antics, both in the mountains of Crete and on a long furlough in Cairo, reminded me of what Hawkeye and Trapper or Hawkeye and BJ did on M*A*S*H (another favorite)! I also liked how the book balanced mission planning with the actual missions. I enjoyed understanding the thought process and tactics, something I do not think many books go into on the level I desire. In all this appealed to both the historian in me and entertained me; the military operations are worthy of study while the social situations add unexpected humor.
I will note, I did receive my copy via a Goodreads First Reads win. I thought I would enjoy The Ariadne Objective based on the summary; it far exceeded my expectations.
This the best history title I have read in over a year. The introductory material on the officers' and andartes' backgrounds firmly established them as common people, not mythical figures, while demonstrating their qualifications for their wartime roles. Many of the SOE officer's outlandish plans were reminiscent of the plans Colonel Hogan devised on Hogan's Heroes (one of my favorite shows). And the plans actually worked! If that is unbelievable, on more than one occasion Leigh Fermor attended parties with Germans and was not once suspected of being British! Then many of the men's off-duty antics, both in the mountains of Crete and on a long furlough in Cairo, reminded me of what Hawkeye and Trapper or Hawkeye and BJ did on M*A*S*H (another favorite)! I also liked how the book balanced mission planning with the actual missions. I enjoyed understanding the thought process and tactics, something I do not think many books go into on the level I desire. In all this appealed to both the historian in me and entertained me; the military operations are worthy of study while the social situations add unexpected humor.
I will note, I did receive my copy via a Goodreads First Reads win. I thought I would enjoy The Ariadne Objective based on the summary; it far exceeded my expectations.
May 14, 2014
I won this on Goodreads First Reads - thank you et al
Wes Davis will gain a following of WWII history fans, history fans in general or readers newly converted to the history genre. His writing is detailed and exciting. You forget this is a nonfictional account and not the set of some spy thriller or behind the scenes of a special intelligence documentary.��
Davis intimately introduces four incredible men responsible for carrying out a covert operation preventing Hilter from overtaking and dominating Crete. During the Battle of Crete it was discovered of the German plan to gain control of this island, luckily through the efforts of these British intelligence officers, the enemies plan was squashed.��
The Ariadne Objective revisits the Battle of Crete and the forces in the trenches. Showcasing four very brave men infiltrating a plot that could have altered history. Risking their lives, sacrificing their lives alongside the Creten partisans we learn of the backdoor spying, and covert operations leading to the success of the British agents. Legends were made of the four brave agents becoming household names with success of their mission Patrick Leigh Fermor, John Pendlebury, Xan Fielding and Sandy Rende. Their unrelenting bravery, tenaciousness and sheer determination allowed them to enjoy promising futures in their respective fields.��
Davis does a magnificent job of recounting the Battle of Crete as well as paying homage to four brave individuals. Well written, easy to read as well as attention grabbing. A must read for all, great way to familiarize or reintroduce yourself with the events known and unknown of WWII.��
Wes Davis will gain a following of WWII history fans, history fans in general or readers newly converted to the history genre. His writing is detailed and exciting. You forget this is a nonfictional account and not the set of some spy thriller or behind the scenes of a special intelligence documentary.��
Davis intimately introduces four incredible men responsible for carrying out a covert operation preventing Hilter from overtaking and dominating Crete. During the Battle of Crete it was discovered of the German plan to gain control of this island, luckily through the efforts of these British intelligence officers, the enemies plan was squashed.��
The Ariadne Objective revisits the Battle of Crete and the forces in the trenches. Showcasing four very brave men infiltrating a plot that could have altered history. Risking their lives, sacrificing their lives alongside the Creten partisans we learn of the backdoor spying, and covert operations leading to the success of the British agents. Legends were made of the four brave agents becoming household names with success of their mission Patrick Leigh Fermor, John Pendlebury, Xan Fielding and Sandy Rende. Their unrelenting bravery, tenaciousness and sheer determination allowed them to enjoy promising futures in their respective fields.��
Davis does a magnificent job of recounting the Battle of Crete as well as paying homage to four brave individuals. Well written, easy to read as well as attention grabbing. A must read for all, great way to familiarize or reintroduce yourself with the events known and unknown of WWII.��
January 29, 2014
Having recently married a wonderful woman of half-Cretan descent, I was motivated to read The Ariadne Objective because of what I perceived as a gulf in the popular history of the Greek island. It seems the tales people tell go straight from ancient history to modern-day Athens, with all its austerity, rioting and the baggage that comes with.
So in that sense, it was refreshing that Wes Davis went to the trouble of spinning this yarn about John Pendlebury, Leigh Former and William Moss. The only trouble is, the telling of the yarn itself isn't terribly good, and the antics of the British officers were themselves ill-advised.
Davis mentions the main characters' affection for Hemingway several times in the book, and I can't help but wonder if he didn't actually style it in a similar fashion on purpose. Former and Moss are described in slightly more swashbuckling fashion than a Hemingway narrator conventionally is, but the depictions of the marches and Cretans themselves could have been lifted straight from For Whom The Bell Tolls or A Farewell To Arms.
Whether that is how the men pictured themselves is a good question, but the absence of a German perspective, or indeed even a symptathetic Cretan one, leads me to believe that it is Davis who did this deliberately.
What also makes me turn against the book was the frivolity of the men and the unnecessary nature of the mission. The way Pendlebury and Former in particular are described evokes a strong sense of that Imperial entitlement. While that might work fine in the bars and seedy areas of Cairo, it's borderline detestable in the context of an organized resistance on Crete.
At every turn, these guys were bringing about harsh reprisals on their Cretan hosts. And for what? To kidnap the one Nazi general who WASN'T tried for war crimes? Davis tries to make the case in the epilogue that the kidnapping was partially responsible for the stability on Crete during the Greek civil war. But the truth is that the island, homogenous and self-sustaining as it is, was never going to be a hotbed for unrest.
So what did the merry band do beyond provoking retaliations against innocents? They armed and motivated cattle thieves. Lovely.
In any case, I certainly learned a lot from the book, though perhaps not the things I imagined I would.
So in that sense, it was refreshing that Wes Davis went to the trouble of spinning this yarn about John Pendlebury, Leigh Former and William Moss. The only trouble is, the telling of the yarn itself isn't terribly good, and the antics of the British officers were themselves ill-advised.
Davis mentions the main characters' affection for Hemingway several times in the book, and I can't help but wonder if he didn't actually style it in a similar fashion on purpose. Former and Moss are described in slightly more swashbuckling fashion than a Hemingway narrator conventionally is, but the depictions of the marches and Cretans themselves could have been lifted straight from For Whom The Bell Tolls or A Farewell To Arms.
Whether that is how the men pictured themselves is a good question, but the absence of a German perspective, or indeed even a symptathetic Cretan one, leads me to believe that it is Davis who did this deliberately.
What also makes me turn against the book was the frivolity of the men and the unnecessary nature of the mission. The way Pendlebury and Former in particular are described evokes a strong sense of that Imperial entitlement. While that might work fine in the bars and seedy areas of Cairo, it's borderline detestable in the context of an organized resistance on Crete.
At every turn, these guys were bringing about harsh reprisals on their Cretan hosts. And for what? To kidnap the one Nazi general who WASN'T tried for war crimes? Davis tries to make the case in the epilogue that the kidnapping was partially responsible for the stability on Crete during the Greek civil war. But the truth is that the island, homogenous and self-sustaining as it is, was never going to be a hotbed for unrest.
So what did the merry band do beyond provoking retaliations against innocents? They armed and motivated cattle thieves. Lovely.
In any case, I certainly learned a lot from the book, though perhaps not the things I imagined I would.
October 28, 2013
It was a colorful group that the Nazis found to be a thorn in their side. Not only were they devilishly tricky but they really were wreaking different sorts of havoc as they traveled behind enemy lines carrying out guerrilla activities. Take Leigh Fermor for example. Prior to the war Fermor , as a “student” (really a bum but he was discouraged from citing that as his occupation when traveling. As it turns out “student” provided Fermor with a passport into homes that would otherwise have been off limits), ventured across Germany on foot on his trip to Istanbul. Along the way he witnessed firsthand the changing atmosphere among Germans brought on by the Nazis. That was eventually put behind Fermor when his journey ended but when war broke out he joined the British military. He wasn’t a very apt soldier at first but advanced the ranks when his eccentric trip was made known. And from there everything is history. He was one of many who would go on to defend Crete from a German invasion in clever and sometime humorous operations.
Before beginning this book I was half-afraid it would be one of those books full of technicalities and strategies, which this reader finds boring. Not so! It was a pleasant surprise to discover a human story as Wes Davis painted the colorless individuals in with very colorful characters! With stories likes this people tend to get lost in the big plans and battles so I consider this a job well done. Mr. Davis brought out the human and at time chivalrous aspects of World War II. And of course there is a massive amount of information brought to light that I had no idea about. When it comes to World War II I tend to concentrate on the ships/shipwrecks and the different types of escapes, but in an effort to widen my reading habits and tastes (not to mention the summary sounded like page turner) I requested this one. So glad that the request was approved.
DISCLAIMER: In accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising” we would like to note that we received an electronic copy of “The Ariadne Objective” from Edelweiss provided by the publishers, Crown Publishing, in exchange for our honest review.
reetchampionbookreviews.wordpress.com
Before beginning this book I was half-afraid it would be one of those books full of technicalities and strategies, which this reader finds boring. Not so! It was a pleasant surprise to discover a human story as Wes Davis painted the colorless individuals in with very colorful characters! With stories likes this people tend to get lost in the big plans and battles so I consider this a job well done. Mr. Davis brought out the human and at time chivalrous aspects of World War II. And of course there is a massive amount of information brought to light that I had no idea about. When it comes to World War II I tend to concentrate on the ships/shipwrecks and the different types of escapes, but in an effort to widen my reading habits and tastes (not to mention the summary sounded like page turner) I requested this one. So glad that the request was approved.
DISCLAIMER: In accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising” we would like to note that we received an electronic copy of “The Ariadne Objective” from Edelweiss provided by the publishers, Crown Publishing, in exchange for our honest review.
reetchampionbookreviews.wordpress.com
September 25, 2014
This is not a gripping thriller that glamorizes war, rather an intimate narrative of the hard realities of war, even for those in elite teams. Davis puts extensive focus on the main characters of the story, their pasts, struggles, joys, shortcomings, and personal challenges. It was delightful to get to know each person so well as the stage was being set for their adventure, before that adventure had actually begun.
Davis draws much of his information from personal papers and diaries, which gives this work a wonderfully unique richness and immediacy. The specifics and details paint a vivid picture. Even minor characters, setting, and events are described with enough detail to make the story come alive. It feels like your grandfather could be telling you the story from his actual experience.
The workmanlike writing can be a bit wordy and awkward at times, but overall the story is well told and flows smoothly.
I loved being in on the planning of the missions, the discussions over various options when decisions had to be made, and the way they improvised when things didn’t go as planned. I would have liked a bit more overview of what was concurrently happening on other fronts in the war at the same time, but not including that information does lend more authenticity, because the characters themselves probably didn’t know that information at the time, either.
This is not popular fiction written for those looking for an adrenaline pumping thriller. It certainly covers the thrills and danger of war, but also the interminable waiting, boredom, disappointments, hunger, constant discomfort, and endless challenges big and small of working in the field during wartime. It also tells of the joys and fun they created for themselves between missions, and the humorous moments that occur when least expected.
As another reviewer stated, this is narrative non-fiction at its best.
Davis draws much of his information from personal papers and diaries, which gives this work a wonderfully unique richness and immediacy. The specifics and details paint a vivid picture. Even minor characters, setting, and events are described with enough detail to make the story come alive. It feels like your grandfather could be telling you the story from his actual experience.
The workmanlike writing can be a bit wordy and awkward at times, but overall the story is well told and flows smoothly.
I loved being in on the planning of the missions, the discussions over various options when decisions had to be made, and the way they improvised when things didn’t go as planned. I would have liked a bit more overview of what was concurrently happening on other fronts in the war at the same time, but not including that information does lend more authenticity, because the characters themselves probably didn’t know that information at the time, either.
This is not popular fiction written for those looking for an adrenaline pumping thriller. It certainly covers the thrills and danger of war, but also the interminable waiting, boredom, disappointments, hunger, constant discomfort, and endless challenges big and small of working in the field during wartime. It also tells of the joys and fun they created for themselves between missions, and the humorous moments that occur when least expected.
As another reviewer stated, this is narrative non-fiction at its best.
December 13, 2013
The Ariadne Objective is an excellent addition to the literature of World War II. Wes Davis takes us into the events of World War II that occurred on the island of Crete. It is a little known battlefield between the British and Germans. It also gives us a look at the role of the Cretans in the guerilla warfare that took place on Crete.
This is the story of how British intelligence and in particular John Pendlebury an archaeologist and Patrick Leigh Fermor whom the author follows as a young man in his foot tour of Europe from the Netherlands to Greece before war breaks out. This trip prepared Fermor for working with the Cretans because he merged himself into the various cultures that he passed through as a young man traveling in Europe. At least it prepared him for all of the hiking or walking that he would later do in the mountains of Crete.
It is a story of wanting to hurt the German war effort, but at the same time protect the citizens of Crete, which at times suffered at the hands of the occupiers when the guerrilla forces would strike them in some way. The British officers working on Crete were accepted and in many cases hidden by the Cretan population. The story finale builds up to the audacious plan to kidnap a German officer.
I would like to have seen a map of Crete in the book so that the reader could trace the routes that the British and Cretan used in the mountains. It is a very good look at a battle area that most histories of World War II overlook. It gives a glimpse of the working of the British intelligence service in the war and the unsung heroes of unknown battles.
This is the story of how British intelligence and in particular John Pendlebury an archaeologist and Patrick Leigh Fermor whom the author follows as a young man in his foot tour of Europe from the Netherlands to Greece before war breaks out. This trip prepared Fermor for working with the Cretans because he merged himself into the various cultures that he passed through as a young man traveling in Europe. At least it prepared him for all of the hiking or walking that he would later do in the mountains of Crete.
It is a story of wanting to hurt the German war effort, but at the same time protect the citizens of Crete, which at times suffered at the hands of the occupiers when the guerrilla forces would strike them in some way. The British officers working on Crete were accepted and in many cases hidden by the Cretan population. The story finale builds up to the audacious plan to kidnap a German officer.
I would like to have seen a map of Crete in the book so that the reader could trace the routes that the British and Cretan used in the mountains. It is a very good look at a battle area that most histories of World War II overlook. It gives a glimpse of the working of the British intelligence service in the war and the unsung heroes of unknown battles.
July 5, 2021
A well-paced and well-researched narrative of the end of World War II on the island of Crete. I enjoyed the set-up of having individual chapters dealing with the background of each main character. Patrick Leigh Fermor is a favorite author of mine, and he figures primarily in the book. Wes Davis was able to include additional facts and new insight into Fermor's life and involvement in this chapter in Crete history.
June 1, 2014
I love the kind of books that take one small piece of an historic event and break it down so that people with very little knowledge about the subject can understand a bit of the larger concept. That’s just what Wes Davis did in his new book about the British operatives at work on the Greek Isle of Crete during the occupation by the Nazis during WWII. Volumes and volumes have been written about WWII and I’ve read some of them but this one, with its honing in on such a small aspect of the monumental event was very well done and a great read. Oh and it didn’t hurt that the story was centered on Patrick Leigh Fermor, who went on to become a celebrated British travel writer, and his role in the abduction of a German general from Crete and his transport to Cairo and a British prisoner of war camp.
It wasn’t the kind of book that had me madly turning pages because the work in these kinds of situations is methodical and sometimes slow. It was interesting how long it takes for the plan to develop and I had to wonder how they didn’t get discouraged with the hold-ups caused mostly by weather and the conditions in the Mediterranean. It was fascinating too, to see how the British operatives used the Cretan partisans who wanted desperately to free their country from Nazi occupation and risked everything to make it happen. Narrative non-fiction at its best.
Now I will happily continue Patrick Leigh Fermor’s story because I happen to own two of his travel memoirs and he seems like just the sort of guy I’d like to follow. Highly recommended.
It wasn’t the kind of book that had me madly turning pages because the work in these kinds of situations is methodical and sometimes slow. It was interesting how long it takes for the plan to develop and I had to wonder how they didn’t get discouraged with the hold-ups caused mostly by weather and the conditions in the Mediterranean. It was fascinating too, to see how the British operatives used the Cretan partisans who wanted desperately to free their country from Nazi occupation and risked everything to make it happen. Narrative non-fiction at its best.
Now I will happily continue Patrick Leigh Fermor’s story because I happen to own two of his travel memoirs and he seems like just the sort of guy I’d like to follow. Highly recommended.
December 6, 2013
Wes Davis' "The Ariadne Objective" tells the true, lesser known story of the various British spy operations operating on the island of Crete during World War II culminating in a plan to infiltrate the Villa Ariadne and capture a high ranking German official. The book mainly follows Patrick "Paddy" Leigh Fermor, a soldier who's wanderlust and travel writings, combined with his knowledge of the Greek language, made him the perfect candidate to more or less lead the operation.
The book is broken up into two sections. The first part is more or less a collection on backgrounds on the various soldiers (with emphasis on Paddy) and some of the early operations on Crete, the second being more solely focused on the main plan to capture a high ranking German official. With so many different soldiers and Cretans it can get a little tricky to follow at times in the first half, but the second half is a lot more streamlined and easier to follow.
Overall, the book is quite interesting with its focus on the soldiers and their unique traits and personalities and also highlights a theatre of WWII that most people weren't aware of. However, I don't feel like the importance of Crete to the war was really laid out very well. Ultimately, though, this doesn't take away from the enjoyment and appreciation of what the men involved accomplished.
Note: I received a free digital copy from NetGalley
The book is broken up into two sections. The first part is more or less a collection on backgrounds on the various soldiers (with emphasis on Paddy) and some of the early operations on Crete, the second being more solely focused on the main plan to capture a high ranking German official. With so many different soldiers and Cretans it can get a little tricky to follow at times in the first half, but the second half is a lot more streamlined and easier to follow.
Overall, the book is quite interesting with its focus on the soldiers and their unique traits and personalities and also highlights a theatre of WWII that most people weren't aware of. However, I don't feel like the importance of Crete to the war was really laid out very well. Ultimately, though, this doesn't take away from the enjoyment and appreciation of what the men involved accomplished.
Note: I received a free digital copy from NetGalley
December 20, 2014
The Ariadne Objective is the story of Crete during World War II after the Germans invaded in a bloody battle followed by a brutal occupation where male civilians were routinely rounded up and killed by firing squads. If the Germans had no interest in the hearts and minds of the people, the British intelligence did. Scholarly men who learned Greek in school worked with the Cretans to perform daring raids and acts of sabotage.
The book will appeal to WWII buffs looking for a story they haven’t heard already. I liked it as an unusual pick for my British reading in 2014, the year of my first trip to England.
More thoughts on my blog The Ariadne Objective
The book will appeal to WWII buffs looking for a story they haven’t heard already. I liked it as an unusual pick for my British reading in 2014, the year of my first trip to England.
More thoughts on my blog The Ariadne Objective
October 31, 2015
First of all, I spent 18 months (1969-70) on Crete with the U. S. Air Force. I have a tremendous amount of respect for the people of Crete.
I wanted to read this book because I had read another book by Patrick Leigh Fermor's friend W. Stanley Moss. So, I did have some knowledge of this kidnapping of German General Kreipe.
This book is excellent in my opinion. It has a lot of detail about Fermor's life leading up to WWII. Wes Davis paints a fine picture of the characters participating in this mission. He kept my interest from start to finish. I wish I had known about this mission 45 years ago when I was a young Air Force Lieutenant. I would have made an effort to meet Moss and Fermor.
I wanted to read this book because I had read another book by Patrick Leigh Fermor's friend W. Stanley Moss. So, I did have some knowledge of this kidnapping of German General Kreipe.
This book is excellent in my opinion. It has a lot of detail about Fermor's life leading up to WWII. Wes Davis paints a fine picture of the characters participating in this mission. He kept my interest from start to finish. I wish I had known about this mission 45 years ago when I was a young Air Force Lieutenant. I would have made an effort to meet Moss and Fermor.
December 26, 2013
This well-crafted crafted book is mostly for Hellenes, or those who admire the Cretans who never surrendered to Hitler in WWII. Much detail, with names, of guerillas on Crete, and the British SOE heroes who constantly placed their lives on the line in the most severe physical conditions. The book retells the story of Patrick Leigh Fermor's escapade: capturing a German general and managing to get him off the island to Cairo. Some will know of Fermor...a literary giant, and one brave man. The detailed history, including the party life in Cairo when on leave, is highly interesting.
February 19, 2014
I loved this book. I loved how in depth it got into the lives of the people who fought to free Crete from the Nazis. I loved how intense it could be at certain parts. I can easily say that I love this book. It was very eye opening about the harsh reality that war is not like how it's depicted in the movies.
March 12, 2016
Interesting Story of Crete during WWII
This book really keeps your interest all the way through it. I was never aware of the fact the German general in command of Crete was kidnapped. As you read the book, it is easy to see that it would've been made into a movie. It is also fascinating to see how the underground worked in Crete during the war.
This book really keeps your interest all the way through it. I was never aware of the fact the German general in command of Crete was kidnapped. As you read the book, it is easy to see that it would've been made into a movie. It is also fascinating to see how the underground worked in Crete during the war.
July 8, 2014
Great story but not told in the most dramatic way. Research draws heavily on work of others, including the principals.
June 21, 2014
Interesting, little-known slice of history. Workmanlike writing. Great introduction to Crete's geography.
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