Wednesday 31 October 2012

Iceland's Bell


(Chapter 19, page 122:  ...in the novel Iceland’s Bell...  *)

Iceland's Bell is a historical novel by Nobel prize-winning author Halldór Laxness. The novel tells the story of Jón Hreggviðsson and his battle with the Danish authorities in the 18th Century. Hreggviðsson, the pitch-black haired convict, concise in speech in the tradition of the ancient sagas, is sentenced to death for the murder of the king’s executioner. Iceland was an oppressed Danish colony, suffering under extreme poverty, famines, and plagues.

Another historical reference from the novel "Vulture's Lair" by Icelandic writer Hallur Hallsson. 



Book Description

5 April 2012
A gripping political thriller set a few years into the future when the EU has become a fully federal superstate. A political elite out of control. A lone man seeking the truth Murder, mayhem and intrigue leading to the Vulture's Lair Brussels. The highest ranking Icelandic official at the United States of Europe, Solman Smithson, hears the voice of his old friend Krummi, who is fighting off armed guards. Krummi and Solman grew up together in the Westman Islands but while Solman became a bureaucrat, Krummi went to sea as one of Iceland's last fishermen. The Vulture is looking down on its prey. The chance encounter takes place as the new president, Erich Devereux, is installed into power. But rumours circulate that corrupt votes put him in power. Murders and violent attacks on journalists and academics proliferate in an apparently unconnected way. And as momentum builds in Iceland for independence from the USE the tempo of violence and intrigue quickens. The Vulture moves toward its prey. Fate decrees that only the big fisherman from the Westman Islands stands in the way of the dark forces of chaos. But can a fisherman from Iceland work out what is really going on. And can he survive long enough to make a difference. The Vulture closes in.

Tuesday 30 October 2012

LANCASTERS ENTER SERVICE, 1942


 

The mighty Avro Lancaster bomber entered service with the RAF in 1942 and served to the end of the war. In that time it flew 156,000 sorties and dropped 619,000 tons of bombs. It also dropped food parcels into occupied Holland in early 1945, with permission from the Germans. 

from "Guy gibson vc" by John Fareham
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Book Description

28 Mar 2012 Heroes of the RAF
Thrilling biography of the man who led the Dambusters Raid. Guy Gibson was chosen to lead the great Dambusters Raid of 1943 as he had already proven himself to be a skilled pilot and a magnificent leader of men. Having joined the RAF in 1936, Gibson was a bomber pilot when war broke out. He won a DFC in July 1940 then, having completed a tour of operations volunteered for Fighter Command and flew nightfighters on 99 sorites during which he was awarded a bar to his DFC and the DSO. He then returned to Bomber Command and flew 46 more missions before being chosen to form and command No.617 Squadron for the Dambusters Raid. After a period off operations, Gibson returned to Bomber Command to act as a Pathfinder. He was killed on one such raid in September 1944. This book looks at the life and career of the man who led the most famous bombing raid of World War II. It is a gripping account of his life and exploits, revealing new and little known facts about Guy Gibson for the first time