With an active marketplace of over 175 million items, use the alibris advanced search page to find any item you are looking for through the advanced search, you can find items by searching specific terms such as title, artist, song title, genre, etc or you can narrow. Right after a piece of cake and before damned good show and hullo russia, goodbye england. This book has a weatlh of curious, quirky characters who resolve into very real people with all the hopes, dreams and fears of young men of that era. Derek robinsons most popular book is piece of cake. Jan 01, 1983 reading this book isnt a piece of cake. However he cannot counteract his readers knowledge of the big. Piece of cake was the first derek robinson novel i encountered and it most certainly has not been the last. Quercus books owns the ebook rights to all my fiction backlist, available through amazonkindle. Derek robinson all the tropes wiki fandom powered by wikia.
The book follows the exploits of the fictional hornet squadron and its. Set during world war ii, this book is an account of the war as lived. Crisps taut yesterdays gone 1983 and robinsons own goshawk squadron. A piece of cake is a short, gripping story of life in wartime from roald dahl, the master of the shocking tale. I know that for some this book is like marmite in that you either love or hate it. Jul 26, 2016 buy the paperback book piece of cake by derek robinson at indigo. And sometimes fighter command, with its obsolete tactics and stiff doctrines, is the real menace. As in previous robinson novels, much of the focus is upon the fictional hornet squadron, now led by fanny barton and equipped with p40 tomahawks. Piece of cake raf quartet, book 1 by derek robinson book cover, description, publication history.
Quite simply it s one of the best books on war ive read. Quercus books owns the e book rights to all my fiction backlist, available through amazonkindle. Robinsons book is very exciting and often, in gallowshumour mode, very funny. I own the screen rights to any remake of piece of cake. For the most part the men are competent fliers but there is little action in the first several months. In 1988, lwt made a sixpart television series ofpiece of cake and they own the rights to that production. Robinson follows the rafs hornet squadron from september 1939 to september 1940. As with all robinsons novels, the raw dialogue, rich black humour and brilliantly rendered, adrenalinpacked dogfights bring the battle of britain, and the brave few. With robinson s books there is no such thing as safety or security. In piece of cake, aviation author derek robinson uses the small group genre by focuses on the notional hornet squadron as a means to bring to light many of the royal air forces doctrinal, equipment and personnel deficiencies in the first year of the second war. Derek robinson really gets inside the pilots heads and let you know exactly what they are thinking and doing. Quite simply its one of the best books on war ive read. Derek robinson is the author of piece of cake a fictional novel about an raf hurricane squadron s exploits during the early days of ww2 and the battle of britain. Piece of cake by derek robinson and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at.
Hijinks are all very well on the ground, but once in a hurricanes cockpit, the best killers keep their wits close. Piece of cake album, the 3rd album by seattle band mudhoney piece of cake vengeance album, an album by the band vengeance piece of cake novel, a 1983 novel by derek robinson about a royal air force fighter squadron during the first years of world war ii piece of cake tv series, a sixpart television. Derek robinson has been writing wartime ripping yarns his own words for over 40 years now, and piece of cake is a welcome reissue of the opening adventure from. Piece of cake raf quartet, book 1 by derek robinson. Buy the paperback book piece of cake by derek robinson at indigo. Read piece of cake by derek robinson available from rakuten kobo. Although a good clean fight shares some characters in common with an earlier book, piece of cake, and it s also about the fictional hornet squadron, it s not a sequel in the traditional sense. Piece of cake is much more than just a very well written war novel which it is. In piece of cake, aviation author derek robinson uses the small group genre by focuses on the notional hornet squadron as a means to bring to light many of the royal air force s doctrinal, equipment and personnel deficiencies in the first year of the second war. It was later made into the 1988 television serial piece of cake. Certainly those who have read the book will no doubt have created pictures in their minds eyes of what the characters should look like, and question certain events or omissions of events in the light of robinson s book. Buy piece of cake by derek robinson with free delivery. But the satisfaction that it gives is very much like a piece of cake.
The actions are easy to understand, coming from a person who has no idea how aviation works. He wrote four novels about the rfcraf in world war i, three about world war ii, and several more about spies and secret agents. The lives and loves of the men of raf hornet squadron who are transferred to france at the outbreak of world wat ii in september 1939. The film traces the love lives of as well the class differences between the soldiers and follows how a new leader takes the young men to battle in france. The books length and early difficulties prevent it from being a 5star book, but it is a solid 4star, and i will certainly look for more of derek robinsons work. Derek robinson born 12 april 1932 is an english writer. Although a good clean fight shares some characters in common with an earlier book, piece of cake, and its also about the fictional hornet squadron, its not a sequel in the traditional sense. From the phoney war of 1939 to the battle of britain in 1940, the pilots of hornet squadron learn their lessons the hard way. Other works include hullo russia, goodbye england, about the british pilots who would have nuked russia in any outbreak of world war iii. Derek robinson is a british author best known for his military aviation novels full of black humour.
With hornets falling like flies, the battle of britain is no piece of cake. In a piece of cake, roald dahl, one of the world s favourite authors, tells the horrific story of a pilot whose plane crashes in the desert. Piece of cake by ian toynton ian toynton, tom burlinson. Im in the middle of a good clean fight, the second book of derek robinsons raf royal air force quartet. Piece of cake book by derek robinson 7 available editions. The masterpiece theater production of derek robinsons piece of cake tells the tale of the raf hornet squadron during the early days of the second world war. Crisps taut yesterdays gone 1983 and robinsons own goshawk squadron 1972, this novel takes a deglamorizing approach to the raf in ww iiwith a mixture of light black comedy and bitter authenticity that begins brilliantly, then runs out of steam somewhat. Piece of cake geoff taylor peter davies, 1956 shot down on 18th october 1943, this is an account of geoffs pow activities. Nov 02, 2001 nicholas lezard on hornet s sting, derek robinson s dark tale of air combat and frayed moral fibre in the first world war. The masterpiece theater production of derek robinson s piece of cake tells the tale of the raf hornet squadron during the early days of the second world war. As with all robinsons novels, the raw dialogue, rich black humour and brilliantly rendered, adrenalinpacked dogfights bring the battle of britain, and the brave few who fought it, to life. Jul 26, 2016 piece of cake is much more than just a very well written war novel which it is. He has also written several books on some of the more sordid events in the history of bristol, his home town, as well as guides to rugby. Get free shipping on piece of cake by derek robinson, from.
Interesting book i read a nonfiction book called fighter boys and it was nice to see that some of the dramatic strands in the book piece of cake actually has it s heart in fact. Piece of cake by derek robinson books hachette australia. Discover delightful childrens books with prime book box, a subscription that delivers new books every 1, 2, or 3 months new customers receive 15% off your. Derek robinsons novel, a good clean fight, follows the remaining characters from his earlier piece of cake to the north african desert in may 1942. As with all robinson s novels, the raw dialogue, rich black humour and brilliantly rendered, adrenalinpacked dogfights bring the battle of britain, and the brave few who fought it, to life. The series is based on the 1983 novel piece of cake, by derek robinson. A piece of cake book by derek robinson thriftbooks. Having read all of the raf quartet starting with piece of cake, i knew what to expect from derek robinsons goshawk squadron. Piece of cake is a 1983 novel by derek robinson which follows a fictional royal air force. Derek robinson orion bringing you news from our world. Derek robinsons piece of cake follows the story of hornet sqdn. Derek robinson has 56 books on goodreads with 5870 ratings. With robinsons books there is no such thing as safety or security. A sequel implies a certain safety, the security of routine.
Piece of cake ebook by derek robinson 9780857385628. The book was made into a tv series in the 1980 s and was criticised by some who disliked it s less than heroic portrayal of the pilots, preferring the more traditional mythical. The relative rarity of airworthy hurricanes in the late 1980s precluded their use in the television series. In a piece of cake, roald dahl, one of the worlds favourite authors, tells the horrific story of a pilot whose plane crashes in the desert. In a way, piece of cake is a lot like the british experience in world war two. Use features like bookmarks, note taking and highlighting while reading piece of cake. Nicholas lezard on hornets sting, derek robinsons dark tale of air combat and frayed moral fibre in the first world war.
Hornets sting by derek robinson books the guardian. Piece of cake by derek robinson goodreads share book. Piece of cake by derek robinson, 9780857050939, available at book depository with free delivery worldwide. So wanted recommendation if im going to just read only one more, which one. Other works include hullo russia, goodbye england, about. Hijinks are all very well on the ground, but once in a hurricane s cockpit, the best killers keep their wits close. From the phoney war of 1939 to the battle of britain in 1940, the pilots of hornet squadron learn their lessons the hard. The book was made into a tv series in the 1980s and was criticised by some who disliked its less than heroic portrayal of the pilots, preferring the. He broke from type to produce kentucky blues, a generational novel about. Jul 26, 2016 piece of cake by derek robinson, 9780857050939, available at book depository with free delivery worldwide.
He wrote three novels about world war one, three about world war two, and several more about spies and secret agents. Click and collect from your local waterstones or get free uk delivery on orders over. I have a lovehate relationship with his books, enjoying the descriptions of flying, the historical research and the unsentimental approach to death in the plot, whilst hating the overcooked cynicism that borders on. Derek robinson born 12 april 1932 is a british author best known for his military aviation novels full of black humour. Buy piece of cake by derek robinson from waterstones today. The book s length and early difficulties prevent it from being a 5star book, but it is a solid 4star, and i will certainly look for more of derek robinson s work. Piece of cake tv miniseries 1988 piece of cake tv mini.
Piece of cake and millions of other books are available for amazon kindle. Certainly those who have read the book will no doubt have created pictures in their minds eyes of what the characters should look like, and question certain events or omissions of events in the light of robinsons book. In the book, the squadron is equipped with hurricanes. Chronicles the training and seasoning of a squadron of young r. Hornet squadron is in the shifting sands of the sahara and the shifting fortunes of war, as the armies of germany and britain push each other back and forth across north africa. Derek robinson s novel, a good clean fight, follows the remaining characters from his earlier piece of cake to the north african desert in may 1942. Piece of cake describes how a group of young men change in the course of about eighteen months. It was later made into the 1988 television serial piece of cake although a work of fiction, the novel purports to be as historically accurate as possible. I likely dont have time to read them all way too many others in the queue. Although a work of fiction, the novel purports to be as historically accurate as possible. Piece of cake is a 1983 novel by derek robinson which follows a fictional royal air force fighter squadron through the first year of world war ii, and the battle of britain. Derek robinson is also well known for his goshawk squadron, a similarly bitter combat novel set in wwi, although that one is less polished and developed than this book. Download it once and read it on your kindle device, pc, phones or tablets. Derek robinson s acclaimed first world war trilogy and piece of cake have established him as the world s best aviation writer and one of the top authors of war fiction.
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