COLDITZ - Prisoners of the Castle (First edition - signed by the author)

Ben Macintyre

ISBN 10: 0241408520 / ISBN 13: 9780241408520

Published by Viking (an imprint of Penguin Books), London, 2022

About this Item

First impression of the true first edition, with '001' on the printer's page. This copy has been flat-signed by the author in black felt-tip pen on the title page. With 32 pages of photographs. ***Near fine in black cloth-covered boards with black titles to the spine. The boards are clean and unmarked. No bumps or creases. No rubbing. Corners sharp. Page block edges clean. No reading lean to the book. Internally also near fine with no inscriptions (other than the author's signature). No foxing. Pages clean. Spine tight. ***In a near fine colour-illustrated dustwrapper, which has not been price-clipped, retaining the original publisher's printed price of £25.00. The edges of the dustwrapper are just very slightly rubbed, but with no creasing, chips or tears, and no fading. Dustwrapper bright. ***353 pages including A Note on Sources, Index and Acknowledgements at the back of the book. 242mm x 160mm. ***'In a forbidding gothic castle on a hilltop deep in Nazi Germany, an unlikely band of British officers spent the Second World War plotting daring escapes from their German captors - or so the myth of Colditz has been told, unchallenged for seventy years. But that tale contains only part of the truth. The astonishing inside story, revealed here for the first time by bestselling historian Ben Macintyre, is a thrilling tale of the indomitable human spirit, but also one of class conflict and sexual liaisons, bullying and espionage, insanity and farce. From eminent officers - some of the greatest escapers of all - to their long-suffering orderlies, the prisoners of Colditz Castle created an eccentric world within a hilltop cage, a world apart that was divided over politics, sexuality and race, with a distinct language, theatrical shows and even its own Olympics. Deeply researched and full of incredible stories of heroes who were also human, this is classic Ben Macintyre - and the definitive book on Colditz.' (Quote taken from the front flap of the dustwrapper) ***A signed copy of the first impression of the true first edition, in the original dustwrapper, in nice collectable condition. Uncommon signed. ***For all our books, postage is charged at cost, allowing for packaging: any shipping rates indicated on ABE are an average only: we will reduce the P & P charge where appropriate - please contact us for postal rates for heavier books and sets etc.

Seller Inventory # 8635

Bibliographic Details

• Title: COLDITZ - Prisoners of the Castle (First edition - signed by the author)
• Publisher: Viking (an imprint of Penguin Books), London
• Publication Date: 2022
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0241408520
• ISBN 13: 9780241408520
• Binding: Hardcover
• Edition: First Edition
• Printing: First Impression
• Condition: Near Fine
• Dust Jacket Condition: Near Fine
• Signed: Signed by Author(s)
• Seller catalogs:
  • Signed & Limited Editions
  • World War Two (Second World War)

About this title

Synopsis

THE INCREDIBLE TRUE STORY OF THE MOST INFAMOUS PRISON IN HISTORY -- FROM THE BESTSELLING AUTHOR OF SAS: ROGUE HEROES AND THE SPY AND THE TRAITOR

In a forbidding Gothic castle on a hilltop in the heart of Nazi Germany, an unlikely band of British officers spent the Second World War plotting daring escapes from their German captors. Or so the story of Colditz has gone, unchallenged for 70 years. But that tale contains only part of the truth.

The astonishing inside story, revealed for the first time in this new book by bestselling historian Ben Macintyre, is a tale of the indomitable human spirit, but also one of snobbery, class conflict, homosexuality, bullying, espionage, boredom, insanity and farce. With access to an astonishing range of material, Macintyre reveals a remarkable cast of characters of multiple nationalities hitherto hidden from history, with captors and prisoners living for years cheek-by-jowl in a thrilling game of cat and mouse.

From the elitist members of the Colditz Bullingdon Club to America's oldest paratrooper and least successful secret agent, the soldier-prisoners of Colditz were courageous and resilient as well as vulnerable and fearful -- and astonishingly imaginative in their desperate escape attempts. Deeply researched and full of incredible human stories, this is the definitive book on Colditz.