Simpson's awareness of the divisions and dilemmas of a country under foreign occupation and the injustice and ruthlessness inherent in war itself, lifts this novel beyond run of the mill heroics

The book is clearly the result of considerable research and enthusiasm. This will appeal to readers of 14 upwards, particularly boys. The relationship between the two contrasting brothers is strongly conveyed through dialogue

This book is written with an obvious understanding of how a young boy might feel as he tries to understand the events taking place around him. He is surrounded by adults who are having to kill and who are being killed, all for a cause which he does not understand and yet which at the same time hurts and confuses him

A terrific romp, full of car chases, explosions, stiff upper lips and U-boats; fans of films starring Bruce Willis (or David Niven) should love it

Beneath its cold white cover a story of magnitude unfolds

All demand to be read in translation of the originals and not sanitized retellings. Here, by examining letters, journals, annotations and posthumously unavailable papers, Zipes found some hitherto untranslated "ironic and macabre fables, humorous anecdotes, stories about the crusades, Norwegian legend, one 'feminist' tale among other things