TRUSTING TO AIR
THE BATTLE OF BRITAIN
When the Nazis occupied their country, pilots of the Czech Air Force refused to give up. Instead, they made their way to Britain to fight for the RAF...
Spitfire pilot Flt/Lt. Frantisek Sláma risks death through the Battle of Britain and the rest of the War, struggling with English language and customs; patronizing attitudes; enemy Messerschmidts; loneliness, longing, betrayal — and heartbreaking losses, one after another: the love of his life, his imagined future, even his freedom, as Czech pilots returning to their homeland are thrown into prison after the War.
Yet Sláma is a survivor, and fate isn’t finished with him yet…
This moving novel was inspired by the Czech film ‘Tmavomodry Svet’ (Dark Blue World) by Jan and Zdenek Sverak, and by the true story of the Czech pilots who fought for the RAF. Through Sláma’s story and that of Sarah his ‘srdíèko’ it examines loyalty and courage; decency, sacrifice – and every aspect of human love: between lovers, family and friends; love of country, and the kindness of strangers.
In response to an earlier draft of Alison's novel Best of Friends, Inspector Morse author COLIN DEXTER wrote:
"You write like an angel, a tender angel; and I was much moved by your poignant and beautifully-written book..."