The Purple Plain

by H.E. Bates

Book Overview

Burma during the Second World War is the setting for this acclaimed story of survival. Embittered by his young wife's death in the Blitz, Forrester finds renewal and love with the inhabitants of a... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: B0063DR3EY
• Release Date: January 1
• Publisher: Michael Joseph
• Weight: 0.60 lbs.

Customer Reviews

Brisk Bates

Bates never wastes words, and this is one of his longer works, but it moves briskly. Bates's perennially popular World War II novel tells the story of three very different men who, after their aircraft crashes, are forced to trek miles across the Burmese wilderness to safety. The names of the three are Carrington, Blore, and Forrester. The story is told through the eyes of Forrester, the leader whom the other two don't trust. After his young wife has been killed during the Blitz, Forrester wishes to die in combat as a pilot. But when his plane crash-lands in enemy territory in Burma, he realizes that he must save himself in order to guide his two injured companions to safety. As they cross the Burmese desert with no food and little water Forrester's will to live grows stronger than ever.