julianne
Senior Insider
In an era where incivility and crudeness have sometimes ruled the day, it is delightful to be transported by an old-fashioned historical novel, with characters who display consideration and good manners. If you want a refreshing change, this love story---of devotion between different generations, cultures and species---will do it. "Long Flight Home" is a first novel by Alan Hlad. It weaves its tale around the true story of the homing pigeons used by Britain during WWII to infiltrate German-occupied France. The pigeons carried small canisters into which French resistance members and Allied soldiers hiding in France put notes containing intelligence about German troop movements and fortifications; many of the pigeons lost their lives. The ones returning with their messages greatly aided the war effort. While there are some war scenes, for the most part the book develops its characters gently and politely. The courage and steadfastness of the British people undergoing the Blitz shines through. And the pigeons come to life as real heroes and heroines in this vital operation.
