Cover of The Road Past Mandalay: A Personal Narrative

The Road Past Mandalay: A Personal Narrative

by John Masters · 1961

Masters Autobiography Trilogy seriesNext:Pilgrim Son: A Personal Odyssey(1971) →

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This is the second part of John Masters' autobiography: how he fought with his Gurkha regiment during World War II until his promotion to command one of the Chindit columns behind enemy lines in Burma. Written by a bestselling novelist at the height of his powers, it is an exceptionally moving story that culminates in him having to personally shoot a number of wounded British soldiers who cannot be evacuated before their position is overrun by the Japanese. It is an uncomfortable reminder that Churchill's obsession with 'special forces' squandered thousands of Allied lives in operations that owed more to public relations than strategic calculation. This military and moral odyssey is one of the greatest of World War II frontline memoirs.

Subject
historyhistoryMore like thisLess of thisbiographybiographyMore like thisLess of this
Genre
war and militarywar and militaryMore like thisLess of this
Themes
military historymilitary historyMore like thisLess of this
Setting
World War IIWorld War IIMore like thisLess of thisIndiaIndiaMore like thisLess of this
Audience
adult
Length
medium · 374 pages

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Liked The Road Past Mandalay: A Personal Narrative? Here’s where I’d start.

These suit anyone who liked The Road Past Mandalay: A Personal Narrative. Sign in and mark a few books for picks shaped around your own taste.

  1. Defeat Into Victory: Battling Japan in Burma and India, 1942-1945 William Slim · 1956 Shares Burma, World War II, military history
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  3. Brazen Chariots Robert Crisp · 1961 Shares military history, World War II, history
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“People who read The Road Past Mandalay: A Personal Narrative tend to reach for these next.”

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“If you want more of the same (history about military history), start with these.”

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“If it was the Burma that hooked you, try one of these.”

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“These start from a similar idea, even if they go somewhere else with it.”

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