Why read The Colonel of Tamarkan?

Book cover of The Colonel of Tamarkan: Philip Toosey and the Bridge on the River Kwai

Book description

Written by Toosey's granddaughter, this remarkable portrait of a forgotten British hero and leader is essential reading for anyone interested in the Second World War.

'Truly uplifting ... It makes you proud to be British.' The Guardian

Alec Guinness won a Best Actor Oscar for his portrayal of the dogmatic…

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Why read it?

1 author picked The Colonel of Tamarkan as one of their favorite books. Why do they recommend it?

Robert Widders

Author

This is a book about Lieutenant Colonel Philip Toosey, the man who commanded the POWs who built the "bridge over the River Kwai". Many people, possibly most, know about this bridge from the film, The Bridge on the River Kwai, starring Alec Guinness. I recall discussing the film with a friend – a man who helped build the real bridge – and to quote him referring to the film, ‘British officers just didn’t behave like that’.

Years later, whilst traveling and writing, I sat through the night, on a rickety wooden verandah, a few hundred yards from the Kwai bridge…

From Robert's list on The best military books that resonate with me, or inspire me, in some personal way.