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Goldsboro Books

978-0340190883

Biggles Takes a Hand

Biggles Takes a Hand

by Captain W. E. Johns

Publisher Hodder & Stoughton

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  • Professionally Packed

    All of our books that have a dust wrapper are covered in clear protective, removable film and are packed professionally in bubble wrap and a box for shipping so that they reach you in perfect condition.

  • Book Condition & Notes

    Near-fine first edition with very slight bruising to top and bottom of spine. In a near-fine, unclipped dust jacket with general wear and tear and slight scuffs to top and bottom edges.

About the book

Biggles is tipped off by Erich von Stalhein that three professional hit men from behind the Iron Curtain are in London. Biggles makes enquiries as to who might be their target. After a tip off, it is suspected that the target is the family of Hans Roth, an East German official who has been shot for treason. It is believed that Roth's wife and two children have escaped to West Berlin and are expected to come to England. Biggles flies to West Berlin to visit a family called the Lowenhardts, who are known to be friends of the Roth family, to see if they can assist with their whereabouts. Here he meets Anna Lowenhardt, who is engaged to Hans Roth's eldest son, Moritz. Biggles learns very little from Anna. Returning to England, Biggles see Anna at the airport and realises that not only is she now going to England, but she is also being followed. Assisting her in escaping her pursuers, Biggles is told by Anna that she has seen the Roth family and helped them to escape to England. Anna did this by giving the Roths the address of a Doctor Jacobs, a person for whom she used to work in England. Doctor Jacobs would be willing to help refugees, as he was once one himself. However, Doctor Jacobs has now moved house and has left no forwarding address. Biggles desperately needs to find the Roths before the killers do. Things are complicated further, when Anna's father, Professor Lowenhardt also comes to England to find her and is followed by Iron Curtain agents. Biggles, Algy, Bertie and Ginger have to find Doctor Jacobs and the Roth family and outwit the killers in order to stop murders being committed. The picture on the dust cover of the book shows, presumably, the faces of Biggles, von Stalhein and Anna.

About the Author

Captain W. E. Johns

Williams Earl Johns, born 1893, was an English First World War pilot, and writer of adventure stories, usually written under the pen name Capt. W. E. Johns.


He was the creator of the fictional air-adventurer Biggles. In his 46-year writing career (1922–68) he penned over 160 books, including nearly one hundred Biggles books, more than sixty other novels and factual books, and scores of magazine articles and short stories.


His first novel, Mossyface, was published in 1922 under the pen name "William Earle". After leaving the RAF, John became a newspaper air correspondent, as well as editing and illustrating books about flying. At the request of John Hamilton Ltd, he created the magazine Popular Flying which first appeared in March 1932. It was in the pages of this magazine that Biggles first appeared.

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