â€œTense, heartwarming and life affirming,Â The Long Flight HomeÂ gives a fresh slant on heroism in WWII.â€â€”Rhys Bowen,Â New York

The Long Flight Home

â€œTense, heartwarming and life affirming,Â The Long Flight HomeÂ gives a fresh slant on heroism in WWII.â€
â€”Rhys Bowen,Â New York TimesÂ bestselling author ofÂ In Farleigh Field, The Tuscan ChildÂ and the Royal Spyness novels

Inspired by fascinating, true, yet little-known events during World War II, The Long Flight Home is a testament to the power of courage in our darkest hoursâ€”a moving, masterfully written story of love and sacrifice.
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It is September 1940â€”a year into the warâ€”and as German bombs fall on Britain, fears grow of an impending invasion. Enemy fighter planes blacken the sky around the Epping Forest home of Susan Shepherd and her grandfather, Bertie. After losing her parents to influenza as a child, Susan found comfort in raising homing pigeons with Bertie. All her birds are extraordinary to Susanâ€”loyal, intelligent, beautifulâ€”but none more so than Duchess. Hatched from an egg that Susan incubated in a bowl under her grandfatherâ€™s desk lamp, Duchess shares a special bond with Susan and an unusual curiosity about the human world.Â
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Thousands of miles away in Buxton, Maine, a young crop-duster pilot named Ollie Evans has decided to travel to Britain to join the Royal Air Force. His quest brings him to Epping and to the National Pigeon Service, where Susan is involved in a new, covert assignment. Codenamed Source Columba, the mission aims to air-drop hundreds of homing pigeons in German-occupied France. Many will not survive. Those that do make the journey home to England can convey crucial information on German troop movementsâ€”and help reclaim the skies from the Luftwaffe.
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The friendship between Ollie and Susan deepens as the mission date draws near. When Ollieâ€™s plane is downed behind enemy lines, both know how remote the chances of reunion must be. Yet Duchessâ€™s devotion and her singular sense of duty will become an unexpected lifeline, relaying messages between Susan and Ollie as war rages onâ€”and proving, at last, that hope is never truly lost.

â€œBased on true events,Â The Long Flight HomeÂ has everything I love in a novelâ€”the sense of discovery, the epic drama of a life-or-death situation, and the soaring sense of hope gained from the depths of despair. Itâ€™s a gorgeous, impressive first novel by a hugely talented author.â€
â€”Susan Wiggs, # 1Â New York TimesÂ bestselling author

â€œIâ€™ve always been fascinated by homing pigeons, and Alan Hlad makes these amazing birds and their trainers shine inÂ The Long FlightÂ Homeâ€”a sweeping tale full of romance and espionage, poignant sacrifice and missed chances, uncommon courage and the ongoing costs of war. A compelling debut told with conviction and great heart. â€œ
â€”Paula McLain,Â New York TimesÂ bestselling author ofÂ The Paris WifeÂ andÂ Love and Ruin
Country USA
Brand A John Scognamiglio Book
Manufacturer A John Scognamiglio Book
Binding Hardcover
Color Teal/Turquoise green
ReleaseDate 2019-06-25
UnitCount 1
EANs 9781496721679

Country	USA
Brand	A John Scognamiglio Book
Manufacturer	A John Scognamiglio Book
Binding	Hardcover
Color	Teal/Turquoise green
ReleaseDate	2019-06-25
UnitCount	1
EANs	9781496721679

The Long Flight Home

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