W E Johns was a prolific writer; I loved his work as a child, and
have rediscovered his stories at intervals over the years. I remember
being thrilled as a youngster, and am now impressed at how good his writing
is to an adult mind. I can appreciate the pace and the humour, admire
the economy of his prose, and recognise the lessons he gives. Johns stresses
the importance of accepting all peoples without prejudice:
’While men are decent to me I try to be decent to them, regardless of race, colour, politics, creed, or anything else,’ asserted Biggles curtly. ‘I’ve travelled a bit, and taking the world by and large, it’s my experience that with a few exceptions there’s nothing wrong with the people on it, if only they were left alone to live as they want to live.’*
Although Johns had many interests, it is as a writer of air stories that he is best known, and his descriptions of flight, particularly air warfare, are exceptional. Himself a pilot in the First World War, Johns never forgot his experiences, and drew upon them throughout his career. That generations of airmen and women claim his hero Biggles as their inspiration speaks for itself. He wrote thrillingly of war in the air, but always pointed out the futility of war and never glorified it. He was particularly clear sighted in his descriptions of men with nerves stretched to breaking point by the horrors around them.
Click on the photograph to go to Biggles.info and its related sites Biggles.com, WEJohns.com and Popularflying.Com for full listings of Johns' writings and other related information.
*We would like to thank A P Watt Ltd, Literary Agents, representing W E Johns (Publications) Ltd, for kindly allowing the use of the above quote from Biggles Delivers the Goods.