The Last Escaper

Author Peter Tunstall tells listeners early on that his account of being a POW in Germany during WWII isn't an adventure story. Still, John Lee's hearty narration sometimes makes it sound like one as he keeps the British airman's bravery and enthusiasm on listeners' minds, especially in the early chapters about young Tunstall's love of flying. Even the stories about escape attempts are laced with Tunstall's wry humor and warm feelings toward his fellow prisoners. However, listeners will hear more than good yarns. The failed escape attempts carry a sense of frustration and risk. POWs' daily problems, hunger most particularly, also are made clear, showing the constant undercurrent of war's human toll. J.A.S. © AudioFile 2015, Portland, Maine

November 24, 2014
In this posthumous memoir, Tunstall (1918–2013) relates his experiences as an RAF pilot during WWII. Captured early on, he spent the duration of the war at several different POW facilities, and he offers gripping details of his prison life, especially his many harrowing escape attempts. There is no doubt that he was an innovative escape artist, pioneering many tricks of the trade—including the immediate costume change—and helping intelligence operations with his use of “split photographs” combined with codes, in which he hid information between the layers of paper photographs. Tunstall also shares some impressive methods for manufacturing the clothing, documents, and other items needed for a successful escape. He spends the book’s closing pages defending the Allied bombing offensive that may have hastened Germany’s surrender, perhaps due to the postwar outcry against it. Tunstall’s informal prose reads like a letter home and is heavily flavored by the author’s perceptions. But the historical account of behind-the-scenes drama makes this a valuable addition to the period literature.