Categories: Society & Culture

Book Review: The Shepherd by Frederick Forsyth

The Shepherd is a book unlike all the other books written by Frederick Forsyth. 

 

For one thing, it is a very short story, with forty hauntingly outstanding illustrations by Lou Feck.

 

Frederick Forsyth wrote The Shepherd in 1975.  This book was a Christmas gift from Frederick Forsyth to his wife, Carole.  He was a really smart writer.  Instead of buying a gift, he used his talent to write a book.

 

I think this serves as a good example to all of us.  When we run out of budget to buy a gift, we can just write a short story!

 

The Shepherd was about a young pilot flying the Vampire to Lakenheath on Christmas Eve, 1957.  It was supposed to be just a routine flight.  However, with Frederick Forsyth as the author of the book, nothing was routine.

 

When our young hero was flying over the North Sea, Frederick Forsyth let fog closed in and the electrical circuits failed. 

 

The fear and loneliness of the young pilot was reflected in the following description:

Related Post

“It’s a very lonely place, the sky, and even more so the sky on a winter’s night.  And a single-seater jet fighter is a lonely home, a tiny steel box held aloft on stubby wings, hurled through the freezing emptiness by a blazing tube throwing out the strength of six thousand horses every second.”

 

Our young pilot was running out of fuel.  Just when he gave up hope of survival, The Shepherd appeared.  The Shepherd was, De Havilland Mosquito, a fighter bomber of the Second World War vintage.

 

At this point, you, the clever reader, would realize that you are reading a ghost story. 

 

Our young pilot suspected nothing.  The Shepherd directed our young hero to a storage depot, non-operational station.

 

Who was the mysterious pilot?  You have to read the Shepherd to find out.  Even when you can guess the rest of the story, the talent of Frederick Forsyth manages to keep you hook to the book right to the end of the story.

 

 

Personally I think when you read this book around Christmas time, and especially when you are working on Christmas Day, the book will leave a very deep impression in your mind.




  • scheng1

    View Comments

    • This book sounds really good. I love a good ghost story and it sounds like it has some interesting twists to it. I am going to have to check this out and see if I can get it at my library. Thanks for sharing this book.

    Recent Posts

    Heart Attack Causes and its Solution

    What is the Main Cause of a Heart Attack? What is its Solution? A heart attack is the blockage of… Read More

    1 year ago

    Understanding the Debt Ceiling: Its Impact, Importance, and Implications

    In the vast economic arena, one term that often takes center stage, inciting extensive debates and discussions, is the "debt… Read More

    2 years ago

    De-Dollarization: The New World Order of Currency and Its Global Impact

    De-Dollarization: The Changing Face of Global Finance The financial landscape is in a state of flux, with an intriguing economic… Read More

    2 years ago

    Unstoppable Bayern Munich: The Story Behind Their 11th Consecutive Bundesliga Title

    The curtains closed on a dramatic Bundesliga season with Bayern Munich standing tall once again, clinching their 11th straight title.… Read More

    2 years ago

    Celine Dion Cancels Concert Tour Due to Deteriorating Stiff-Person Syndrome

    The Unfolding Story of Celine Dion's Health In recent news that has left fans across the globe stunned, iconic singer… Read More

    2 years ago

    Navigating the Crossroads: LeBron James, Anthony Davis, and the LA Lakers’ Uncertain Future

    As the echoes of the recent NBA season start to fade, the attention of enthusiasts is firmly glued to one… Read More

    2 years ago