Breaking Point
A Novel of the Battle of Britain
by John Rhodes
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Pub Date Sep 24 2019 | Archive Date Feb 14 2020
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Description
Breaking Point: A Novel of the Battle of Britain
It is August, 1940. Hitler’s triumphant Third Reich has crushed all Europe—except Britain. As Hitler launches a massive aerial assault, only the heavily outnumbered British RAF and the iron will of Winston Churchill can stop him. The fate of Western civilization teeters in the balance.
Johnnie Shaux, a Spitfire fighter pilot, knows that the average life expectancy of a pilot is a mere five hours of operational flying time. Sooner or later his luck will run out. Yet he must constantly summon up the fortitude to fly into conditions in which death is all but inevitable and continue to do so until the inevitable occurs…
Meanwhile, Eleanor Rand, a WAAF staff officer in RAF headquarters, is struggling to find her role in a man’s world and to make a contribution to the battle. She studies the control room maps that track the ebb and flow of conflict, the aerial thrust and parry, and begins to see the glimmerings of a radical strategic breakthrough…
Breaking Point is based on the actual events of six days in the historic Battle of Britain. The story alternates between Johnnie, face to face with the implacable enemy; and Eleanor, in 11 Group headquarters, using ‘zero-sum’ game theory to evolve a strategic model of the battle.
Advance Praise
“Rhodes memorably portrays Europe’s terrifying crisis. It’s easy to forget just how grim the future seemed. Also, the slowly brewing romance between Johnnie and Eleanor is touchingly drawn, especially Johnnie’s strenuously concealed existential despondency. A gripping, emotionally bracing account of a critical moment in history.” —Kirkus
“John Rhodes’ brilliantly written historical novel centers on a Spitfire pilot and a mathematical genius struggling through WWII’s Battle of Britain and their own lack of personal confidence. This engaging history laced with personal struggle is spiced with well-researched and thrilling aerial combat scenes; for example: “Within seconds, the neat formations had unraveled into a whirling kaleidoscope of fighters, wheeling, turning, climbing, diving, rolling, intersected by streams of tracer, locked in a furious dogfight. Despite the action, the story never sacrifices character development and an appreciation of the humanness of those who serve as minor pieces in the chess game played by the masters of war. Readers will also be pleasantly surprised by how the author flawlessly—even captivatingly —weaves mathematics into a war/love story. As a bonus, Rhodes’ 24-page “Authors Notes” contain facts even the most dedicated WWII aficionado will find new and interesting. This is a WWII novel to savor.” —Blue Ink
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Author Appearances/Talks/Signings
Goodreads Giveaways
National Advertising
Bound ARCs for Editorial Reviewers
Book Club Discussion Group Reading Guide
Social Media Marketing
Social Media Events
Available Editions
| EDITION | Paperback |
| ISBN | 9781733079211 |
| PRICE | $19.95 (USD) |
Available on NetGalley
Featured Reviews
Terri W, Reviewer
Johnnie Shaux likens himself to a snowflake: transitory, created and extinguished in the blink of an eye, leaving no trace of its existence. Orphaned as a baby, he grew up in an orphanage with no one to love him. He flies daily missions against the Luftwaffe expecting it might be his last. He has nothing to lose, nothing to look forward to. His death won’t matter.
Eleanor Rand’s mother expected her to find a suitable husband at Oxford and ridiculed her mathematical talent as useless and unladylike. Eleanor falls for aristocrat Rawley Fletcher’s advances, and he treats her disrespectfully, only interested in her for sex.
As the Battle of Britain rages in the summer of 1940, she applies mathematics to calculate competitive advantages for the RAF. Air Vice-Marshall Keith Park takes her seriously, as does Air Chief Marshal Sir Hugh Dowding.
Being a mathematician would be helpful in understanding all the equations, but the lack of genius doesn’t detract from following the story. Rooting for Johnnie Shaux (pronounced Shaw) is easy. Despite his self-imposed isolation, he’s a natural leader, relaxing the new guys with jokes about eagle-eye Digby’s fantastic eyesight and molding underage Potter into a flight leader. He and Eleanor were friends at Oxford and their friendship finds a new footing during the dangerous days of the battle.
This story draws you in and won’t let go.
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