The Bandy Papers
9 primary works • 11 total works
Book 1
Book 2
Strangely horse-faced World War I flying ace Bart Bandy finds himself kicked upstairs - to everyone's appalled surprise - and made a Lieutenant-Colonel in the Royal Flying Corps.
But not for long. Persuaded to give a school speech on the many shortcomings of Field Marshal Haig, Bart finds Fortune's Wheel definitely on the turn and soon he is once more heading for the hell of the trenches - this time on a bicycle.
With the daredevil commander of the 13th Bicycle Brigade, Bob Craig, there follow a series of edge-of-the-seat adventures, always accompanied by what Craig later refers to fondly as "brilliant exchanges of utter nonsense".
Donald Jack's blackly humorous Bandy memoirs are classics of their kind. Against an unshrinkingly depicted backdrop of war and its horrors, his anti-hero's adventures are both gripping and shockingly funny.
What people are saying about The Bandy Papers:"Reading can lead to involuntary bursts of loud laughter."
"Very descriptive, full of air combats and written with a fine eye for period detail . . . there is quite simply no finer book of its kind. Highly recommended."
"It is clear that Bandy likely should've been killed several times, but very likely the Grim Reaper was laughing too hard to hold his scythe straight . . ."
"Hysterically funny! . . . each book is another installment in the continuing saga of a Canadian and his adventures in war, the world, and women."
"I have yet to find another author with the wit and humor of Donald Jack."
Editorial reviews:"I enjoyed every word . . . terrifically funny." P.G. Wodehouse
"Jack does more than play it for laughs . . . The mingling of humor and horror is like a clown tap-dancing on a coffin, but Jack is skillful enough to get away with it." Time Magazine
"Funny. Very. Donald Jack has as light a touch with this fragile art as his hero has on throttle of a Sopwith Camel. Excessive corn is avoided in favour of wit and a delight in life." New York Times
"Bartholomew Bandy is the most remarkable hero (or anti-hero) since Harold Lloyd impersonated the Freshman." Chicago Tribune
"To know Bandy is to love him . . . you tend to gallop through and come hurtling out at the end panting for more." The Sunday Sun
"For those to whom Bandy is a newcomer, what a treat is in store." Toronto Star
Book 3
As usual the RAF top brass don't know what to do with maverick flying ace and well-known loose cannon Major Bartholomew Bandy.
They pack him off to a squadron where everything’s as smart as paint and the flying record barely registers, thinking it'll keep him out of their hair. But after a shaky start Bart gets a firm grip on things – one of those things being the adjutant, who jealously guards his own private and baroquely magnificent WC.
With old pal Dick Milestone, Bart reinvigorates the superbly turned out but demoralized pilots, who start doing some serious flying and very serious damage to the enemy, in the notoriously tricky new Dolphin Camels.
With the blackest of black comedy and seat-of-the pants escapades, Donald Jack’s series about a young pilot makes the War to End All Wars come roaring to life.
What people are saying about The Bandy Papers:“Reading can lead to involuntary bursts of loud laughter.”
“Very descriptive, full of air combats and written with a fine eye for period detail . . . there is quite simply no finer book of its kind. Highly recommended.”
“It is clear that Bandy likely should've been killed several times, but very likely the Grim Reaper was laughing too hard to hold his scythe straight . . .”
“Hysterically funny! . . . each book is another installment in the continuing saga of a Canadian and his adventures in war, the world, and women.”
“I have yet to find another author with the wit and humor of Donald Jack.”
Editorial reviews:“I enjoyed every word . . . terrifically funny.” P.G. Wodehouse
“Jack does more than play it for laughs . . . The mingling of humor and horror is like a clown tap-dancing on a coffin, but Jack is skillful enough to get away with it.” Time Magazine
“Funny. Very. Donald Jack has as light a touch with this fragile art as his hero has on throttle of a Sopwith Camel. Excessive corn is avoided in favour of wit and a delight in life.” New York Times
“Bartholomew Bandy is the most remarkable hero (or anti-hero) since Harold Lloyd impersonated the Freshman.” Chicago Tribune
“To know Bandy is to love him . . . you tend to gallop through and come hurtling out at the end panting for more.” The Sunday Sun
“For those to whom Bandy is a newcomer, what a treat is in store.” Toronto Star
Book 4
Peace has broken out and World War I flying ace and all-round chancer Bartholomew Bandy isn't exactly making a success of being a commercial pilot in the USA.
But when a job lot of aircraft bits purchased with the last of his pay turns out to be a complete Vickers Vimy bomber, he feels his luck has changed.
With the help of his very tall, very sweet girlfriend Cissie, and the hindrance of his very short, very bad and beautiful girlfriend Dasha, Bart smashes (literally) straight into the exciting new world of the movies. Not an ideal career for someone whose face, as he says himself, resembles that of a Tibetan yak, but then absolutely nothing about Bart is ideal.
With the blackest of black comedy and seat-of-the pants escapades, Donald Jack's series about a young pilot is uniquely funny and compelling.
What people are saying about The Bandy Papers:"Reading can lead to involuntary bursts of loud laughter."
"Very descriptive, full of air combats and written with a fine eye for period detail . . . there is quite simply no finer book of its kind. Highly recommended."
"It is clear that Bandy likely should've been killed several times, but very likely the Grim Reaper was laughing too hard to hold his scythe straight . . ."
"Hysterically funny! . . . each book is another installment in the continuing saga of a Canadian and his adventures in war, the world, and women."
"I have yet to find another author with the wit and humor of Donald Jack."
Editorial reviews:"I enjoyed every word . . . terrifically funny." P.G. Wodehouse
"Jack does more than play it for laughs . . . The mingling of humor and horror is like a clown tap-dancing on a coffin, but Jack is skillful enough to get away with it." Time Magazine
"Funny. Very. Donald Jack has as light a touch with this fragile art as his hero has on throttle of a Sopwith Camel. Excessive corn is avoided in favour of wit and a delight in life." New York Times
"Bartholomew Bandy is the most remarkable hero (or anti-hero) since Harold Lloyd impersonated the Freshman." Chicago Tribune
"To know Bandy is to love him . . . you tend to gallop through and come hurtling out at the end panting for more." The Sunday Sun
"For those to whom Bandy is a newcomer, what a treat is in store." Toronto Star
Book 5
Despite designing his own amphibious aircraft, the Gander - a machine almost as alarming looking as its horse-faced maker - ex-WWI ace Bartholomew Bandy is failing to make a fortune in his hometown of Gallop.
The only work he finds is flying bootleg liquor into the USA. In desperation (what else?) he stands as a local MP and in desperation (why else?) they vote him in. But after spilling the beans on a bunch of government members indulging in Prohibition corruption, Bart's soon cordially hated by everyone up to the Prime Minister - can he really be naive enough to believe party propaganda that the people must be told the truth?
So Bart's goose - or gander - is cooked, and the resulting mess can be summed up as whisky galore!
With the blackest of black comedy and seat-of-the pants escapades, Donald Jack's series about a young pilot is uniquely funny and compelling.
What people are saying about The Bandy Papers:"Reading can lead to involuntary bursts of loud laughter."
"Very descriptive, full of air combats and written with a fine eye for period detail . . . there is quite simply no finer book of its kind. Highly recommended."
"It is clear that Bandy likely should've been killed several times, but very likely the Grim Reaper was laughing too hard to hold his scythe straight . . ."
"Hysterically funny! . . . each book is another installment in the continuing saga of a Canadian and his adventures in war, the world, and women."
"I have yet to find another author with the wit and humor of Donald Jack."
Editorial reviews:"I enjoyed every word . . . terrifically funny." P.G. Wodehouse
"Jack does more than play it for laughs . . . The mingling of humor and horror is like a clown tap-dancing on a coffin, but Jack is skillful enough to get away with it." Time Magazine
"Funny. Very. Donald Jack has as light a touch with this fragile art as his hero has on throttle of a Sopwith Camel. Excessive corn is avoided in favour of wit and a delight in life." New York Times
"Bartholomew Bandy is the most remarkable hero (or anti-hero) since Harold Lloyd impersonated the Freshman." Chicago Tribune
"To know Bandy is to love him . . . you tend to gallop through and come hurtling out at the end panting for more." The Sunday Sun
"For those to whom Bandy is a newcomer, what a treat is in store." Toronto Star
Book 6
On the run, ex-fighter pilot Bart Bandy finds his life starting to unravel.
Flying to Britain in his self-designed amphibious aircraft, Bart makes a forced landing in Reykjavik, is rescued by a beautiful but bossy blonde who takes a shine to him, and finally sinks his precious plane in the drink while saving the life of a novice pilot who has come down in the North Sea.
The boy turns out to be the son of a fabulously rich Indian maharajah, whose shopping list features a complete airforce full of pilots and planes. As Bart can barely scrape together fourpence ha'penny for a pint of beer these days, it looks like his luck has turned . . .
With the blackest of black comedy and seat-of-the pants escapades, Donald Jack's series about a young pilot is uniquely funny and compelling.
What people are saying about The Bandy Papers:"Reading can lead to involuntary bursts of loud laughter."
"Very descriptive, full of air combats and written with a fine eye for period detail . . . there is quite simply no finer book of its kind. Highly recommended."
"It is clear that Bandy likely should've been killed several times, but very likely the Grim Reaper was laughing too hard to hold his scythe straight . . ."
"Hysterically funny! . . . each book is another installment in the continuing saga of a Canadian and his adventures in war, the world, and women."
"I have yet to find another author with the wit and humor of Donald Jack."
Editorial reviews:"Jack does more than play it for laughs . . . The mingling of humor and horror is like a clown tap-dancing on a coffin, but Jack is skillful enough to get away with it." Time Magazine
"Funny. Very. Donald Jack has as light a touch with this fragile art as his hero has on throttle of a Sopwith Camel. Excessive corn is avoided in favour of wit and a delight in life." New York Times
"Bartholomew Bandy is the most remarkable hero (or anti-hero) since Harold Lloyd impersonated the Freshman." Chicago Tribune
"To know Bandy is to love him . . . you tend to gallop through and come hurtling out at the end panting for more." The Sunday Sun
"For those to whom Bandy is a newcomer, what a treat is in store." Toronto Star
Book 7
So all is pretty cushy for our reluctant hero, ex-WWI ace pilot Bart Bandy.
Actually that should read pretty Khooshie, the name of the handsome young prince of Jhamjarh, whose life Bart recently saved. His reward from the grateful Maharajah is to set up an airforce for the independent state, while living high on the hog in his own personal palace.
But it’s 1925 and the British authorities are already highly suspicious about the purpose of this new force when Bart, as usual, falls foul of a most important personage, the Viceroy of India no less. Could end badly. Not nearly as badly as the intentions of the neighboring Indian state of Khaliwar though, as Bart soon discovers – but absolutely no one seems inclined to believe him.
With the blackest of black comedy and seat-of-the pants escapades, Donald Jack’s series about a young pilot is uniquely funny and compelling.
Book 8
The years have flown away as fast as his head of hair, sadly for ex-WWI flying ace Bartholomew Bandy.
By the start of World War II he’s no longer a daredevil young pilot, but a balding forty-something, relegated to training younger men for the terrible battle against the Luftwaffe. Despite resorting to a firmly fixed toupée, he is hurtfully dismissed as too old for active service. They don’t want him.
But then, mysteriously, they do – and Bart is back where he belongs, in the cockpit of one of the super new Spitfires, ready to inflict plenty of damage. Some of it even on the enemy. There’s a quite jovial encounter with royalty. And yet he can only boast one over-sexed girlfriend, and one mortal enemy among the brass hats – he must be losing his touch.
With the blackest black comedy and seat-of-the pants escapades, Donald Jack’s series about an accident-prone pilot is uniquely funny and compelling.
Book 9
Somehow, despite his advancing years and receding hairline, veteran airman Bart Bandy has plummeted through the ranks and got himself back in the air - he's given command of an RAF squadron in Normandy, shortly after D-Day. The Germans are on the run but not yet beat, and Bart soon has a very close encounter with notorious Luftwaffe ace Willy Strand.
Then the war does end and after a strange meeting with an enigmatic fellow called Kim Philby, Bart is invited to Yalta, with the august party that contains Churchill, Roosevelt, and Josef Stalin of course. But something's troubling him - wasn't Uncle Joe really pretty keen on rubbing out our old friend, once upon a time?
Exciting dogfights, beautiful Russian spies, and a seat-of-the-pants finale make a terrific last adventure for Donald Jack's maverick hero - sharper, blacker and funnier than ever.
What people are saying about The Bandy Papers:"Reading can lead to involuntary bursts of loud laughter."
"Very descriptive, full of air combats and written with a fine eye for period detail . . . there is quite simply no finer book of its kind. Highly recommended."
"It is clear that Bandy likely should've been killed several times, but very likely the Grim Reaper was laughing too hard to hold his scythe straight . . ."
"Hysterically funny! . . . each book is another installment in the continuing saga of a Canadian and his adventures in war, the world, and women."
"I have yet to find another author with the wit and humor of Donald Jack."
Editorial reviews:"Jack does more than play it for laughs . . . The mingling of humor and horror is like a clown tap-dancing on a coffin, but Jack is skillful enough to get away with it." Time Magazine
"Funny. Very. Donald Jack has as light a touch with this fragile art as his hero has on throttle of a Sopwith Camel. Excessive corn is avoided in favour of wit and a delight in life." New York Times
"Bartholomew Bandy is the most remarkable hero (or anti-hero) since Harold Lloyd impersonated the Freshman." Chicago Tribune
"To know Bandy is to love him . . . you tend to gallop through and come hurtling out at the end panting for more." The Sunday Sun
"For those to whom Bandy is a newcomer, what a treat is in store." Toronto Star
v. 8
This edition also includes Donald Jack's novelette "Where Did Rafe Madison Go?" Jack wrote the story just as the fate of the Avro Arrow was still up in the air (the first test flight taking place in March ’58, and the programme’s termination coming only four months after the story was published). In “Where Did Rafe Madison Go?” Jack imagines a future delta-winged descendant of the Arrow – the CF-108 – and takes us through the RCAF court martial that is trying to uncover the explanation for the plane’s mysterious disappearance, an incident that even the pilot, Rafe Madison, doesn’t understand.
v. 9
