Donald Jack
Description
Donald Lamont Jack (December 6, 1924 - c. June 2, 2003) was a Canadian novelist and playwright. He was born in Radcliffe, Bury, England and grew up in Britain, serving in the RAF in World War II (1943-47). After the war he emigrated to Canada in 1951, became a Canadian citizen in 1964. From 1955-57 he was a scriptwriter for Crawley Films. After 1957 he became a full-time freelance writer. He wrote for the stage, radio, and for television programs such as General Motors Theatre, The Unforeseen, Playdate, Hatch's Mill, The Forest Rangers, and On Camera, but he is most famous for his novels, the Bandy Papers, which recount the humorous adventures of Bartholomew Bandy, a World War I fighter pilot. His play The Canvas Barricade was the first Canadian play produced at the Stratford Festival of Canada. Other stage plays included Exit Muttering, Crash, and Minuet for Brass Band. He had 39 TV plays produced, 22 radio plays, and numerous documentaries.
Books
Me So Far (Bandy Papers)
Bandy has finally found a secure post-war job, as commander of the Maharajah of Jhamjarh's new air force. The only problem is, the British Raj are not so happy with him for setting up a rival air power inside British India.
Hitler Versus Me (Bandy Papers)
Bandy is back! It's 1940, and the intrepid air ace of WWI is eager to join the fight against Germany. Unfortunately, everyone seems to think Bandy is too old to be flying Spitfires, and should go quietly into retirement to polish his medals and knighthoods. Bandy, however, has other ideas, and uses his friends and/or enemies in high places to manoeuvre himself into the Battle of Britain. 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.
Me so far
Jack returns with the seventh and final book in his wildly funny Bandy Papers series. Here, he continues the tradition of humor and adventure as Bartholomew Bandy pursues his mad destiny in India.
Me too!
Sharing with one's little sister can be an awful bother, but it has its rewards too.
Stalin Versus Me (Bandy Papers)
In the aftermath of the Normandy invasion, Bandy continues to bob through the ranks like a cork at sea, persecuted by one of his pilots and pursued by Gwinny, who just can't understand why her attempt to have him convicted of treason has soured their relationship. Love rears its (elegant, Belgian) head again, the King needs a man of tact and discretion for a delicate post-war job in Germany, and there's an embarrassing parcel of ladies undies to explain, not to mention just why a half-clothed Bandy (unfortunately, not the right half) is in bed with George Garanine, that lazy, loveable failed Bandy-assassin. From Normandy to Brussels to Yalta to Moscow, Bandy's career path is as labyrinthine as ever, strewn with bottles, battles, and brasshat blood-pressure.