"Never Surrender" is one of Michael Dobbs' better novels. In this one, Winston Churchill actually plays a minor role (in my estimation). If you know Churchill history and also that of World War II in Britain, the speeches and character of Churchill during this time period are common knowledge. There are no new revelations in this novel about either Churchill or World War II.  Thus, what makes this book compelling are the cast of supporting players and the two or three sub-themes or sub-plots.

The best sub-story (surpassing that of the book overall) is about Don and Claude, an Englishman and Frenchman who together, as a couple of unlikely soldier buddies, survive the allied withdrawal to Dunkirk. This metaphorical wedding of the British and French fates is clever and effective, Dobbs best structural writing achievement. These two soldiers refuse to part as the evacuation of Dunkirk looms, taking even their found-dog "Winston" with them. Their fate, as was that of the several hundred thousand BEF soldiers, remains in limbo. In this sub-plot Dobbs correctly cements together the ultimate destinies of Britain and France.

The descriptions of battle and other wartime scenes are very good. Dobbs' history is relatively accurate, it seems, but true-to-form, Dobbs heaps abuse on every American in sight, especially the apparently despicable Ambassador to Britain at the time, Joseph Kennedy, who seems to fit every bad stereotype of every American who ever lived. Why Dobbs is intent on such anti-Americanism remains mysterious.

Despair, hope, tragedy, happiness and pathos all are woven carefully into this excellent work.

The dialogue is a bit forced at times, too often over-the-top and all-too-rarely realistic, except the talk between Claude and Don. Churchill's role predominates at the end of the book, but it's the fate of the subordinate characters that kept me reading, not Churchill's conduct, antics and speeches. Thus, the elements of a novel, not necessarily the features of history, are what make this novel good and kept at least this reader (who is well versed in WWII facts) involved in this story right to the end.

As a result, I recommend the story for its story-telling, not necessarily for its history. But, if you are a neophyte in WWII history, then both are good. It's a 4+ any way you look at it.
"Never Surrender" is one of Michael Dobbs' better novels. In this one, Winston Churchill actually plays a minor role (in my estimation). If you know Churchill history and also that of World War II in Britain, the speeches and character of Churchill during this time period are common knowledge. There are no new revelations in this novel about either Churchill or World War II. Thus, what makes this book compelling are the cast of supporting players and the two or three sub-themes or sub-plots. The best sub-story (surpassing that of the book overall) is about Don and Claude, an Englishman and Frenchman who together, as a couple of unlikely soldier buddies, survive the allied withdrawal to Dunkirk. This metaphorical wedding of the British and French fates is clever and effective, Dobbs best structural writing achievement. These two soldiers refuse to part as the evacuation of Dunkirk looms, taking even their found-dog "Winston" with them. Their fate, as was that of the several hundred thousand BEF soldiers, remains in limbo. In this sub-plot Dobbs correctly cements together the ultimate destinies of Britain and France. The descriptions of battle and other wartime scenes are very good. Dobbs' history is relatively accurate, it seems, but true-to-form, Dobbs heaps abuse on every American in sight, especially the apparently despicable Ambassador to Britain at the time, Joseph Kennedy, who seems to fit every bad stereotype of every American who ever lived. Why Dobbs is intent on such anti-Americanism remains mysterious. Despair, hope, tragedy, happiness and pathos all are woven carefully into this excellent work. The dialogue is a bit forced at times, too often over-the-top and all-too-rarely realistic, except the talk between Claude and Don. Churchill's role predominates at the end of the book, but it's the fate of the subordinate characters that kept me reading, not Churchill's conduct, antics and speeches. Thus, the elements of a novel, not necessarily the features of history, are what make this novel good and kept at least this reader (who is well versed in WWII facts) involved in this story right to the end. As a result, I recommend the story for its story-telling, not necessarily for its history. But, if you are a neophyte in WWII history, then both are good. It's a 4+ any way you look at it.