In those days and just after, Biggles was apt to threaten thick ears to his friends, Algy, Ginger, whoever. And he a generally non-violent man! Anyway, Algy would have undoubtedly have been able to give as good as he got, or more.
In this particular instance, all he needed to say to Algy was 'that's an order' but maybe he thought that was boring.
I should think that in any physical fight between Biggles and Algy, Algy would always win out against Mr. Hands-like-a-girl's Biggles.
I also have no idea why Biggles felt like he had to threaten his friends with violence (or threaten to shoot them *rolls eyes*) to get them to do anything...They are your friends, aren't they, Biggles?
I think Biggles was just letting off steam when he threatened his friends with violence.It was always when he was under great stress! He could only say things like that to his real friends as he knew that they knew he didn't really mean it. I don't think there is a single instance where Biggles threatened to give Raymond,for instance, a thick ear (no matter how much he may have deserved it at times!)
In 'Baltic' when Biggles and Algy had their fight in the dark Algy was definitley winning, although I suppose to be fair to Biggles he had just endured an epic swim in the freezing waters of the Baltic in nothing but his silk undies....
In 'Flies North' I was surprised ( and a little sceptical) that Biggles with his hands-like-a-girl and slight frame was able to thump one of the villains (I forget his name off-hand) clean off his feet and up into the air with a single blow. Maybe it's all about attitude...if you're mad enough anything becomes possible..?!
Biggles should find some better way of letting off steam than threatening poor Algy!!! *grrr* It's a good thing Algy is easygoing or he might have given Biggles a well deserved kick to the rear every once in a while...
I often find myself surprised when Biggles does anything physically violent--I suppose WEJ just momentarily forgot that Biggles had tiny hands and wouldn't have been able to do whatever it was that he did do.
Or maybe because heroes don't worry about things like tiny hands when they're saving the world?
Was just looking for Ginger's real name here. I have a copy of all the Biggles books and have not seen it referred to anywhere: I noticed the comments about Algy. In "Pioneer", when Algy first turns-up, he is described as a cousin of Biggles, so he is not just a freind; Biggles's elderly relative (must be his aunt) has told him to take care of her son Algernon Montgomery e.g. keep him away from the "French minxes" - as if he would.
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In those days and just after, Biggles was apt to threaten thick ears to his friends, Algy, Ginger, whoever. And he a generally non-violent man! Anyway, Algy would have undoubtedly have been able to give as good as he got, or more.
ReplyDeleteIn this particular instance, all he needed to say to Algy was 'that's an order' but maybe he thought that was boring.
I should think that in any physical fight between Biggles and Algy, Algy would always win out against Mr. Hands-like-a-girl's Biggles.
ReplyDeleteI also have no idea why Biggles felt like he had to threaten his friends with violence (or threaten to shoot them *rolls eyes*) to get them to do anything...They are your friends, aren't they, Biggles?
I think Biggles was just letting off steam when he threatened his friends with violence.It was always when he was under great stress! He could only say things like that to his real friends as he knew that they knew he didn't really mean it. I don't think there is a single instance where Biggles threatened to give Raymond,for instance, a thick ear (no matter how much he may have deserved it at times!)
ReplyDeleteIn 'Baltic' when Biggles and Algy had their fight in the dark Algy was definitley winning, although I suppose to be fair to Biggles he had just endured an epic swim in the freezing waters of the Baltic in nothing but his silk undies....
In 'Flies North' I was surprised ( and a little sceptical) that Biggles with his hands-like-a-girl and slight frame was able to thump one of the villains (I forget his name off-hand) clean off his feet and up into the air with a single blow. Maybe it's all about attitude...if you're mad enough anything becomes possible..?!
Biggles should find some better way of letting off steam than threatening poor Algy!!! *grrr* It's a good thing Algy is easygoing or he might have given Biggles a well deserved kick to the rear every once in a while...
ReplyDeleteI often find myself surprised when Biggles does anything physically violent--I suppose WEJ just momentarily forgot that Biggles had tiny hands and wouldn't have been able to do whatever it was that he did do.
Or maybe because heroes don't worry about things like tiny hands when they're saving the world?
And don't forget this lovely exchange from "Sgt. B". You can't smack your officers these days, Biggles, that's frowned upon in the service you know...
ReplyDelete“We’ve got to do something,” interposed Ginger.
Biggles considered him with disfavour. “If you say that again I’ll knock your block off,” he promised.
Was just looking for Ginger's real name here. I have a copy of all the Biggles books and have not seen it referred to anywhere: I noticed the comments about Algy. In "Pioneer", when Algy first turns-up, he is described as a cousin of Biggles, so he is not just a freind; Biggles's elderly relative (must be his aunt) has told him to take care of her son Algernon Montgomery e.g. keep him away from the "French minxes" - as if he would.
ReplyDelete