Ginger has never been able to hold a candle to Algy in my affections, but even I have to admit that he does have his moments. One of my favorites is probably in Biggles In Spain (a book which might as well be named Ginger In Spain, as Biggles basically does close to nothing) where Ginger rushes to rescue Biggles and Algy, despite having a nasty cut on his arm that later causes him to pass out.
Another nice moment is in Swastika, where Biggles pancakes a damaged plane down into a fiord and Ginger inquires, "D'you always land like that?" of his mentor.
I did try to like Ginger in Black Peril. I really really did, but he really was too rude to Algy. There are many things I can forgive, but repeated insults to my hero are not one of them.
I do think that it is a pity that Ginger became more and more bland as the series progressed. Towards the end it did seem as though Johns only had him there to ask questions that Biggles the Genius could then answer in his typical genius way.
What are your favorite Ginger moments? Share in the comments below!
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The one that springs to mind and 'boggles' my imagination is in 'Fails to Return'. Biggles and Ginger are wet through and they're talking about getting out of their wet clothes. Ginger says he's not going to join the party looking like Adam as there's ladies present. Quite!
ReplyDeleteI've always loved the bit in Biggles Goes to War when Ginger has to unload the whole cartload of glassware on the pavement, when he confesses "all my life I've wanted to hear a load of glass fall on a stone pavement, but I've never been able to afford it". Followed by "I feel as if I was about to commit a murder"
ReplyDeleteThe whole pulling Algy and Biggles out of the burning building in Africa having received a knife wound to the head is pretty cool too.
Ah, the glassware. It's a while since I read that book but I know exactly how he feels!
ReplyDeleteI agree with most of what you say, Sopwith, except that I do not think Ginger insulted Algy. It was far too good-humoured an exchange for that.
ReplyDeleteThere is a lovely scene in Air Commodore when Ginger teases Biggles with not having seen an aeroplane come out of the wall, after Biggles has told Ginger he imagined seeing one.
I don't think Ginger was being rude to Algy in Black Peril (and if there was any hint of rudeness it was certainly unintentional). Algy obviously didn't take offence, so if the character doesn't I don't think we need to!
ReplyDeleteAnother great Ginger book is Borneo, with that great scene of Ginger plucking up his courage to be insubordinate to Biggles and also the instance of him having the brass face to ask for the loan of a squadron of Fulmars (plus leading the squadron into battle!)
Algy is too good-natured to be offended by anything or anyone, unless they're actively trying to kill him. I, on the other hand, see red whenever someone put my book down the wrong way...(which is why I want to kill Ginger even though Algy couldn't care less)
ReplyDeleteI do like the glassware scene though. Ginger says he feels as if he were about to commit murder, and Biggles promises that he'll commit one if Ginger doesn't smash everything at the right time!
I hope you're going to have a 'Share the Love - Bertie' spot in the not too distant future, Soppy.
ReplyDeleteI will! Probably this week :)
ReplyDeleteIn that case, I might reveal Algy's rank in my next Chapter of Berlin Airlift
ReplyDeleteHow easily I can be bought!
ReplyDeleteHope he's at least a Group Captain so he can sit on that horrible insubordinate chap that Biggles pulled rank with :)...
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