{"product_id":"spies-lies-and-allies-the-extraordinary-lives-of-chatto-and-roy","title":"THE GREAT ÉPINAL ESCAPE","description":"\u003cdiv style=\"font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height:1.8; color:#333; max-width:900px; margin:auto;\"\u003e\n\n  \u003ch2 style=\"background:#6A1B9A; color:#FFFFFF; padding:15px 20px; border-radius:8px; text-align:center; margin-bottom:20px;\"\u003e\n    The Great Épinal Escape\n  \u003c\/h2\u003e\n\n  \u003cp\u003e\n    \u003cstrong\u003eThe Great Épinal Escape\u003c\/strong\u003e is an extraordinary and largely untold story of courage, survival and\n    resilience during the Second World War. It chronicles the incredible escape of nearly\n    \u003cstrong\u003e500 Indian prisoners of war\u003c\/strong\u003e who broke free from Nazi captivity and undertook a dangerous journey\n    towards freedom.\n  \u003c\/p\u003e\n\n  \u003ch3 style=\"background:#2E7D32; color:#FFFFFF; padding:12px 18px; border-radius:6px;\"\u003e\n    📖 About the Book\n  \u003c\/h3\u003e\n\n  \u003cp\u003e\n    On \u003cstrong\u003e11 May 1944\u003c\/strong\u003e, just weeks before the historic D-Day landings, American heavy bombers attacked the\n    French town of \u003cstrong\u003eÉpinal\u003c\/strong\u003e on the Moselle River. The bombing unintentionally destroyed the walls of a\n    temporary prisoner-of-war camp housing more than \u003cstrong\u003e3,000 Indian soldiers\u003c\/strong\u003e.\n  \u003c\/p\u003e\n\n  \u003cp\u003e\n    Taking advantage of the chaos, hundreds of Indian prisoners seized the opportunity to escape. Carrying only basic\n    supplies, food and clothing, they began a desperate journey towards \u003cstrong\u003eSwitzerland\u003c\/strong\u003e, a neutral country\n    where they hoped to find safety.\n  \u003c\/p\u003e\n\n  \u003cp\u003e\n    Their path to freedom was filled with unimaginable challenges. They had to cross more than\n    \u003cstrong\u003e100 kilometres of French countryside\u003c\/strong\u003e while avoiding Nazi forces, collaborators and hostile\n    territories that stood between them and safety.\n  \u003c\/p\u003e\n\n  \u003cp\u003e\n    \u003cstrong\u003eThe Great Épinal Escape\u003c\/strong\u003e tells the remarkable story of one of the most successful prisoner escapes\n    of the Second World War. Beyond the horrors of war, violence and fascism, the book highlights extraordinary acts of\n    humanity—resilience, courage, compassion and the support offered by ordinary people during one of history’s darkest\n    periods.\n  \u003c\/p\u003e\n\n  \u003cp\u003e\n    Ultimately, this is a story of hope and the enduring strength of the human spirit in the face of adversity.\n  \u003c\/p\u003e\n\n  \u003ch3 style=\"background:#1565C0; color:#FFFFFF; padding:12px 18px; border-radius:6px;\"\u003e\n    ✨ Key Highlights\n  \u003c\/h3\u003e\n\n  \u003cul\u003e\n    \u003cli\u003eThe incredible true story of 500 Indian prisoners of war escaping Nazi captivity.\u003c\/li\u003e\n    \u003cli\u003eOne of the most successful prisoner escapes of the Second World War.\u003c\/li\u003e\n    \u003cli\u003eReveals a forgotten chapter of Indian soldiers’ contributions during WWII.\u003c\/li\u003e\n    \u003cli\u003eExplores themes of courage, survival, resilience and humanity.\u003c\/li\u003e\n    \u003cli\u003eHighlights the struggles faced by prisoners crossing occupied France.\u003c\/li\u003e\n    \u003cli\u003eA gripping historical account based on extensive research and investigation.\u003c\/li\u003e\n  \u003c\/ul\u003e\n\n  \u003ch3 style=\"background:#8E24AA; color:#FFFFFF; padding:12px 18px; border-radius:6px;\"\u003e\n    ✍️ About the Author\n  \u003c\/h3\u003e\n\n  \u003cp\u003e\n    \u003cstrong\u003eGhee Bowman\u003c\/strong\u003e holds a PhD from the \u003cstrong\u003eUniversity of Exeter\u003c\/strong\u003e and is an experienced\n    international researcher and public speaker with a deep interest in social justice and historical narratives.\n  \u003c\/p\u003e\n\n  \u003cp\u003e\n    His first book, \u003cstrong\u003eThe Indian Contingent\u003c\/strong\u003e, led him to uncover the little-known events surrounding the\n    \u003cstrong\u003eÉpinal escape\u003c\/strong\u003e and inspired further research into this remarkable chapter of wartime history.\n  \u003c\/p\u003e\n\n  \u003cp\u003e\n    As a historical consultant, Bowman has contributed to various projects, including the BBC production\n    \u003cstrong\u003eThe Pursuit of Love\u003c\/strong\u003e. He has established himself as an expert on the\n    \u003cstrong\u003eIndian Army and the Second World War\u003c\/strong\u003e, bringing forgotten stories of courage and sacrifice to a\n    wider audience.\n  \u003c\/p\u003e\n\n  \u003ch3 style=\"background:#F57C00; color:#FFFFFF; padding:12px 18px; border-radius:6px;\"\u003e\n    📚 Why Read This Book?\n  \u003c\/h3\u003e\n\n  \u003cp\u003e\n    \u003cstrong\u003eThe Great Épinal Escape\u003c\/strong\u003e is a powerful historical narrative that brings to light the bravery of\n    Indian soldiers during one of humanity’s darkest chapters. Combining meticulous research with compelling\n    storytelling, it is an inspiring account of survival, solidarity and hope that deserves to be remembered.\n  \u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Westland Books","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":45498976698477,"sku":null,"price":699.0,"currency_code":"INR","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0702\/0445\/7069\/files\/81ncrWfg00L._SL1500_033b7ac5-39c4-4035-85c1-9e3abef6f8ad.jpg?v=1784913337","url":"https:\/\/the99books.in\/products\/spies-lies-and-allies-the-extraordinary-lives-of-chatto-and-roy","provider":"The 99 Books","version":"1.0","type":"link"}