Biggles

After reading the excellent Wiki entry on Biggles I'm keen to try one of the early Biggles books. Two good examples here, I think :Biggles of the Camel Squadron and Biggles Flies Again.

"While the purpose of the Biggles stories was to entertain adolescent boys, in the First World War Biggles stories Johns paid attention to historical detail and helped recreate the primitive days of early air combat – when pilots often died in their first combat and before devices such as respirators and parachutes had become practical."

"The early Biggles stories and novels, especially those set in World War I, were apparently written mainly for older adolescents. Death is treated rather frequently and sometimes in quite a grim fashion, and other "adult themes" are also touched on – for instance, on at least one occasion Biggles sets out on a mission with "red mist", inspired by the death of a comrade. The emotional strain of combat is also realistically described, as Biggles becomes a "highly-strung" fidgeting pale youth, lacking his usual sense of humour. In these stories, in particular, alcohol is mentioned occasionally and cigarettes are much in evidence."