The Eagle Has Landed
Liam Devlin is the protagonist in a number of novels by Jack Higgins. The name is a pseudonym and the character’s real name is never revealed. In The Eagle Has Landed (Liam Devlin), Liam Devlin has recovered from his injuries and is teaching Irish literature at a university in Berlin. While at the university, he is approached by Colonel Radl and recruited into a secret mission to kidnap Winston Churchill.
He is then parachuted to the Northern Ireland border, from where he makes his way into England while impersonating a veteran of the British Army. Here, he falls in love with a young woman named Molly Pryor. Subsequently, he saves her from being raped. He also introduces her to the poetry of Antoine O Raifteiri and, soon after, they make love.
In England, while waiting for the arrival of the German troops, Devlin poses as a bog Irishman. When the Germans finally arrive, they pose as Free Polish troops. At this, Molly is overcome with joy, assuming that Devlin is still with the British Army and not a gun for hire like she previously thought. However, one of the German soldiers is killed while trying to save a victim of an accident and his uniform is revealed. As a result, the entire village is held hostage in the local Roman Catholic Church.
The priest’s sister escapes and reports the situation to a nearby United States Army Squadron. Although she is enraged by the truth about Devlin’s loyalties, Molly has no desire to see him killed. She warns him of the approaching American soldiers but he refuses to flee and returns to the church. While parting, he tells her that he is not a traitor and that he loves his country. He also leaves her a letter, declaring his love for her.
When the Americans arrive, the Germans release the hostages, not wanting to jeopardise the lives of innocents. Following a bloody gunfight, Molly arrives and reveals that there is a tunnel leading out of the church. Colonel Steiner of the German Army, however, slips back out, possibly to kill Churchill.
The Eagle Has Landed (Liam Devlin) was published by Berkley in its reissue edition in 2000 and it is available in paperback.
Key Features:
The Eagle Has Landed was made into a movie of the same name. The movie starred Donald Sutherland as Devlin and was released in 1976. It was the last movie to be directed by John Sturges.
He is then parachuted to the Northern Ireland border, from where he makes his way into England while impersonating a veteran of the British Army. Here, he falls in love with a young woman named Molly Pryor. Subsequently, he saves her from being raped. He also introduces her to the poetry of Antoine O Raifteiri and, soon after, they make love.
In England, while waiting for the arrival of the German troops, Devlin poses as a bog Irishman. When the Germans finally arrive, they pose as Free Polish troops. At this, Molly is overcome with joy, assuming that Devlin is still with the British Army and not a gun for hire like she previously thought. However, one of the German soldiers is killed while trying to save a victim of an accident and his uniform is revealed. As a result, the entire village is held hostage in the local Roman Catholic Church.
The priest’s sister escapes and reports the situation to a nearby United States Army Squadron. Although she is enraged by the truth about Devlin’s loyalties, Molly has no desire to see him killed. She warns him of the approaching American soldiers but he refuses to flee and returns to the church. While parting, he tells her that he is not a traitor and that he loves his country. He also leaves her a letter, declaring his love for her.
When the Americans arrive, the Germans release the hostages, not wanting to jeopardise the lives of innocents. Following a bloody gunfight, Molly arrives and reveals that there is a tunnel leading out of the church. Colonel Steiner of the German Army, however, slips back out, possibly to kill Churchill.
The Eagle Has Landed (Liam Devlin) was published by Berkley in its reissue edition in 2000 and it is available in paperback.
Key Features:
The Eagle Has Landed was made into a movie of the same name. The movie starred Donald Sutherland as Devlin and was released in 1976. It was the last movie to be directed by John Sturges.
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