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Under an English Heaven
Under an English Heaven: The Remarkable True Story of the 1969 British Invasion of Anguilla | DONALD EL. WESTLAKE
16 posts | 2 read | 3 to read
In early 1969, word reached London that the little Caribbean island of Anguilla had become a hotbed of rebellion and a haven for gangsters. Such flagrant disregard for the rule of law in one of Britain's last remaining overseas outposts could not be allowed to stand. Her Majesty's government acted decisively, despatching a force of three hundred paratroopers and commandos backed by warships, helicopters and fifty of the Metropolitan Police's finest. But their mission soon descended into farce. On arrival, the troops were welcomed by several bemused islanders, many reporters from around the world, and a handful of entirely indifferent goats. But absolutely no resistance whatsoever. Where, asked Downing Street, are the gangsters? What had happened to the violent insurgency? Could it all have been a terrible misunderstanding? UNDER AN ENGLISH HEAVEN is the extraordinary and hilarious true story of what Time magazine described as 'Britain's Bay of Piglets'.
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Texreader
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The last quote, I promise. The British invaded #Anguilla on the grounds it was infested by the mafia. No offense to our Littens from Florida but I found this statement hilarious. By the way, the Brits learned Holcomb was not in the mafia, despite the fact he was from Florida. So the invasion was utterly useless.

#readingtheAmericas @Librarybelle @BarbaraBB

CSeydel I love Donald Westlake‘s humor! 1y
Texreader @CSeydel Any books you‘d recommend by him? 1y
CSeydel Well - I didn‘t realize at first that this one was nonfiction. I have read some of his Dortmunder books. If you like crime capers, definitely check out The Hot Rock! I found it very entertaining. (Apparently they made a movie with Robert Redford as Dortmunder, but I guess it didn‘t do well.) 1y
Texreader @CSeydel I absolutely will try it!! Thanks! 1y
30 likes4 comments
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Texreader
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Despite the residents sleeping in their brassieres, “it was a very peaceful war.” #Anguilla

#readingtheAmericas @Librarybelle @BarbaraBB

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The British invasion of #Anguilla disturbed the local livestock

#readingtheAmericas @Librarybelle @BarbaraBB

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Some of the most exciting bits of the British invasion of #Anguilla #readingtheAmericas @Librarybelle @BarbaraBB

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The poor British troops had no idea why they were in #Anguilla. To be honest, the Anguillans and the rest of the world were pretty confused too. #readingtheAmericas @Librarybelle @BarbaraBB

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The invasion begins! Poor little bitty #Anguilla just wanted independence from #StKitts. But it took 300 years for Britain to finally invade and give the islanders what they wanted—to be a British colony, not a St Kitts colony.

#readingtheAmericas @Librarybelle @BarbaraBB

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Texreader
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Mehso-so

What a slog this book was!! Hilarious, describing the British Invasion of #Anguilla, which wanted to be ruled by Britain! A completely true and unbelievable farce! Excellent if you read chapter 1 and then skip to chapter 24 to the end. Boring as heck if you read the middle. The events occurred & the book was written in the late 1960s, and even though I was born in 1968, I was not remotely interested in the minuscule details related in these ⬇️

Texreader middle chapters, no matter how artfully stated. The book is worth reading for the story of the invasion—just, honestly, skip to chapter 24. Parts are so funny I‘ll still be quoting them here. Enjoy. #readingtheamericas 1y
BarbaraBB Great review! I didn‘t know about this wished-for-invasion either! 1y
Librarybelle Love the review! 1y
46 likes3 comments
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Texreader
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Quite the independent thinkers, those Anguillans—rejecting independence!! #Anguilla #readingtheAmericas @Librarybelle @BarbaraBB

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First paragraph of the book. Well that‘s an enticing introduction to the book! #Anguilla #readingtheAmericas @Librarybelle @BarbaraBB

I‘m telling you, I‘m a few pages in and it‘s hilarious!!

BarbaraBB This is weird 😂 1y
Itchyfeetreader I read this for reading on the americas and found his turn of phrase amazing 1y
45 likes1 stack add2 comments
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Texreader
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keithmalek
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This was not the cover I was expecting for this book, and now I'm baffled as to how I'm going to read it on public transit. 🤣🤣🤣

Itchyfeetreader Okay so this was not the cover I had on my kindle version. And with the fear of spoiling the book at no point does the context of this picture appear on the text ! That being said I hope you enjoy! 1y
SamAnne 😂😂😂 1y
Amiable Ha ha! I take the commuter train train to work, and one day I was reading a book about serial killers. I got the whole table to myself because nobody would sit next to me. So, you know, there are perks. 😀 1y
13 likes3 comments
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keithmalek
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Itchyfeetreader
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Pickpick

An oddd little nonfiction book I would ever have read if not for #readingtheamericas and trying to find an #anguilla option.written wit a tongue firmly in cheek it‘s a humorous bit damning story of the end of British empire in the Caribbean and the uter unwillingness of anyone to actually listen to what the Anguillians wanted

Librarybelle Great review! 1y
BarbaraBB Sounds like a good find! 1y
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Texreader
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BarbaraBB Screenshotting 👍🏽 2y
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