Pegasus Falling, the first volume of The Cypress Branches Trilogy by William E. Thomas , is the semi-autobiographical novel of the author who served as a British paratrooper in World War II. Mr. Thomas’ book was self published shortly before his untimely death. His grandson, Mike who is a copy-editor and proofreader, republished the book in three parts.
Pegasus Falling is part one.
Captain Stanley Adam Malcom Parker, known as Sammy (S.A.M. Parker), is a British captain in the Parachute Regiment during World War II. During Operation Market he was captured but after attacking an SS officer, was sent to spend the rest of the war in a concentration camp. The same impulsiveness which has gotten him to the camp also helped him to survive.
Naomi is a beautiful Jewess who has lost all her family to the gas chambers and is now used as a concubine of the Nazi commander. Sammy and Naomi help keep each other alive during the horrors in the camp, but are separated once they are liberated. Sammy, whose anger knows no bounds, gets introduced to the privileged diplomat Lesley Anne “Carrie” Carrington who is a beautiful, no-nonsense lady. Carrie and Sammy find their way into Palestine, serving their country while trying work their way out of the horrors they have witnessed.
Pegasus Falling is an amazing and emotional journey throughout World War II and the aftermath. The observations made by Mr. Thomas are incredibly accurate and stand the test of time: he makes intelligent, thoughtful and remarkably astute observations about the way the superpowers have divided the spoils amongst them; the orderly transition of world power from England to America; and the redrawing of the world’s borders.
No country or people come out ahead in Mr. Thomas’ eyes. Each one has its virtues and their faults. Each one is conniving out of circumstance and political philosophy while being played around by other powers. The Jewish organizations are players as much as they are being secretly manipulated, so are the Arabs and the European countries, winners and losers.
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