John Biggins (born 31 October 1949) is a British writer of historical fiction. He is best known for his Prohaska series of novels set in the Austro-Hungarian Navy during the early years of the 20th Century.
Biggins was born in Bromley, Greater London, England. He attended Chepstow Secondary and Lydney Grammar Schools, and studied history at the University of Wales from 1968 to 1971. He continued his graduate studies in Poland.
Career
As a young man Biggins worked as a civil servant for the UK Ministry of Agriculture. He also worked as a journalist and did technical writing before becoming an author of historical fiction.
In 1991 the first of Biggins' Prohaska novels, A Sailor of Austria, was published by Secker & Warburg. The story is set in the Austro-Hungarian Navy during World War I, and vividly depicts life on board the primitive and dangerous U-boats of the period.[1] Kirkus Reviews reported the book to be well researched, but called it "bland and mundane".[2] The Historical Novel Society, on the other hand, deemed it "Excellent military fiction", and similarly praised his later book Tomorrow The World.[3]
In 2010 Biggins began a new series of novels, and self-published his book, The Surgeon's Apprentice. This novel was included by The Spectator magazine on its "Books of the Year" list,[4] described as a "soundly researched tale of sea-faring and warfare." In 2021 he published its sequel, "The Lion Ascendant".
His previous books are now being distributed by Bonanova Editions.
Bibliography
The Prohaska series
Overview
Ottokar Prohaska, the fictional protagonist, is a Czech by birth, but an Austrian naval officer by vocation. His exploits have elements of both adventure and comedy. The historical background is the last years of the Austro-Hungarian empire, and in particular, in the case of two of the novels, World War I.[5] The reader finds the hero/anti-hero, at different times, a gunnery officer aboard a ship, a submarine commander, and a member of the flying corps.
^ Scott Veale (1996-01-14). "Books in Brief: FICTION & POETRY". The New York Times. p. 7007019. Retrieved 2019-07-09. In this sequel to Mr. Biggins's first novel, "A Sailor of Austria," Otto recounts his exploits from 1912 through the early years of World War I, starting with his rash decision to enlist as a naval pilot.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
^"A Sailor of Austria: In Which, Without Really Intending to, Otto Prohaska Becomes Official War Hero No. 27 of the Habsburg Empire". Strategy Page.
John Biggins Home Page – introduction to the author and his books.
February 05, 2023
john, biggins, american, banker, john, biggins, confused, with, jonathan, biggins, born, october, 1949, british, writer, historical, fiction, best, known, prohaska, series, novels, austro, hungarian, navy, during, early, years, 20th, century, bornoctober, 1949. For the American banker see John C Biggins Not to be confused with Jonathan Biggins John Biggins born 31 October 1949 is a British writer of historical fiction He is best known for his Prohaska series of novels set in the Austro Hungarian Navy during the early years of the 20th Century John BigginsJohn BigginsBornOctober 1949Bromley Greater London EnglandOccupationNovelist Contents 1 Early life 2 Career 3 Bibliography 3 1 The Prohaska series 3 1 1 Overview 3 2 The van Raveyck series 4 References 5 External linksEarly life EditBiggins was born in Bromley Greater London England He attended Chepstow Secondary and Lydney Grammar Schools and studied history at the University of Wales from 1968 to 1971 He continued his graduate studies in Poland Career EditAs a young man Biggins worked as a civil servant for the UK Ministry of Agriculture He also worked as a journalist and did technical writing before becoming an author of historical fiction In 1991 the first of Biggins Prohaska novels A Sailor of Austria was published by Secker amp Warburg The story is set in the Austro Hungarian Navy during World War I and vividly depicts life on board the primitive and dangerous U boats of the period 1 Kirkus Reviews reported the book to be well researched but called it bland and mundane 2 The Historical Novel Society on the other hand deemed it Excellent military fiction and similarly praised his later book Tomorrow The World 3 In 2010 Biggins began a new series of novels and self published his book The Surgeon s Apprentice This novel was included by The Spectator magazine on its Books of the Year list 4 described as a soundly researched tale of sea faring and warfare In 2021 he published its sequel The Lion Ascendant His previous books are now being distributed by Bonanova Editions Bibliography EditThe Prohaska series Edit Overview Edit Ottokar Prohaska the fictional protagonist is a Czech by birth but an Austrian naval officer by vocation His exploits have elements of both adventure and comedy The historical background is the last years of the Austro Hungarian empire and in particular in the case of two of the novels World War I 5 The reader finds the hero anti hero at different times a gunnery officer aboard a ship a submarine commander and a member of the flying corps A Sailor of Austria 1991 1 6 7 Vivat Osterreich 2011 German translation of A Sailor of Austria 1991 The Emperor s Coloured Coat 1992 8 9 The Two Headed Eagle 1993 10 11 Tomorrow The World 1994 3 The van Raveyck series Edit The Surgeon s Apprentice 2010 The Lion Ascendant 2021 References Edit a b Review A Sailor of Austria Publishers Weekly Retrieved 10 March 2014 A SAILOR OF AUSTRIA Kirkus Reviews a b Patrika Salmon Tomorrow The World Historical Novel Society Judd Alan Books of the Year The Spectatior Scott Veale 1996 01 14 Books in Brief FICTION amp POETRY The New York Times p 7007019 Retrieved 2019 07 09 In this sequel to Mr Biggins s first novel A Sailor of Austria Otto recounts his exploits from 1912 through the early years of World War I starting with his rash decision to enlist as a naval pilot a href Template Cite news html title Template Cite news cite news a CS1 maint url status link A Sailor of Austria In Which Without Really Intending to Otto Prohaska Becomes Official War Hero No 27 of the Habsburg Empire Strategy Page A sailor of Austria a novel WorldCat The Emperor s Coloured Coat Publishers Weekly THE EMPEROR S COLOURED COAT Kirkus REviews The Two Headed Eagle Publishers Weekly THE TWO HEADED EAGLE Kirkus ReviewsExternal links EditJohn Biggins Home Page introduction to the author and his books Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title John Biggins amp oldid 1093433210, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
