1919, Tahiti. Deux anciens pilotes américains, marqués par la Grande Guerre, choisissent de tout quitter pour un rêve : explorer les îles paradisiaques du Pacifique Sud.

For pilots in the First World War even getting through training was a matter of survival. Ashamed that the US was not yet in the war, American author James Norman Hall volunteered to fly for an American unit that fought for France, and his account was published while he was held captive in a German POW camp. An intersting character, Hall takes us through the terrifying early days of training through the even more terrifying days of being a pilot, making `High Adventure' (1918) one of the best books on the subject. James Norman Hall is best known for writing the Bounty Trilogy with former pilot Charles Nordhoff, the 1935 film adaptation of which starred Clark Gable.

Septembre 1916, France. Un jeune Américain s’engage comme pilote de chasse dans l’Escadrille Lafayette, au cœur de la Première Guerre mondiale.

The Bounty Trilogy: The Complete Series by James Norman Hall and Charles Nordhoff is a classic adventure saga based on the dramatic true events surrounding the British ship HMS Bounty. The trilogy includes the novels Mutiny on the Bounty, Men Against the Sea, and Pitcairn's Island. The story begins with the famous Mutiny on the Bounty, when part of the crew rebelled against the strict and often harsh leadership of Captain William Bligh during a voyage across the Pacific Ocean. The first novel describes the growing tensions aboard the ship and the dramatic rebellion that changed the lives of everyone involved. In Men Against the Sea, the narrative follows Captain Bligh and the loyal sailors who were forced into a small open boat after the mutiny. Their extraordinary journey across thousands of miles of ocean becomes a story of courage, endurance, and survival. The final volume, Pitcairn's Island, tells the story of the mutineers who settled on a remote Pacific island, attempting to build a new society while facing internal conflict and isolation. Combining historical research with vivid storytelling, The Bounty Trilogy is an exciting tale of adventure, leadership, and survival that has become one of the most celebrated maritime stories in modern literature.

James Norman Hall's writings capture the spirit of adventure, courage, and discovery that defined the early twentieth century. This illustrated collection brings together some of his most celebrated works, transporting readers from the battlefields of World War I to the remote islands of the South Pacific. Combining memoir, historical narrative, and vivid travel writing, these books reveal Hall's extraordinary life as both an aviator and an explorer. At the heart of the collection is "High Adventure: A Narrative of Air Fighting in France", Hall's unforgettable firsthand account of aerial combat during the First World War. Written with honesty and immediacy, the memoir follows the experiences of young pilots who faced danger daily in the skies above Europe. Alongside it stands "The Lafayette Flying Corps", a powerful tribute to the American volunteers who joined France before the United States officially entered the war, risking their lives in one of history's most dramatic conflicts. The collection also showcases Hall's deep fascination with the Pacific. In "Mid-Pacific" and "Faery Lands of the South Seas", readers encounter tropical islands, distant cultures, and the beauty of oceans that inspired Hall for much of his later life. These works blend travel, observation, and poetic reflection, offering a glimpse into places that seemed almost mythical to Western readers of the era. Completing the volume is "Falcons of France", a moving and atmospheric novel inspired by Hall's wartime experiences. Filled with friendship, bravery, and the harsh realities of combat, it captures both the romance and tragedy of early aviation. Richly illustrated and carefully selected, this collection is perfect for readers interested in aviation history, wartime memoirs, exploration, and classic adventure literature. James Norman Hall's works continue to inspire with their authenticity, humanity, and timeless sense of wonder. Contents: -High Adventure: A Narrative of Air Fighting in France -The Lafayette Flying Corps -Faery Lands of the South Seas -Mid-Pacific -Falcons of France

The Complete Bounty Trilogy by James Norman Hall (co-written with Charles Nordhoff) is an epic retelling of one of the most legendary maritime events in history-the mutiny aboard HMS Bounty and its dramatic aftermath. This illustrated edition presents all three volumes-Mutiny on the Bounty, Men Against the Sea, and Pitcairn's Island-in a single comprehensive collection. The trilogy begins with Mutiny on the Bounty, which recounts the oppressive conditions under Captain William Bligh and the growing unrest that culminates in the infamous revolt led by Fletcher Christian. The story immerses readers in life aboard an eighteenth-century naval vessel, portraying loyalty, courage, and the human consequences of conflict at sea. In Men Against the Sea, the narrative follows Bligh and his loyal crew on a harrowing 3,600-mile voyage across the Pacific in a small open boat, facing starvation, storms, and near-impossible odds. Their survival becomes a testament to endurance, skill, and determination. Pitcairn's Island concludes the saga with the mutineers' settlement on a remote Pacific island, exploring themes of isolation, morality, and the attempt to create a new society. The novel reflects on human ambition, leadership, and the consequences of rebellion in a vividly rendered tropical setting. Richly illustrated and historically detailed, this edition brings the legendary saga to life for modern readers. The Complete Bounty Trilogy is an unforgettable adventure series that combines maritime history, drama, and the timeless spirit of exploration.

High Adventure A Narrative of Air Fighting in France by James Norman Hall; you will find this book although an exciting narrative has an unpolished feel because it was published in June of 1918 while Mr. Hall was a captive in a German POW camp. When he was captured behind enemy lines, the book was still a work in progress. The Armistice would not be reached until November of that year.Although he does not mention it in this book, Mr. Hall had already served the better part of 15 months with the British Expeditionary Forces, surviving the battle of Loos in Sept - Oct 1915, and upon which his excellent work "Kitchener's" Mob is Based.The US did not enter the war until April 1917, and Hall had already served nearly three years as an American with British and French forces, as a machine gunner with the British, and as a pilot in the Lafayette Escadrille.Pilot training in the French Air Corps was primarily a matter of survival. Visualize if you will, a class of "Penguins", aircraft with wings too short for flight scurrying about the airfield as student pilots learn to control these machines with no instructor on board, and for that matter in Mr. Halls case there was never an instructor on board. Their solo flight was their first flight. They learned by doing.The sheer joy and wonder of man's early experience of leaving the bounds of Earth in an aircraft coupled with the danger and excitement of air combat made "High Adventure" such a good read, I completed the narration ahead of schedule, because I couldn't put it down.Mike Vendetti, Narrator, www.mikevendetti.com

Finally returning from the horrors of World War I, James Hall and Charles Nordhoff follow their dream of touring the South Pacific. A fascinating non-fiction account of two americans' meeting with life in French Polynesia in the late 1910s, "Faery Lands of the South Seas" is classic adventure travel at its best. Charles Nordhoff (1887-1947) and James Norman Hall (1887-1951) were American writers, best known for their collaborations. Their major works include the novel "The Bounty Trilogy" (1940).

For pilots in the First World War even getting through training was a matter of survival. Ashamed that the US was not yet in the war, American author James Norman Hall volunteered to fly for an American unit that fought for France, and his account was published while he was held captive in a German POW camp. An intersting character, Hall takes us through the terrifying early days of training through the even more terrifying days of being a pilot, making `High Adventure` (1918) one of the best books on the subject. James Norman Hall is best known for writing the Bounty Trilogy with former pilot Charles Nordhoff, the 1935 film adaptation of which starred Clark Gable.