Tristan Jones

[Phoenix of Hamble]

Who cares whether they are fact or fiction!

I loved 'em.... every single one of 'em!

In fact i've re-read a few a number of times...

Yep, they're not literary masterpieces, and will never be discussed in revered tones in the halls of Cambridge or Oxford.... but boy are they entertaining rip-roaring tales that make you smile.

Enjoy them for what they are I reckon.

 

[KristiferColumbus]

Have you read any of his books? That is usually a prerequisite for a literary discussion

- W

I've read all of them,some several times over......I still don't like being bull*hited too Maybe your happy with that sort of situation?
Each to his own (shrugs shoulders smiley).

 

[KristiferColumbus]

Possibly because there wasn't a book forum 10 years ago! In fact, 10 years ago, there were only a few forums on here

That may well be true I would'nt know.I do know Triston Jones was discussed substantially in the books forum more recently.

 

[tonybannister]

I have read most of his books. Never met but saw him being interviewed on Terry Wogan show, did not come across very well.
In Hearts of Oak he came up with "facts" about him being on sinking ships on the Arctic convoy that have been reseached through naval records and guess what - not a shred of truth in his story.
Credibility is something you have to work at over a long period of time to achieve - it can be lost in an instant. So should be treasured.

 

[Mark-1]

I've read all of them,some several times over......I still don't like being bull*hited too Maybe your happy with that sort of situation?
Each to his own (shrugs shoulders smiley).

You've read them several times and enjoyed them. So why not write the word "Fiction" in black marker pen on the front. Problem solved, you can continue to enjoy them.

 

[webcraft]

I've read all of them,some several times over......I still don't like being bull*hited too Maybe your happy with that sort of situation?
Each to his own (shrugs shoulders smiley).

Yep, totally happy.

If you don't like it why do you keep re-reading them?

- W

 

[Mark-1]

Yep, totally happy.

I must admit I don't get it.

Bits of "Seven Pillars of Wisdom" by TE Lawrence are fiction. Tillman wasn't totally accurate at all times. So jazzed up memoirs are very common.

As long as I can remember TJ's books have been acknowledged as entertaining but inaccurate, so Kristifer must have known he was reading jazzed up accounts.

 

[chinita]

I have no problem with him 'embellishing' stories; even to the point of entire books being total fiction. For example, it is extremely unlikely that he ever sailed in the Arctic or logged the sea miles he claimed.

My issue is with the man himself. I can just about tolerate him changing his name, date and place of birth and nationality but anybody who falsely claims to have served in the Navy during WWII is a Charlatan.

I don't care how 'harmless' his books are.

 

[KristiferColumbus]

You've read them several times and enjoyed them. So why not write the word "Fiction" in black marker pen on the front. Problem solved, you can continue to enjoy them.

I would'nt enjoy them as fiction.I was impressed even admired an ordinary bloke that worked in Harrods boiler room & went off & did remarkable things.
That was when I was more impressionable & even more of a lost soul like what he obviously was.
I have moved on & am now only interested in truthful people....that's not to say that I did'nt enjoy Lord of the Rings & might not like it now.
I hope that answers your question.It is hard to discuss such complicated things over the internet.

 

[KristiferColumbus]

Yep, totally happy.

If you don't like it why do you keep re-reading them?

- W

I don't keep rereading them.I reread some of his earlier books up to about 15/20 years ago.

 

[KristiferColumbus]

I must admit I don't get it.

Bits of "Seven Pillars of Wisdom" by TE Lawrence are fiction. Tillman wasn't totally accurate at all times. So jazzed up memoirs are very common.

As long as I can remember TJ's books have been acknowledged as entertaining but inaccurate, so Kristifer must have known he was reading jazzed up accounts.

No I did'nt at the time.

 

[KristiferColumbus]

I have no problem with him 'embellishing' stories; even to the point of entire books being total fiction. For example, it is extremely unlikely that he ever sailed in the Arctic or logged the sea miles he claimed.

My issue is with the man himself. I can just about tolerate him changing his name, date and place of birth and nationality but anybody who falsely claims to have served in the Navy during WWII is a Charlatan.

I don't care how 'harmless' his books are.

I agree pretty much with you.I thought his description of shells wizing over head in the battle between the Bizmark & the Hood was riveting & then to find that he was'nt there at all shows incredible disrespect to those brave men that were there.It is the straw that brakes the camels back I think.
Maybe if he had labelled his books fiction it would be different but he did'nt.
Just another sad los'er......

 

[Blueboatman]

Wow quite polarised, eh!

I have enjoyed reading most of his books, some of the yarns are pretty funny ( aground with an illicit load of donated cheese on board was pretty funny), ok I have met enough people who knew him in his usual haunts that might not recognise him or themselves even as written up in his accounts, but hey, theres a lot of rubbish on this forum too, the trick is to sift through it, no?

At the end of the day, he definitely did something with his life, so therefore, to me, Top Bloke, RIP.

 

[webcraft]

Apostrophe prize

Just another sad los'er......

Nominated for the most outrageous misuse of an apostrophe to date . . .

- W

 

[KristiferColumbus]

Nominated for the most outrageous misuse of an apostrophe to date . . .

- W

Just my attempt to spell it correctly consulting The Concise Oxford English Dictionary,you'd probably have moaned no matter what I had done

 

[Mudisox]

Yarns.

Although we all do not gain any financial reward by "not spoiling a good story by sticking to the truth", I have noticed that most sailors start to embellish their tales after the 2nd or 3rd drink, and I believe we are all guilty of that "crime".
Tristan was entertaining in both verbal and written tales and should be judged purely on that.
I don't particularly like reading Shakespeare, and his history is more than a bit suspect but we don't complain about his works.

 

[DownWest]

I only read one, The Incredible Voyage and IIRR he did not get to sail on the Dead Sea when he got there due to officialdom. There did seem to be oddities in the writing, but still a good read. Last pic I saw of him was in the Pacific, sailing off some island in a catamaran after he had one leg amputated ( too much smoking? or diabetic?) Never read about the Hood and Bismark stuff, which would be questionable if invented.
Would not be the first person to self promote on 'good stories'

 

[chinita]

I have no problem with him 'embellishing' stories; even to the point of entire books being total fiction. For example, it is extremely unlikely that he ever sailed in the Arctic or logged the sea miles he claimed.

My issue is with the man himself. I can just about tolerate him changing his name, date and place of birth and nationality but anybody who falsely claims to have served in the Navy during WWII is a Charlatan.

I don't care how 'harmless' his books are.

I don't think I made my point forcefully enough.

Any man who writes, in the first person, autobiographical episodes of war experience in the RN - as in 'Heart of Oak' subsequently proved to be utterly false, is clearly delusional.

I have no idea how he thought he could get away with it. But he did.

His attitude is deplorable and a gross insult to the individuals, and the families, who served and made the ultimate sacrifice.

 

[oldvarnish]

Tillman wasn't totally accurate at all times.

What would be your evidence for that claim?
Tilman was the master of under rather than over statement.

 

[Seajet]

Chinita; spot on. Nothing else need be added.