The Rock [antikvár]

AUTHOR'S PREFACE The Rock of Gibraltar is a very real place indeed. It stands in a strategic position at one of the world's focal points. It is a British Fortress and Colony and has been so continuously for over 250 years. Thus it can be seen that in a story about a definite place, such as Gibraltar, at a distinct time, such as the Second World War, there are many nice little traps awaiting a writer who thinks up imaginary characters and ' pr allows them to operate against such a background. Of these ^ • pitfalls perhaps the principal one is the fact that a number of events in this book did actually happen. That is why a ¦ ^ disclaimer that no real person is being described has to be •. • / firmly made at the start and then underlined. , A writer doing this sort of story is in a tricky position. I . ^ visited Gibraltar many times when I was in the Navy. I I have friends there now. None of them are in this book in 1' any shape or form. In particular no reference to any actual 'I person, whether past or present, holding an official appoint- ,' ment at Gibraltar is intended in any personal sense, but i ¦ in describing a real place such as Gibraltar those who served ', on the Rock may feel themselves vulnerable and therefore I am most anxious to reassixre them that all characters in 1 I this book are purely fictional. I have done my best to imagine fresh and entirely different personalities. If by accident I have unwittingly given offence, I hope it will be understood in this spirit. My object has been to tell part of the great story of Gibraltar at a particularly crucial period and to try and express my admiration for those who, physically j' I and psychologically, have suffered and survived a siege. ¦I' f The Rock of Gibraltar has always meant something very ,' ; special to the British. It is now our only foothold on the continent of Europe. It has long been a symbol to us all. t'j, 'Safe as the Rock of Gibraltar' and similar phrases have entered our daily speech. It is one of the things we take for granted without knowing too much about it, but ¦t. > ¦ r.l ii.