Simultaneously a memoir of two prisoners of war doing whatever is necessary in order to win freedom and an amazing description of how several men in a Turkish prisoner of war camp managed to duplicate nearly every effect of the famous "spiritualists" of the day (what we would now call "mediums" or "psychics"). At first this was for amusement, but when some of their captors became believers in their abilities they attempted to use their "powers" to win their freedom. The descriptions are very detailed as the account was written as soon as the author was returned the UK, and the author's memory is supplemented by written records the prisoners were able to keep and smuggle out with them, and even some photographs they were able to secretly take and develop. While it is impossible to fully communicate such an extraordinary experience, this well-written account manages to give some of the flavor of it. The author communicates a real spirit of delight and adventure from their successes in working towards a means of escape that must have been the reason they were able to endure all the hardships and suffering; if anything he under-describes or omits much of the worst parts of their experiences. ( )