Just read "The Great Escape", by Paul Brickhill. It's a fantastic story, give it a go!! I've put on some info about the book on my blog, address below!!
One of Paul Brickhill's classics, along with Dam Busters and Reach for the Sky, all around half a century old now, but still worth reading. (A bit cheeky putting Steve McQueen on the cover of Great Escape but it will be educational for anyone buying the book and expecting to read about Hilts, the US "Cooler King"...)