On Wings of Eagles can be compared to other escape narratives such as The Great Escape (1950) and The Midnight Express (1977). Even The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn (1884) is a distinguished representative of the genre.

The success of these tales relies heavily upon the public's fascination with and dread of lost liberty. There is magic in a story which pits personal strength against forces organized to deny personal freedom, and when a suspensefilled journey in which the escaped prisoner gambles with his life is part of the tale, the fascination is even greater.

Certain contemporary events can also be mentioned which help to explain the success of Follett's escape tale. The trauma of the Iranian hostage crisis and persistent rumors of American soldiers from Vietnam imprisoned in Southeast Asia have helped the popularity of narratives like Follett's, and On Wings of Eagles is most closely allied to books...