Product Description

The Spitfire and the Lancaster were the two RAF weapons of victory in the Second World War, but the glamour of the fighter has tended to overshadow the performance of the heavy bomber. Yet without the Lancaster, Britain would never have been able to take the fight to the German homeland. Highlights the scale of the bomber’s achievements, including the famous Dambusters attacks. With its vast bomb bay, ease of handling and surprising speed, the mighty Lancaster transformed the effectiveness of the Bomber Command. Whilst addressing the political controversy surrounding the bombing offensive against Germany, Leo McKinstry also weaves individual tales into this compelling narrative. Rich characters are brought to life, such as Roy Chadwick the designer, who taught himself engineering at night school and Sir Arthur Harris, the austere head of the Bomber Command. This is a rich saga, a story of triumph over disaster and the history of an iconic plane. (20090913)

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Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #1242 in Books
• Published on: 2009-09-03
• Original language: English
• Binding: Hardcover
• 592 pages

Review
‘Convincing...excellent book’ (The Daily Telegraph, Phillip Addison 20090906)

‘This thorough, engaging new history seeks to draw together all aspects of the bomber and its career...and the controversies which still surround it today’ (The Spectator, Daniel Swift )

‘Brilliantly researched and sharply written’

(News of the World )

‘The saga is one of courage, tragedy and drama...all the more fascinating because of its rich cast of characters’

(Kent Messenger / Kentish Gazette Group )

‘Fascinating...rich cast of characters..the definitive record’

(Driffield Leader )

'(Leo McKinstry) describes the Lancaster as a heavy machine rendered graceful by its elegant design.  The same description might be applied to his own book' (The Literary Review )

‘Impressive...storytelling. [McKinstry] describes the Lancaster as a heavy machine rendered graceful by its elegant design. The same description might be applied to his own book’

(Literary Review, Keith Lowe )

‘Brilliant’

(International Express )

‘This is one of the most interesting wartime books that I have read for many a day. I recommend it to others’

(Dover Express / Folkestone Herald )

‘Extremely readable...rich narrative’ (Kent on Sunday )

About the Author
Leo McKinstry writes regularly for the Daily Mail, Sunday Telegraph and Spectator . He has also written six books including Spitfire and a best-selling biography of the footballing Charlton brothers. Born in Belfast he was educated in Ireland and at Cambridge University. (20090913)

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Customer Reviews

Highly recommended.....
I'll start by saying that I own a huge number of books about Bomber Command and the Lancaster. At first sight, this book has a rather unattractive appearance, and it's written by a journalist - frankly, I wasn't even going to bother, assuming that this would be yet another 'pot-boiler' or 're-hash'.
Well, I was wrong. The author has managed to do something different by telling the story of Bomber Command's war and cleverly threading in the story of the Lancaster and the vital part it played in that war. Although the author (and his researchers ) make use of quotes from many secondary sources (there is a very comprehensive bibliography ) there is extensive use of lesser-known material from the IWM interview archive and also - fascinatingly - from the Harris Papers. Many superb quotations and personal accounts are woven into the narrative Middlebrook-style (and that is a compliment...).
Only 4 stars ? As said earlier, not an attractive book and I found a number of irritating little typos. If you want lots of photos, it's not for you ; neither are there reams of technical data and statistics. But don't be put off - it's a hugely enjoyable and informative 'read'. Above all, it pays worthy tribute to a remarkable aircraft and the even more remarkable men who flew in it.
Highly recommended !

Re lancaster
Above all this is history,you need to read it it that context.Some of it it statistics,other parts personal accounts about the way it was concieved all in all a good read

Bombs away !!
My husband says " A very good book and an enthralling read.The chapters on Guy Gibson and Bomber Harris were very illuminating . To be recommended