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Spitfire: Portrait of a Legend (Paperback)

by Leo McKinstry (Author)
3.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (13 customer reviews)
RRP: £8.99
Price: £6.97 & this item Delivered FREE in the UK with Super Saver Delivery. See details and conditions
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Customers buy this book with Lancaster: The Second World War's Greatest Bomber by Leo McKinstry

Spitfire: Portrait of a Legend + Lancaster: The Second World War's Greatest Bomber
Price For Both: £18.95

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Product details

  • Paperback: 448 pages
  • Publisher: John Murray (29 May 2008)
  • Language English
  • ISBN-10: 0719568757
  • ISBN-13: 978-0719568756
  • Product Dimensions: 19.6 x 12.8 x 3 cm
  • Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (13 customer reviews)
  • Amazon.co.uk Sales Rank: 39,035 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

    Popular in these categories:

    #25 in  Books > Science & Nature > Engineering & Technology > Military & Naval > Military Aircraft
    #86 in  Books > Reference > Transport > Aviation

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Product Description

Review

Praise for ROSEBERY:

(. 20051203)

'Stunning ... As well as being meticulously researched, it is beautifully written and has tremendous pace' (Literary Review 20051204)

'Absorbing ... McKinstry has here proved himself to be a first-class historical biographer' (Mail on Sunday )

‘With masterly skill and sympathy, Leo McKinstry resurrects him as the Hamlet of late Victorian England' (Daily Mail )

An authoritative and original biography which is also a riveting read'

(Spectator )

'Superbly well-researched and well-written ... A truly first-class addition to the genre of Prime Ministerial biography’ (Sunday Telegraph )

'An absolutely wonderful biography ... gripping and entertaining'

(Evening Standard )

‘A first class biography, scholarly, judicious and always interesting’

(Glasgow Herald )

‘Remarkable’

(Country Life )

‘Judicious, well-researched and engrossing’

(Sunday Times )

‘This is undoubtably the definitive biography of Rosebery. Written with elegance, clarity and well-judged colour’

(Jonathan Parry, Times Literary Supplement )

'It does a wonderful job of conjuring up the lost world of late Victorian politics'

(Dominic Sandbrook, Daily Telegraph )

'Admirable biography of a paradoxical figure whose tenure at No 10 was a disaster'

(Jeremy Lewis, Sunday Times )


Product Description

In June 1940, the German Army had brought the rest of Europe to its knees. ‘Hitler knows that he will have to break us in this island or lose the war. If we can stand up to him, all Europe may be free and the life of the world will move forward into broad, sunlit uplands,’ said Churchill. The future of Europe depended on Britain. A self-confident Herman Göring thought that it would be only a matter of weeks before his planes had forced Britain to surrender. The courage, resourcefulness and brilliant organisation of the RAF were to prove him wrong. By late September 1940, the RAF had proved invincible, thanks to the Vickers Supermarine Spitfire. It exceeded anything that any other air force possessed. RJ Mitchell, a shy and almost painfully modest engineer, was the genius behind the Spitfire. On the 5th March 1936, following its successful maiden flight, a legend was born.

Prize-winning historian Leo McKinstry’s vivid history of the Spitfire brings together a rich cast of characters and first hand testimonies. It is a tale full of drama and heroism, of glory and tragedy, with the main protagonist the remarkable plane that played a crucial role in saving Britain.

(20050529)
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Customer Reviews

13 Reviews
5 star:
 (6)
4 star:
 (3)
3 star:
 (2)
2 star:    (0)
1 star:
 (2)
 
 
 
 
 
Average Customer Review
3.8 out of 5 stars (13 customer reviews)
 
 
 
 
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

 
33 of 33 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars In comment to Sean, 22 Oct 2007
This review is from: Spitfire: Portrait of a Legend (Hardcover)
I am currently reading this book, and can assure those who are considering purchasing it, that the author does in fact discuss the Spitfire in a fair manner. I have heard the author speak about the book in London, and the comments of two former Battle of Britain Spitfire pilots, who were both convinced of the accuracy of this work. Contrary to what Sean has written, the author does discuss radar and the early warning system, Dowding and RAF command, the change in German strategy during the battle, the role of the Hurricane, and other aircraft, as well as many other points including the politics behind the project. I have not yet finished, but from what I have read so far, I can strongly recommend to anyone who has an interest in both the legend of this famous aircraft, and the true story behind it. I would suggest not taking too seriously the comments of someone who has based their opinion of a 417 page book on a 7 line synopsis.
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27 of 27 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars Maffett obviously sat on his tuffet!, 23 Oct 2007
This review is from: Spitfire: Portrait of a Legend (Hardcover)
Like the aircraft itself, this is an elegant piece of work with a depth of sophistication and understated complexity, totally befitting the subject matter! Unlike 'Mr Tuffet' below, I believe one needs to at least read the subject matter at hand before making such unqualified sweeping statements. Shame on him!..But more importantly, more fool him, as this study of R J Mitchell's finest hour tells the lesser known 'warts and all' story of this historic plane without the usual romanticisms.

From Beaverbrook, to the enlisted men on the ground who all worked so tirelessly to get, and then keep this legend in the air, I found this an enlightening and, at times, somewhat disturbing account of a national icon that quite literally may NEVER have been! One can scarcely imagine it now, but the pre-war blinkered adherence to the 'total bomber' doctrine, the factory workers who at times even refused to put her together mere weeks before The Battle of Britain, and the governments hell-bent attempts to cancel the project, give a huge insight into the somewhat darker 'unglossed' days of this extraordinary aircraft.

The research that has gone into this work is extensive. As a result, the author offers a refreshing new perspective on the conceptualisation, manufacture, and implementation of the beautiful Spitfire design. Fluid, and engrossing, this work is a compelling read. I was sat on my 'Maffett' throughout, eager and hungry for the next chapter!

A must for all those who think they know all there is to know about this amazing plane, and those associated with it. A joy to read !
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7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars Memories - Sea and sand, 12 Aug 2008
By Mr. Dennis Patrick (Hampshire) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   
This review is from: Spitfire: Portrait of a Legend (Hardcover)
As somene who flew, albeit very briefly, two Marks of Seafire and two Marks of Spitfire I found the book a very satisfying read. It had been well written and well researched. Friends to whom the book waa passed were impressed. All I might add is that when I flew a Vampire MkI back in 1949 I was reminded of the Seafire IIIl so much that I jumped at the chance of a place on No 208 Squadron with its MkXVIIIs: this book evoked long forgotten memories and that cannot suggest a negative review!
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Most Recent Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars A good social history of the Spitfire
If your expecting a micro-analysis of dimensions and performance specifications this is not for you, if you are more in tune with the social aspect and impact that the Spitfire... Read more
Published 2 days ago by C. Irons

1.0 out of 5 stars Disappointing
All in all, a very disappointing book.

I was hoping for a much more technical discussion of the various Marks of aircraft and its development. Read more
Published 1 month ago by Dr. T. Smith

5.0 out of 5 stars lovely book
Lovely book to read..
Enjoyed reading about rj mitchell, especially some of the things he got up to.
Definitely worth a read
Published 2 months ago by Simon Ball

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent work....
What could be a `dry` subject is handled superbly by Leo McKinstry. He manages to tell you a story about the aircraft itself, the period in which it made its name and most... Read more
Published 3 months ago by J. R. I. Taylor

3.0 out of 5 stars A Hawker Hurricane of a book, but not quite a Spitfire
The most telling observation about the paperback version of this biography is that the puff pieces by celebrities that publishers seem to think are obligatory these days refer to... Read more
Published 13 months ago by Rgh1066

5.0 out of 5 stars A highly entertaining and informative read.
I have always wondered what the real story behind the Spitfire was, after all many people during and after WW2 had an opinion of the aircraft; whether that be good or bad was... Read more
Published 14 months ago by Mr. R. J. Dowell

4.0 out of 5 stars Spitfire: Portrait of a Legend
In addition to the usual collection of memories from former RAF pilots, the inclusion of comments from test pilots, politicians, engineers and design staff provides greater... Read more
Published 15 months ago by Mr. H. F. Murden

1.0 out of 5 stars Spitfire: Portrait of a Legend
I'm reading the paperback edition of this book & I have found a number of errors already. The author appears to be a general journalist who lacks an aviation background. Read more
Published 16 months ago by Mr. Bernard N. O'Brien

4.0 out of 5 stars Real accounts and experiences
I've just finished reading this book and recommend it. It is very in depth and details every aspect of every moment in time that led up to the Spitfire's creation. Read more
Published 16 months ago by C. R. Williams

3.0 out of 5 stars Not the book I expected
This wasn't the book I expected. A better title would have been 'The Spitfire In Action'.

Having read Sharp and Bowyer's book 'Mosquito', I was looking forward to... Read more
Published 20 months ago by Peter Scott

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