New Battle of Britain Books And Your Collection

The 70th anniversary of The Battle of Britain is 2010. Having been on Amazon I think I need a loan for all the new books on the battle that are coming out next year. I best get saving.

Amazon.co.uk: Battle of Britain - Battles & Campaigns: Books

 

Gage
Ask yourself the main question are they rehashes or are they offering new information/perspective on the battle.
An aniversary appears and the chance to rename and reprint the old books is taken,
I am not been cynical just realistic.
Oldman

 

Gage
Ask yourself the main question are they rehashes or are they offering new information/perspective on the battle.
An aniversary appears and the chance to rename and reprint the old books is taken,
I am not been cynical just realistic.
Oldman

I admit I don't think they will tell me anything I don't already know. The problem is I tend to collect books on the battle. Unless they are full of inaccuracies and badly researched that is.

 

Craig,

Far more interesting if you look at then by publication date.

Amazon.co.uk: Battle of Britain - Battles & Campaigns: Books

Far more than Dunkirk books being released next year

 

Alfred Price's "The Hardest Day" - an excellent read with a fantastic description and account of the DO-17 low level raid.

 

I prefer the Narrow margin it goes day by day through the period of the Battle of Britain, also the pilots autobiographies give a good insight into how life was in amongst the different squadrons of the time.
I too collect good books although the other half complains.

oldman

 

Alfred Price's "The Hardest Day" - an excellent read with a fantastic description and account of the DO-17 low level raid.

I tend to agree with James, 'The Hardest Day' is probably the best descriptive account of the Battle, albeit one day.

I do not have many books covering the Battle period, just the following....

The Hardest Day - Price.
Men Of The Battle Of Britain - Wynn.
Battle Of Britain - Deighton.
Battle Of Britain Illustrated - Jacobs/Lightsey.
Battle Of Britain - Bishop.
The Other Few - Donnelly.

The 'Battle' has been very well documented over the years, makes one wonder how many more books can be written on the subject.

 

One book I'm surprised at not being re-released is Kenneth G Wynn book Men of the battle of Britian. It's an absolute must in anyones collection.

 

The best books in my opinion (that I've read - still to read 'The Narrow Margin')


The Hardest Day - Dr Alfred Price
The Battle of Britain - Then and Now
The Most Dangerous Enemy - Stephen Bungay
The Battle of Britain: The Jubilee Edition - Richard Hough and Denis Richards

 

The RAF Official History is highly rated, almost affordable in paperback and, according to the introduction, heavily influenced The Narrow Margin whose authors were supported by the Air Historical Branch.

 

I bought 'Spitfire Pilot' by David Crook today.

 

FYI there is a 3-part battlefield archaeology series coming up on BBC1 next year about 1940; one of the episodes covers the Battle of Britain. There is also talk of a book of the series, too. I'll be able to give some more details nearer the time.

 

With Wings Like Eagles: A History of the Battle of Britain.

Got a copy of this to listen to. Hope it's good.

 

I got an email from The History Press recently about their releases this year to mark the anniversary. There are quite a few interesting that I've put my name down for:

The Battle of Britain Story by Graham Pitchfork
The Battle of Britain by Roy Conyers Nesbitt
Flying for Freedom by John G. Bentlet
Honour Restored by Squadon Leader Peter Brown
Achtung: Spitfire by Hugh Trivett

Theres also a raft of books coming out to mark the 70th anniversary of the start of the Blitz, and the broader issues of the home front.

 

I got an email from The History Press recently about their releases this year to mark the anniversary. There are quite a few interesting that I've put my name down for:

The Battle of Britain Story by Graham Pitchfork
The Battle of Britain by Roy Conyers Nesbitt
Flying for Freedom by John G. Bentlet
Honour Restored by Squadon Leader Peter Brown
Achtung: Spitfire by Hugh Trivett

Theres also a raft of books coming out to mark the 70th anniversary of the start of the Blitz, and the broader issues of the home front.

This is great but a nightmare. The money it will cost.
James Holland is also releasing a BofB book.

 

If you want the chatty unusual angle then go for Colliers Eagle Day, if not then I would recommend the pilots Autobiographries they give you as much information
as possible on the squadrons way of life.
Most squadrons at that time did things differently so it is a case of building an overview of your own.
As for James Hollands Book The Battle of Britain after reading Tom Cannings view of his book on Italy I am not sure if its one to get.

 

If you want the chatty unusual angle then go for Colliers Eagle Day, if not then I would recommend the pilots Autobiographries they give you as much information
as possible on the squadrons way of life.
Most squadrons at that time did things differently so it is a case of building an overview of your own.
As for James Hollands Book The Battle of Britain after reading Tom Cannings view of his book on Italy I am not sure if its one to get.

I'll pretty much wait for some write ups before buying any I think. I've still got Patrick Bishop's to read.
Can you recommend any Autobios I might not have read which are good?


I've changed the title of the thread to expand it's nature. People can now list their fave books/collection and new releases in one place. Thought this would be better.

 

My List:-

Battle of Britain – Then & Now
Battle of Britain – John Lynn Turner
Battle of Britain – Len Deighton
Battle of Britain – Patrick Bishop
Battle of Britain Day – Alfred Price
The Hardest Day – Alfred Price
Duel of Eagles – Peter Townsend
Forgotten Voices of the Blitz and Battle of Britain – J Levine
Hornchurch Scramble – Richard C Smith
Fighter Boys – Patrick Bishop
Airfields of 11 Group – Peter Jacobs
So Few – WHSmith Folio
Men of the Battle of Britain – K G Wynn
The Narrow Margin – D Wood/D Dempster
Spitfire Pilot – D M Crook
Battle of Britain – Matt Parker
The Most Dangerous Enemy – Stephen Bungay
Battle of Britain Photographic Kaleidoscope Vol I & II – Dilip Sarkar
Missing in Action – Dilip Sarkar
Nine Lives – Al Deere
Wings Aflame (Victor Beamish) – Doug Stokes
Battle of Britain – Richard T Bickers
Eagle Day – Richard Collier
Shot Down in Flames – Geoffrey Page
Finest Hour – T Clayton/P Craig
The Lonely Warrior – Jean Offenberg
Spitfire into War – Sandy Johnstone
Battle of Britain – R Hough/D Richards
Battle of Britain – Norman Franks
Dictionary of the Battle of Britain – G Simpson
Battle of Britain (Personal Stories) – F & J Shaw

 

Here's my collection of Battle of Britain publications which is bound to grow over the coming year;

Battle of Britain – Then & Now
The Hardest Day – Alfred Price
Forgotten Voices of the Blitz and Battle of Britain – J Levine
Men of the Battle of Britain – K G Wynn
The Narrow Margin – D Wood/D Dempster
Battle of Britain – Richard T Bickers
Battle of Britain – R Hough/D Richards
Battle of Britain – Norman Franks
The Last Enemy – Richard Hillary
Ginger Lacey- Fighter Pilot – Richard T Bickers
The Few – Dilip Sarkar
Bader’s Duxford Fighters – Dilip Sarkar
Angriff Westland – Dilip Sarkar
England 1940 – Osprey Battle of World War II Series
Hurricane Aces 1939-1940 – Tony Holmes/Osprey Aircraft of the Aces Series
Spitfire Mark I/II Aces 1939-1941 – Alfred Price/ Osprey Aircraft of the Aces Series
Bf 109 D/E Aces 1939-1941 – John Weal/ Osprey Aircraft of the Aces Series
Finding the Few: Some Outstanding Mysteries of the Battle of Britain Investigated and Solved - Andy Saunders
Battle of Britain Remembered Vol's 3,4 & 5 – Battle of Britain Historical Society

 

An excellent collection, Nick.

The one book I've never got round to reading is 'The Last Enemy'. Is it as good as they say, Nick?