DOC French Aircraft Of The First World War by James Davilla; Arthur Soltan in History

Review

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful. A weighty tome!By Paul A. GerardThis is the kind of volume an aging retired librarian remembers as the kind of object responsible for his creaky back and aching shoulders! NOT the kind of cuddly little book to take to bed to assist in reaching the land of nod. In short - it's a big heavy book - designed as a comprehensive encyclopedia to its subject.As it needs to be; it's splendidly bound; production and illustration (photographs; line drawings; and colour profiles) are well chosen and appropriately captioned; in short; first rate. In fact first impressions are nothing short of ... impressive!The text is simply incomparable for obscure types just not mentioned at all anywhere else; and for interesting background on other types; built in large numbers; but scoring perhaps a bare mention in what is overall an anglocentric literature built on the assumption that 1914-1918 was largely a matter between Germany and the British Empire. There is information here that the keenest First World War aviation buff never knew existed; much less really wanted to know.On the other hand the text occasionally disappoints - in places it waffles on without saying very much; and at other times; when the facts are not altogether straightforward; it is succinct to the point of being sketchy. For the real enthusiast; it is certainly no substitute for monograph treatment on particular types. There are also occasional real factual lapses. In comparing a Nieuport fighter type with the SPAD; for instance; the text decries the manoeuvrability and controllability of the former (just the qualities in which the real-life Nieuports excelled; of course). This particular mistake is very likely more due to poor proofreading than ignorance - but it is still not what we look for in the context of a reference work of such obvious excellence.With its faults - definitely one for the reference shelf of anyone whose extreme youth was enchanted by "Biggles learns to fly" (or something similar) and was bitten by the romance of those beautiful early warplanes.0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. great book. gives everything iBy Leslie Hulkowergreat book.gives everything i wanted0 of 1 people found the following review helpful. Five StarsBy G.C.OK