New York Times Book Review
A concise, penetrating account....This stirring book inspires an admiration for British courage.
KLIATT
Students of the history of air power will find this frank, somewhat scholarly description of the August/September 1940 Battle of Britain interesting and informative. Fifteen pages of endnotes attest to its accuracy. Unfortunately, the author has drained every bit of romance and inspiration from one of the most epic events of the 20th century. What remains is a factual commentary that debunks many of the traditionally accepted notions long held by anglophiles on both sides of the Atlantic. The reader could draw a line down the middle of a copybook and entitle one side "Popular Perception" and the other "How It Was" and come up with an excellent summary of the book. For example, "the battle prevented a German invasion" vs. "Hitler's invasion plan was a ruse," or "the British were united against Hitler" vs. "members of Churchill's government urged peace in 1940." Even Churchill's oratory comes under attack. The courage and skill of the fighter pilots doesn't. Readers will conclude that the battle wasn't a David/Goliath struggle and that both sides made mistakes. They will see how the results of the battle affected the course of history and why the author calls the fourth chapter "A Victory of Sorts." The book lacks visual appeal. There are no pictures of Hurricanes, Spitfires, or Messerschmitts or photos of dogfights or bombed-out buildings. On the other hand, there are worthwhile charts, maps, and an index. This is a clinical treatment of a romantic time and is better suited to the more studious than to the armchair adventurer. Category: History & Geography. KLIATT Codes: SA—Recommended for senior high school students, advanced students, and adults. 2000, Norton, 178p. notes. tables. maps.index., Boyd; Jenkintown, PA
Library Journal
Do we really need yet another book about the Battle of Britain? Probably the most hashed-over episode of the war, it is a favorite of armchair historians for its heroic elements. But instead of offering yet another dramatic narrative, Overy analyzes the popular myths of the battle. Starting with the difficulties in determining the start and finish dates, he examines critically the things people think they know. Was Britain running out of planes and pilots? Just how badly was Fighter Command outnumbered? Did Goering really make a dramatic decision to call off the assault just before the RAF broke? Without question, the battle prevented a cross-Channel invasion, kept Britain in the war, and turned Hitler's attention eastward. Overy's insightful analyses hold important lessons on how that happened. However, his book does not stand alone. Libraries should purchase it where there are substantial related materials, as Overy assumes considerable familiarity with previous writers. Recommended for subject collections. Edwin B. Burgess, U.S. Army Combined Arms Research Lib., Fort Leavenworth, KS Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information.
Booknews
Beginning in the summer of 1940, the German Air Force waged an assault on Britain which ultimately failed. "The Battle" prevented German invasion and conquest and kept Britain in the war. In this study, Overy (modern history, King's College, London) analyzes elements of the battle on both sides and aims to assess where the battle now stands in history. Annotation c. Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)
