Aircrew Book Review: Spitfires Over Malta

23 June 2014

Spitfires Over Malta - now direct from author

Paul Lovell achieved two things when he released his self-published update of the wartime classic Spitfires Over Malta. Firstly, he brought an historically valuable book, written by an Australian and New Zealander who flew in the defence of Malta, back to the spotlight and in front of several new generations of readers. Breathing new life into old books, particularly those written by aircrew during the war, by preserving the original text (their voice) but adding contextual research, appendices and further research is a favourite subject of mine. The story feels more complete, more commemorative, if done well ... and Paul has done SOM so very well.

That brings me to the second point. The book includes so much extra information, and photographs, in addition to the original, slim 1940s edition, that it is now more than 370 pages long. Paul, as editor, but really the third author of course, matched the quality of his research with the quality of the books production. SOM is a paperback but is printed on the highest quality paper stock. This means it is heavy! Coupled with the superb cover, this literally makes for a weighty and beautiful book in the hand or on the shelf. The entire package is the equivalent of a Siren's call. I very much doubt there would be any WW2 aircrew enthusiast who, budget aside, would pass up adding SOM to their library.

The book continues to sell well and has been featured favourably in several historic aviation magazines around the world. The main selling point online is currently Amazon but due to privacy issues Paul has been unable to reply to postage enquiries made by those outside of the UK. He is, of course, keen to speak with anyone, anywhere in the world, interested in purchasing the SOM as he knows they will fall in love with the book just as he did when he found an original edition at a car boot sale several years ago (the purchase that started this odyssey).

Paul's details are below. I also have his postal address so please enquire if you would like to send him more traditional correspondence! For convenience, I have include my email below as well.

Paul Lovell - plovell.24ATbtinternet.com (replace the "AT" with @ of course)

Andy Wright - aircrewbooksATiinet.net.au

Spitfires Over Malta, the most stunning aircrew paperback to be produced in the past couple of years, is available direct from Paul for 15.99 GBP plus postage worldwide.

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Welcome

Welcome to one of my silly ideas. I have been an avid reader of aircrew memoirs from the Second World War for as long as I can remember (not counting the various other interests that I have flitted to over time). I started collecting titles as found on Amazon but in the past few years have concentrated on books about the members of the RAF, FAA and Commonwealth air forces. I still maintain an interest in the operations of the USAAF, USN, Luftwaffe and Japanese forces but, as an Australian, you can probably understand where my heart lies!

Around about 2000, when I started collecting in earnest, I stuggled to find vast amounts of books on the subject. For those of you in the know this is a ridiculous thing to say as there are thousands of titles on the RAF alone.

In the past four or five years I have been fortunate to make some excellent friends in the UK and Australia who have helped broaden my knowledge of what's available and, in some cases, spend my money for me. In doing so, I have also corresponded with and met several authors and gained some insight into what it takes to put a well-researched book together. One of these days I hope to do the same but for the time being writing reviews and the occasional article will see me through as I gather what I need.

I have worked as a journalist in the past and run my own online magazine which was very time consuming and eventually led to another blog which is much easier to maintain. My interest in the aviation of the Second World War began with a school library book on The Battle of Britain when I was nine. Numerous plastic models, museum visits, magazine subscriptions, movies and Commando comics later I branched out into books like Squadron Signal's 'In Action' series (cheap for a teenager) and generalist titles covering certain aircraft. My first memory of a memoir (ha) was an oldish, secondhand copy of Alex Henshaw's superlative Sigh for a Merlin bought at a primary school market - incidentally, still the best Spitfire book I have ever read. I devoured it and although I haven't read it since (early 1990s) I can still vividly remember many of Alex's adventures testing this greatest of aircraft. One of these days I'll read it again.

My time as a journalist proper was short-lived as I had to make some decent money but it followed time as an accountant, truck driver and recruitment researcher. As of March 2010, I have stepped into commercial accounting which is a different kettle of fish and certainly not all spreadsheets and numbers (to be honest, the best job I have ever had).

Throughout my various incarnations I have maintained a fascination for what aircrew experienced during the war. I have been fortunate enough to meet several veterans and have even worked alongside some on a couple of major aircraft restorations down here in Australia. To a man I have found them friendly, modest and, at times, wondering what all the fuss is about. A gross generalisation perhaps but any variance would be understandable considering what they lived through. I know I could certainly not have done what they did in their late teens/early 20s. Fortunately, I have not had the opportunity to prove this otherwise and that's largely because of what these men (and women) sacrificed for what we have today.

Each book is a pleasure to read (even the not-so-great ones) and I try to convey what each is like to read without giving the game away too much. I also endeavour to let you know when or where I bought my copy and where it is available now as I try to review a mix of old and new titles (basically whatever takes my fancy at the time although when review copies come in, these take precedence). Honesty is at the core of everything I write on here so if something doesn't sit right with me or I feel it affects the 'experience' of the book, I will mention it.

Please feel free to recommend titles I may not be aware of or that you think would complement a reviewed title.

Cheers

Andy Wright

23 June 2014

Spitfires Over Malta - now direct from author

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