Description

From string-and-canvas deathtraps to sleek metal machines – relive the dawn of British aviation’Gripping, exuberant, racy and deeply researched, here is the amazing tale of the flying machines.’ Simon Sebag Montefiore, author of The World: A Family History

In the first few decades of the twentieth century British aviators went from gliding a handful of yards to crossing the Atlantic. Journeying from perilous ‘cotton-and-hope’ prototypes to the Spitfire, Flying Pianos surveys the transformation of flight from genteel gentleman’s hobby to terrifying military force.

Charles Spicer meets the cast of colourful characters who helped Britain take flight. There’s Hugh ‘Boom’ Trenchard, eccentric ‘father’ of the RAF; the glamorous Harriet Quimby – journalist, screenwriter and record-breaking pilot; and Grahame Christie, passionate aviator, spy and uneasy acquaintance of Hermann Goering. Charting the soaring highs and catastrophic lows of this technological revolution, Flying Pianos tells the remarkable tale of how Britain took to the skies.

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‘Vivid, meticulous yet expansive.’ Clare Mulley, author of Agent Zo

‘Check in, get aboard, fasten your seatbelt, and prepare for a marvellous flight and a terrific read.’ David Cannadine, author of Victorious Century

‘Fun, anecdote-rich and full of compelling characters.’ S.C. Gwynne, author of Empire of the Summer Moon

Publisher Review

‘Gripping, exuberant, racy and deeply researched, here is the amazing tale of the flying machines – from cotton and canvas death traps to the air fleets of killing machines of WWII and the magnificent men and women who made them and died and killed in them, a crazy cast of eccentrics daredevils and charlatans, all told with very enjoyable charm and swagger.’ -Simon Sebag Montefiore, author of The World: A Family History ‘Vivid, meticulous yet expansive, Charles Spicer has assembled constellations of anecdotes to illuminate his history of British aviation.’ -Clare Mulley, author of Agent Zo ‘Charles Spicer has done it again, in this enthralling account of British aviation history from the gentlemen flyers of the 1900s to the creation of the iconic Spitfire during the 1930s. Along the way, his book is peopled by an extraordinary array of half forgotten characters, from Charles Rolls to A.V. Roe, who well merit bringing back to life, but also featuring the two titanic figures of Hugh Trenchard and Winston Churchill. It is a great story. Check in, get aboard, fasten your seatbelt, and prepare for a marvellous flight and a terrific read.’ -David Cannadine, author of Victorious Century ‘Eccentric is very much the word for it. Aviation’s pioneers were obsessive, foolhardy, prodigiously brave, infinitely resourceful and, well, kind of crazy. You had to be a little bit unbalanced to want to fly those rattletraps. Spicer’s book is fun, anecdote-rich and full of compelling characters.’ -S.C. Gwynne, author of Empire of the Summer Moon ‘A deeply researched and vividly told account of how a handful of daring dreamers, eccentrics and pioneers transformed flight from fragile flying machines into instruments of national power – and ultimately weapons of war. Flying Pianos is a sweeping history of Britain’s early conquest of the air and a testament to the astonishing bravery and imagination of those who sought to master the skies. Charles Spicer has written one of the most compelling aviation histories in years.’ -Katherine Carter, author of Churchill’s Citadel ‘Charles Spicer has produced a spirited and engaging account of a dramatic and often incredible story – the birth of British Aviation. Populated by the unusual, if not eccentric, it is sometimes easy to forget the dangers that were so readily embraced for such little personal reward. We take for granted a world where air travel is both normal and safe, but forget the unsung heroes who made this happen. The author offers a broad and entertaining narrative anchored in the personal experiences of a few individuals, who not only saw aviation transformed in their lifetime, but also played a significant part in the process. Full of fascinating anecdotes, this is also a tale of innovation, inspiration, bravery, humility and personal sacrifice alongside relentless obsession, unreasonable ambition and unwavering optimism. In short, it is a very British story.’ -Peter Dye, President of the Great War Aviation Society ‘This history of British aviation in the early-20th century is filled with quirky, brave characters, technological advances, and political complications – all thoroughly and enjoyably detailed by historian Spicer in this comprehensive work… engrossing… A fascinating look at the growth of a fledgling technology adapted for battle – and the young pilots who made it work.’ -Kirkus