This is by no means the first biography of a fascinating man – indeed he wrote one about himself – but it is nevertheless interesting and timely. He was the typical American who started with nothing and ended up rich and famous, on the way being a successful racing driver, fighter pilot and founder of Eastern Airlines. About half the book is devoted to his exploits in World War I, and I marvelled at his bravery and ignorance in equal shares, which was so typical of the way the US Armed Forces conducted themselves. But he survived to become the highest scoring American ‘Ace’ – a term apparently invented by news hungry American newspapermen, with a score of 26, and had an exciting life thereafter, including being a passenger in an aircraft that ran out of fuel and ditched in the Pacific in 1942. He survived 24 days in an open dinghy at the age of 52, before being rescued.

Sadly, he seems to have finished up tired and disillusioned, as there came a time when every word he spoke was no longer treated as gospel; he advocated nuclear powered airships as the future for civil aviation for years, which did not help to enhance his image of wisdom. I would have liked some photographs, but enjoyed this swashbuckling tale of a truly heroic figure.