My French is of the 'A' level more years ago than I am prepared to disclose, plus the incredible fluency after a couple of glasses of vin rouge variety, but I still thoroughly enjoyed this book. The editors kindly begin with a brief resum‚ of the contents and all the picture captions in English, and with the help of this, I was able to understand the whole book, which, of course, is in French.

I am not aware of previous books about Guynemer in English, other than The Storks by Norman Franks & Frank Bailey (Grub Street 1998) and an Albatros monograph in 1987, so I welcomed the chance to read this comprehensive and beautifully illustrated work about one of the bravest and cleverest aces of World War I, who was only 22 when he disappeared. I especially liked a studio portrait of Guynemer with his arm in a sling to which were pinned some of his medals! And a picture of what happens to a propeller when the synchronising gear fails. It is so complete that I can think of no error or omission at all - I even liked the colour profiles. Philippe Osch‚ helped restore the 'Vieux Charles' which is so proudly displayed in the Air Museum at Le Bourget, and some marvelous colour photographs of that completed my enjoyment. Do not be afraid of the language - this book is a readable must for your collection.