Gregory Alegi began to describe, at length, the sources available to the authors of this work in 'Recce' in 34/2, and the results of their intensive archival research are contained in this typically handsome Schiffer publication. And what a comprehensive work it is; beginning with a brief overview of Italy in World War I (with no mention of why they actually joined), and continuing with short histories of the Italian Fighter squadrons, we move on to 379 pages of biographies of the Aces, and 31 pages of profiles. I am not an enthusiast for profiles, but these I found totally glorious and stylish in a way that only the Italians can manage. They are a credit to Antonio Iozzi who drew them. 

The top scoring Ace, Francesco Baracca, the man whose Prancing Horse insignia adorns Ferrari cars to this day, has twenty three pages of this big book to himself, with twenty eight photographs, plus a further six profiles of his various aircraft and three pictures of his personal markings. His entry finishes with a minutely detailed schedule of all his 34 victories. To round it all off, there is a nice controversy of the exact way he met his end, very similar to that surrounding that of the Red Baron. All the Aces get the same treatment. This has got to be the definitive work on this subject, and is highly recommended.