LONDON 1917-18: The Bomber Blitz

Ian Castle

Osprey Publishing, Midland House, West Way, Botley OX2 0PH. http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/1846036828?ie=UTF8&tag=crosscocka&linkCode=as2&camp=1634&creative=6738&creativeASIN=1846036828">

96pp, 180×247mm, softback.

ISBN 978-1-84603-6828, £14.99.

This is just the sort of book that the Osprey format does so well: the bomber raids lasted for just less than a year, and masses of detail, maps, photographs and artwork are crammed into its very satisfying pages. I enjoyed a book about planes rather than Zeppelins for a change, and marvelled how Smuts, whose only previous military experience had been as a Boer guerrilla, had so much influence. The infighting between the Navy and the others over the use of wireless is new to me. Altogether a good story well told.