{"product_id":"spitfire","title":"Spitfire","description":"\u003cdiv class=\"book-description\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003eTHE SUNDAY TIMES\u003c\/i\u003e NON-FICTION BESTSELLER\u003cbr\u003e WHSmith NON-FICTION BOOK OF THE YEAR 2018\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e'The best book you will ever read about Britain's greatest warplane' – Patrick Bishop, bestselling author of \u003ci\u003eFighter Boys\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cb\u003e'A rich and heartfelt tribute to this most iconic British machine' – Rowland White, bestselling author of \u003ci\u003eVulcan 607\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cb\u003e'As the RAF marks its centenary, Nichol has created a thrilling and often moving tribute to some of its greatest heroes' – \u003ci\u003eMail on Sunday\u003c\/i\u003e magazine\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThe iconic Spitfire found fame during the darkest early days of World War II. But what happened to the redoubtable fighter and its crews \u003ci\u003ebeyond\u003c\/i\u003e the Battle of Britain, and why is it still so loved today?\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eIn late spring 1940, Nazi Germany’s domination of Europe had looked unstoppable. With the British Isles in easy reach since the fall of France, \u003cb\u003eAdolf Hitler\u003c\/b\u003e was convinced that Great Britain would be defeated in the skies over her southern coast, confident his \u003cb\u003eMesserschmitts\u003c\/b\u003e and \u003cb\u003eHeinkels\u003c\/b\u003e would outclass anything the \u003cb\u003eRoyal Air Force\u003c\/b\u003e threw at them. What Hitler hadn’t planned for was the agility and resilience of a marvel of British engineering that would quickly pass into legend – the \u003ci\u003eSpitfire\u003c\/i\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eBestselling author \u003cb\u003eJohn Nichol\u003c\/b\u003e's passionate portrait of this magnificent fighter aircraft, its many innovations and updates, and the people who flew and loved them, carries the reader beyond the dogfights over Kent and Sussex. Spanning the full global reach of the \u003ci\u003eSpitfire’s\u003c\/i\u003e deployment during WWII, from \u003cb\u003eMalta\u003c\/b\u003e to \u003cb\u003eNorth Africa\u003c\/b\u003e and the \u003cb\u003eFar East\u003c\/b\u003e, then over the \u003cb\u003eD-Day\u003c\/b\u003e beaches, it is always accessible, effortlessly entertaining, and full of extraordinary spirit.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eHere are \u003cb\u003eedge-of-the-seat stories and heart-stopping first-hand accounts\u003c\/b\u003e of battling pilots forced to bail out over occupied territory; of sacrifice and wartime love; of aristocratic female flyers, and of the mechanics who braved the Nazi onslaught to keep the aircraft in battle-ready condition. Nichol takes the reader on a hair-raising, nail-biting, and moving wartime history of the iconic \u003ci\u003eSpitfire\u003c\/i\u003e populated by a cast of redoubtable, heroic characters that make you want to stand up and cheer.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eWith meticulously researched insights and personal anecdotes, \u003ci\u003eSpitfire\u003c\/i\u003e offers an immersive journey into the heart of an era where heroism and fortitude were the order of the day. It is not just a book about an aircraft, but a tribute to the indefatigable spirit of those who took to the skies and the ground crew who worked tirelessly to ensure their safe return. This compelling narrative is an essential read for history buffs, aviation enthusiasts, and anyone who relishes tales of bravery and resilience.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"HarperCollins New Zealand","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":45686533390572,"sku":"9781471159237","price":27.99,"currency_code":"NZD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0705\/7784\/8556\/files\/9781471159237.jpg?v=1725467511","url":"https:\/\/bookhero.live\/products\/spitfire","provider":"Book Hero","version":"1.0","type":"link"}