Sagittarius Rising
Published on 15. December 2006
Book
Paperback/Softback
332 pages
978-1-85367-718-2 (ISBN)
Description
Sent to France with the Royal Flying Corps at just 17, and later a member of the famous 56 Squadron, Cecil Lewis was an illustrious and passionate fighter pilot of the First World War, described by Bernard Shaw in 1935 as 'a thinker, a master of words, and a bit of a poet'. In this vivid and spirited account, the author evocatively sets his love of the skies and flying against his bitter experience of the horrors of war, as we follow his progress from France and the battlefields of the Somme, to his pioneering defence of London against deadly night time raids.
Reviews / Votes
"'There is not a dull page' - The Times 'Classic... the definitive account of aerial combat - full of passion and poetry.' - Max Arthur, Independent 'One of the great classics of the war and flying.' - Andrew Linklater, Daily Mail 'This is a book everyone should read. - New Statesman 'Magical evocation of the lonely battle fought in the clouds.' - The Daily Telegraph 'This is a book everyone should read. It is the autobiography of an ace, and no common ace either. The boy had all the noble tastes and qualities, love of beauty, soaring imagination, a brilliant endowment of good looks... this prince of pilots... had a charmed life in every sense of the word' - George Bernard Shaw"More details
Edition
New edition
Language
English
Place of publication
London
United Kingdom
Edition type
New edition
Dimensions
Height: 216 mm
Width: 138 mm
ISBN-13
978-1-85367-718-2 (9781853677182)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Person
Cecil Lewis distinguished himself in action with eight victories throughout WWI and was awarded the MC. After the war he became a flying instructor in China and later achieved fame as one of the founders of the BBC, and as a respected playwright. He died in 1997.