Leading figures from the world of military affairs nominate their must-reads from the past year
The Times online – 26 December 2015
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Dr Julian Lewis MP, Chairman, House of Commons Defence Committee:
For King and Another Country (Bloomsbury) by Shrabani Basu
Spitfire People (Evro Publishing) by Paul Beaver
Two volumes, on separate topics in different wars, take a people-centred approach to their fascinating subjects.
Shrabani Basu’s For King and Another Country is the moving tale of Indian soldiers on the Western Front, their casualties, their courage and their 11 VCs: a skilful blend of personal anecdote and strategic history.
Paul Beaver’s Spitfire People examines designers, commanders, test pilots, ferry pilots and fighter pilots involved with this iconic machine: an encyclopaedic and masterly account.