Sagittarius Rising

De: Cecil Lewis

Narrado por: John Telfer

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. We then follow his progress from France and the battlefields of the Somme to his pioneering defence of London against deadly nighttime raids.

©1936 Cecil Lewis (P)2024 Soundings

A pilot's account of missions and life during WW1.

Cecil Lewis is quite a famous author of WW1 Aviation from the British pilot perspective. His remembrances and musings he relays to the reader are illuminating. He not only clears the dust and cobwebs away from a time period over a hundred years ago but, Lewis let's you hear the language, conversations and thoughts of people who lived it in real time (thanks Audiobook).
I am a huge fan of WW1 military aviation. So much so, that I'm building an SE5a replica to vault around the lofty heights to experience a portion of what the author illustrates for the reader. Cecil's prose of this treasured personal account at times borders just this side of poetry and other times he'll dive a few paragraphs into deep philosophical thoughts on a variety of topics he experienced.
As a bonus to the reader, you'll get to experience travel to China and living there shortly after the war.
I highly recommend the printed and audiobook of Sagittarius Rising.

The vigour inherent in the author's narrative. At 6' 4", he must have been a towering figure. in his day.

A grand chase through a young man's war and the aftermath. The insouciant approach to a life lived in constant danger reminds me of my father's remarks made of flying in the next war. "We were interested in flight, girls and beer , in no particular order."