Bombs Away

The Story of a Bomber Team

By: John Steinbeck, James H. Meredith - introduction

Narrated by: Scott Aiello

A magnificent volume of short novels and an essential World War II report from one of America's great twentieth-century writers

A Penguin Classic

On the heels of the enormous success of his masterwork The Grapes of Wrath and at the height of the American war effort John Steinbeck, one of the most prolific and influential literary figures of his generation, wrote Bombs Away, a nonfiction account of his experiences with U.S. Army Air Force bomber crews during World War II. Now, for the first time since its original publication in 1942, Penguin Classics presents this exclusive edition of Steinbeck's introduction to the then-nascent U.S. Army Air Force and its bomber crew--the essential core unit behind American air power that Steinbeck described as "the greatest team in the world."

For more than seventy years, Penguin has been the leading publisher of classic literature in the English-speaking world. With more than 1,700 titles, Penguin Classics represents a global bookshelf of the best works throughout history and across genres and disciplines. Readers trust the series to provide authoritative texts enhanced by introductions and notes by distinguished scholars and contemporary authors, as well as up-to-date translations by award-winning translators.

Critic reviews

By the Winner of the Nobel Prize in Literature

History

The book was a peak into the history of the early days of the American Air Force. My father was a B-24 Bombardier and was Latter trained as a navigator it gave me a peek at his training that he must have completed.
It was very obvious the book was written in 1942 as a work of propaganda to encourage young men who wanted to join the Air Force to give them a sneak peek at what they’re training would be like and to give parents a vision of what their sons were going to go through as they trained to go to war.

A fine account of the subject

As someone whose father was a bombardier in WWII (B26 Martin Marauder), I was delighted to discover that this book had been written —by a gifted author in the early days of American involvement in the war. Two main points emerge from the narration that really struck me: the entire subject matter was treated thoroughly, from purpose, design, manufacture, etc. to the search for and qualification of the various personnel (on the ground and in the air); and, the personalization of the experience of the recruits, in the various departments and duties that they had.

Although the book was written before the B26 had really been introduced, I was still able to understand the experience that my dad must have had. ***He came home safe, with a good supply of stories. He had the grace to tell mostly the funny ones.

A great book

A wonderful book that I found to be developmental and maturative for a young man coming of age such as myself. I found this book to be highly intelligent and worthwhile. I found this book to underpin and be developmental to the American way of life and I further highly recommend this book.

Too much war propaganda

My family member was a WW II bomber pilot and this book romanticizes the role. Thousands of pilots and crew died.

Not my pick

Could not get my interest in this book. Gave it a good try ,got half way through.