Hi All,
Since the other threads mentioning this book are closed, I guess I'll start a new one.
I received my copy of this highly-anticipated book a few days ago, and can only say, "Wow! Well done Paolo!"
Italian Aces of World War 1 follows the usual format of the Osprey 'Aircraft of the Aces' series, but is even more packed with info and photos than usual. It contains(admittedly brief) biographies of every one of the 42 Italian pilots who became aces, with an annotated list of their victories, awards and their ultimate (and often saddening) fates. Paolo has contacted the families of most of the aces described in the book, and has drawn from a host of unpublished letters, diaries and rare photos to bring the human qualities of these men to life for the reader. He has packed an incredible amount of information into Osprey's small format.
Some of you will immediately ask, "If I already have the huge Schiffer book on Italian aces - also by Paolo Varriale, along with Roberto Gentilli and Antonio Iozzi - why do I need this new, and much smaller, book?" It's a good question. Of course, the massive Schiffer tome (495 pages, as opposed to the Osprey's 104) contains much more information and more photos than the new book. However, in the intervening 6 years or so since the first book's publication, Paolo has uncovered even more rare photos and marvelous tidbits of information. While the color profiles and planforms in the Osprey book are necessarily fewer in number than those in the Schiffer volume, in my personal opinion Harry Dempsey's work (in the Osprey book) is superior and not to be missed. The new book contains 32 superb profiles and 8 planform views, carefully executed to Paolo's exacting details and research - including Nieuport 11s and 17s, Hanriot H.D.1's, Spad VIIs and XIIIs as well as magnificent Macchi M.5 flying boats.
Yes, inevitably and unavoidably, many photos are to be found in both books. However, a few of these are actually of better quality in the new book, and Paolo offers some new photos as well.
In my opinion, the Osprey book is a VERY affordable and handy little book on the intruiguing aces of Italy and their stunningly beautiful aircraft (and it sits on your lap a lot easier than the Schiffer tome!). My recommendation would be to get BOTH the Schiffer book and this new one, if you can.
Greg