Italian Aces of World War I!!!

Gregvan · 14 December 2008, 09:28 AM

Hi All,

It won't be available until August, but I've been waiting, and hoping, that Osprey would do a book like this. It's written by the Forum's own Paolo Varriale, so you just KNOW it will be a treasure! Be advised, I'm sure the cover shown is simply a pre-publication mockup. New photos and color schemes will abound, and great (and unfamiliar) stories about well-known and lesser-known Italian aces. What a treat!

Amazon.com: Italian Aces of World War 1 (Aircraft of the Aces): Paolo Varriale, Harry Dempsey: Books

Greg

Pips · 14 December 2008, 01:27 PM

This is indeed good news, and long overdue.

Nacho · 14 December 2008, 05:59 PM

I can already see this is going to be a good book and a long wait. Osprey should release a French aces book next.

jastaflieger · 14 December 2008, 06:56 PM

Greg,
Wondering what your thoughts are regrds this book, written by Gentilli, Iozzi and Varriale: i love this book and at nearly 500 pages thought it was the resource for the Italian Aces of WWI. Will the Osprey book add some new uncovered stories?
You usually have the inside scoop on theses things, and i certainly hope the cover art changes: there are far too many wonderful and colorful schemes on Italian aircraft too choose from versus the seemingly bland SPAD shown: the Hanroits were esp colorful i think!
JIm

Gregvan · 14 December 2008, 07:54 PM

Hi Jastaflieger,

Yes, first of all - I'm absolutely CERTAIN that the cover art will change (and improve!). What you see on Amazon is simply a quick mock-up cover - I doubt that the actual cover has been completed yet.

As for the superb, and massive, Schiffer book on Italian Aces (and its original Italian predecessor) - yes, it's absolutely indispensable for those of us with an interest and who can afford it. Since one of the three co-authors of that terrific book - Paolo Varriale - is also the author of the upcoming book from Osprey, I'm sure it will be top quality. The Osprey books, by their very nature, are designed to be affordable yet very well illustrated books which provide a good overview of the topic, and there's no way a 96-page Osprey treatment could go into the depth and detail that the wonderful Schiffer book did. However, if I know Paolo, he will give us some new (and no doubt surprising) facts and photos in this Osprey book. As you know, the state of our knowledge is always changing and increasing, and I wouldn't be surprised if new and interesting material has been uncovered since the publication of the Schiffer book.

In my opinion, you will probably want to buy the affordable Osprey book, even if you already have the wonderful Schiffer volume. Perhaps Paolo himself will drop by here with his own input....

Greg

jastaflieger · 16 December 2008, 08:52 AM

greg,
thanks for the insight! Look forward to this book!
Jim