In deciding to produce a lavishly illustrated but abridged edition of Bungay's definitive work on the Battle of Britain, Aurum Press set itself a considerable challenge. How was it to preserve the depth of scholarship and the passion of the original, while making it more accessible to new readers? How not to alienate the enthusiastic followers that this work and "Alamein" had inspired with a new understanding of their subjects?
In the event, the challenge has been met effectively. The new edition is not only a pleasure to own (and another reason to delay buying that Kindle); it is immensely informative in a way more history books for laymen should be. The 12 pages of photographs of the original have been augmented by (literally) hundreds more, giving insights into the men and their machines that neatly complement the text. Maps are invaluable and well selected and placed. Most fascinating of all are the diagrams of tactics.
This has been achieved at the expense of some text, but most of what has been lost (the Preface and the start of The Eagles chapter, for instance) involves reflections that are not central to the development of the narrative. What remains tells the full story as Bungay told it and it remains a remarkable story, keenly told with a wealth of fascinating detail. Lost, sadly, are several passages that show the contribution Bungay has made to historiography by applying the perspective he brings from his career as a top-flight management consultant and educator. For this, aficionados will not throw away the original when they acquire this complement to their drawing room, and will look forward to seeing Bungay develop this bridge between history and management disciplines in further works.