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Narrow Margin: The Battle of Britain and the Rise of Air Power 1930-1949
Foreword - Author's Introduction - Prologue -The Battle of Britain. Part Both Sides Prepare Part Battle Begins Part The Battle Appendices - Bibliography - Index. Black and white photos and illustrations.
362 pages, Paperback
First published December 31, 1969
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
May 29, 2016
Good reading!
A somewhat data-heavy account of the Battle of Britain. Even so, it captures the drama and sacrifice asked from combatants in both sides. I enjoyed it as much as the movie (The Battle of Britain).
A somewhat data-heavy account of the Battle of Britain. Even so, it captures the drama and sacrifice asked from combatants in both sides. I enjoyed it as much as the movie (The Battle of Britain).
September 24, 2025
Battle of Britain, based on the book by Derek Dempster and Derek Wood
10 out of 10
On most levels, indeed, maybe all, this film is perfect.
You could not find a more spectacular, majestic cast, made of the creme de la creme of British and World cinema:
Michael Caine as Squadron Leader Canfield, Trevor Howard, Ian McShane, the iconic, godly Laurence Olivier, Cristopher Plummer - who became recently the oldest nominee for an Oscar - , Michael Redgrave, Robert Shaw and so many more outstanding artists.
This motion picture is from that point of view as good as the best possible lesson in acting.
More important would be the educational role it can play from a historical, moral, meaning of life point of view.
The pilots that have defended Britain and with that the rest of the free world have done so sacrificing themselves in many cases.
They are role models, the real Supermen that we should strive to emulate, much more valorous than the cartoon characters that have inundated the big and small screens.
In 1940, it looked like Nazi Germany would be able to overcome and eventually invade Britain, which had very few pilots and planes to defend the island under siege.
This glorious film is dedicated to the heroes, men and women who have given their life to save the nation and maybe the rest of us from a possible fascist subjugation.
For an excruciatingly long period the Germans had the superiority in the air, in terms of firepower and flying machines at their disposal.
It could be argued, perhaps this exceptional, fabulous film is a case in point, that the crucial, cardinal, decisive element has been the dedication of the British pilots, who have been helped by others from all over the world...America, Canada, Australia and so many other countries, who fought like Supermen and Wonder Women to prevent th free world from becoming a Nazi play field.
Some millennials might complain about the special effects, the many fights that take place in the sky and which could only benefit from the special effects of 1969.
I would say that to complain about that would be more than superficial and lame, it would be the equivalent of dismissing Michelangelo in favor of some contemporary creator who can dazzle the public using modern technology, 3D images, but still be far from one the geniuses that will stand the test of time.
We should look at this motion picture in awe, not wanting to be convinced by flamboyant effects that what is on the screen is credible, explosions look real, but aware of the Real Tragedy, Valor, Bravery, Superheroes involved in the real Battle of Britain.
The glorious film is not inspired by real events, uses artistic license to inflate one or another aspect, the extraordinary courage of the heroes.
It is, to use another genius for a metaphor, just as The Last Supper, only in my case I do not believe in the actual 12 apostles, Jesus and any of the other religious implications, but Leonardo da Vinci has painted a rendition of what humanity believed- many still do - to have been one of the most important, divine moments ever.
In fact, the unbelievable accomplishments, acts of outstanding valor made me think of one passage in the fundamental book about cinema:
Adventures in the Screen Trade by the late, regretted, phenomenal William Goldman.
In it he talks about one incredible premise wherein a character in a movie climbs walls to this impenetrable castle, avoids all traps, finds the impossible path and then the well guarded woman he wanted to get to is by a miracle alone, without protection.
We would not believe the script, but it happened with...the Queen of Great Britain.
The other impossible example took place in the second part of World War II, during an operation depicted in A Bridge Too Far, directed by another cinematic God, Richard Attenborough.
William Goldman could not write a credible passage for the crossing of the Rhine, where a first wave of allied soldiers is decimated and massacred and a second wave has to cross, seeing that it is suicidal.
The formidable winner of two Academy Awards for his scripts explains that it is hard to convince audiences to be live scenes like that, although they ...
Actually happened!
The whole Battle of Britain is hard to believe, but it took place and the Supermen and Wonder Women were real, unlike the fare we - I mean, some, I don't- watch in Avengers, Transformers and other such paraphernalia.
Winston Churchill has concluded about the Ubermensch that fought and won the Battle of Britain:
"Never was so much owed by so many to so few"
10 out of 10
On most levels, indeed, maybe all, this film is perfect.
You could not find a more spectacular, majestic cast, made of the creme de la creme of British and World cinema:
Michael Caine as Squadron Leader Canfield, Trevor Howard, Ian McShane, the iconic, godly Laurence Olivier, Cristopher Plummer - who became recently the oldest nominee for an Oscar - , Michael Redgrave, Robert Shaw and so many more outstanding artists.
This motion picture is from that point of view as good as the best possible lesson in acting.
More important would be the educational role it can play from a historical, moral, meaning of life point of view.
The pilots that have defended Britain and with that the rest of the free world have done so sacrificing themselves in many cases.
They are role models, the real Supermen that we should strive to emulate, much more valorous than the cartoon characters that have inundated the big and small screens.
In 1940, it looked like Nazi Germany would be able to overcome and eventually invade Britain, which had very few pilots and planes to defend the island under siege.
This glorious film is dedicated to the heroes, men and women who have given their life to save the nation and maybe the rest of us from a possible fascist subjugation.
For an excruciatingly long period the Germans had the superiority in the air, in terms of firepower and flying machines at their disposal.
It could be argued, perhaps this exceptional, fabulous film is a case in point, that the crucial, cardinal, decisive element has been the dedication of the British pilots, who have been helped by others from all over the world...America, Canada, Australia and so many other countries, who fought like Supermen and Wonder Women to prevent th free world from becoming a Nazi play field.
Some millennials might complain about the special effects, the many fights that take place in the sky and which could only benefit from the special effects of 1969.
I would say that to complain about that would be more than superficial and lame, it would be the equivalent of dismissing Michelangelo in favor of some contemporary creator who can dazzle the public using modern technology, 3D images, but still be far from one the geniuses that will stand the test of time.
We should look at this motion picture in awe, not wanting to be convinced by flamboyant effects that what is on the screen is credible, explosions look real, but aware of the Real Tragedy, Valor, Bravery, Superheroes involved in the real Battle of Britain.
The glorious film is not inspired by real events, uses artistic license to inflate one or another aspect, the extraordinary courage of the heroes.
It is, to use another genius for a metaphor, just as The Last Supper, only in my case I do not believe in the actual 12 apostles, Jesus and any of the other religious implications, but Leonardo da Vinci has painted a rendition of what humanity believed- many still do - to have been one of the most important, divine moments ever.
In fact, the unbelievable accomplishments, acts of outstanding valor made me think of one passage in the fundamental book about cinema:
Adventures in the Screen Trade by the late, regretted, phenomenal William Goldman.
In it he talks about one incredible premise wherein a character in a movie climbs walls to this impenetrable castle, avoids all traps, finds the impossible path and then the well guarded woman he wanted to get to is by a miracle alone, without protection.
We would not believe the script, but it happened with...the Queen of Great Britain.
The other impossible example took place in the second part of World War II, during an operation depicted in A Bridge Too Far, directed by another cinematic God, Richard Attenborough.
William Goldman could not write a credible passage for the crossing of the Rhine, where a first wave of allied soldiers is decimated and massacred and a second wave has to cross, seeing that it is suicidal.
The formidable winner of two Academy Awards for his scripts explains that it is hard to convince audiences to be live scenes like that, although they ...
Actually happened!
The whole Battle of Britain is hard to believe, but it took place and the Supermen and Wonder Women were real, unlike the fare we - I mean, some, I don't- watch in Avengers, Transformers and other such paraphernalia.
Winston Churchill has concluded about the Ubermensch that fought and won the Battle of Britain:
"Never was so much owed by so many to so few"
December 7, 2023
This was a phenomenally comprehensive history of the Battle of Britain with a lengthy account of how both the British and the Germans grew their air forces and technology. In fact, it was so comprehensive, that it was quite an exhausting read, and the authors seemed to have a slight aversion to commas which sometimes made reading difficult. The Battle of Britain itself, is dealt with day by day with each of the raids, what bombing damage was done and accurate details of the losses for both sides. A valuable reference but a heavy read.
August 30, 2025
Battle of Britain, based on the book by Derek Dempster and Derek Wood
10 out of 10
On most levels, indeed, maybe all, this film is perfect.
You could not find a more spectacular, majestic cast, made of the creme de la creme of British and World cinema:
Michael Caine as Squadron Leader Canfield, Trevor Howard, Ian McShane, the iconic, godly Laurence Olivier, Cristopher Plummer - who became recently the oldest nominee for an Oscar - , Michael Redgrave, Robert Shaw and so many more outstanding artists.
This motion picture is from that point of view as good as the best possible lesson in acting.
More important would be the educational role it can play from a historical, moral, meaning of life point of view.
The pilots that have defended Britain and with that the rest of the free world have done so sacrificing themselves in many cases.
They are role models, the real Supermen that we should strive to emulate, much more valorous than the cartoon characters that have inundated the big and small screens.
In 1940, it looked like Nazi Germany would be able to overcome and eventually invade Britain, which had very few pilots and planes to defend the island under siege.
This glorious film is dedicated to the heroes, men and women who have given their life to save the nation and maybe the rest of us from a possible fascist subjugation.
For an excruciatingly long period the Germans had the superiority in the air, in terms of firepower and flying machines at their disposal.
It could be argued, perhaps this exceptional, fabulous film is a case in point, that the crucial, cardinal, decisive element has been the dedication of the British pilots, who have been helped by others from all over the world...America, Canada, Australia and so many other countries, who fought like Supermen and Wonder Women to prevent th free world from becoming a Nazi play field.
Some millennials might complain about the special effects, the many fights that take place in the sky and which could only benefit from the special effects of 1969.
I would say that to complain about that would be more than superficial and lame, it would be the equivalent of dismissing Michelangelo in favor of some contemporary creator who can dazzle the public using modern technology, 3D images, but still be far from one the geniuses that will stand the test of time.
We should look at this motion picture in awe, not wanting to be convinced by flamboyant effects that what is on the screen is credible, explosions look real, but aware of the Real Tragedy, Valor, Bravery, Superheroes involved in the real Battle of Britain.
The glorious film is not inspired by real events, uses artistic license to inflate one or another aspect, the extraordinary courage of the heroes.
It is, to use another genius for a metaphor, just as The Last Supper, only in my case I do not believe in the actual 12 apostles, Jesus and any of the other religious implications, but Leonardo da Vinci has painted a rendition of what humanity believed- many still do - to have been one of the most important, divine moments ever.
In fact, the unbelievable accomplishments, acts of outstanding valor made me think of one passage in the fundamental book about cinema:
Adventures in the Screen Trade by the late, regretted, phenomenal William Goldman.
In it he talks about one incredible premise wherein a character in a movie climbs walls to this impenetrable castle, avoids all traps, finds the impossible path and then the well guarded woman he wanted to get to is by a miracle alone, without protection.
We would not believe the script, but it happened with...the Queen of Great Britain.
The other impossible example took place in the second part of World War II, during an operation depicted in A Bridge Too Far, directed by another cinematic God, Richard Attenborough.
William Goldman could not write a credible passage for the crossing of the Rhine, where a first wave of allied soldiers is decimated and massacred and a second wave has to cross, seeing that it is suicidal.
The formidable winner of two Academy Awards for his scripts explains that it is hard to convince audiences to be live scenes like that, although they ...
Actually happened!
The whole Battle of Britain is hard to believe, but it took place and the Supermen and Wonder Women were real, unlike the fare we - I mean, some, I don't- watch in Avengers, Transformers and other such paraphernalia.
Winston Churchill has concluded about the Ubermensch that fought and won the Battle of Britain:
"Never was so much owed by so many to so few"
10 out of 10
On most levels, indeed, maybe all, this film is perfect.
You could not find a more spectacular, majestic cast, made of the creme de la creme of British and World cinema:
Michael Caine as Squadron Leader Canfield, Trevor Howard, Ian McShane, the iconic, godly Laurence Olivier, Cristopher Plummer - who became recently the oldest nominee for an Oscar - , Michael Redgrave, Robert Shaw and so many more outstanding artists.
This motion picture is from that point of view as good as the best possible lesson in acting.
More important would be the educational role it can play from a historical, moral, meaning of life point of view.
The pilots that have defended Britain and with that the rest of the free world have done so sacrificing themselves in many cases.
They are role models, the real Supermen that we should strive to emulate, much more valorous than the cartoon characters that have inundated the big and small screens.
In 1940, it looked like Nazi Germany would be able to overcome and eventually invade Britain, which had very few pilots and planes to defend the island under siege.
This glorious film is dedicated to the heroes, men and women who have given their life to save the nation and maybe the rest of us from a possible fascist subjugation.
For an excruciatingly long period the Germans had the superiority in the air, in terms of firepower and flying machines at their disposal.
It could be argued, perhaps this exceptional, fabulous film is a case in point, that the crucial, cardinal, decisive element has been the dedication of the British pilots, who have been helped by others from all over the world...America, Canada, Australia and so many other countries, who fought like Supermen and Wonder Women to prevent th free world from becoming a Nazi play field.
Some millennials might complain about the special effects, the many fights that take place in the sky and which could only benefit from the special effects of 1969.
I would say that to complain about that would be more than superficial and lame, it would be the equivalent of dismissing Michelangelo in favor of some contemporary creator who can dazzle the public using modern technology, 3D images, but still be far from one the geniuses that will stand the test of time.
We should look at this motion picture in awe, not wanting to be convinced by flamboyant effects that what is on the screen is credible, explosions look real, but aware of the Real Tragedy, Valor, Bravery, Superheroes involved in the real Battle of Britain.
The glorious film is not inspired by real events, uses artistic license to inflate one or another aspect, the extraordinary courage of the heroes.
It is, to use another genius for a metaphor, just as The Last Supper, only in my case I do not believe in the actual 12 apostles, Jesus and any of the other religious implications, but Leonardo da Vinci has painted a rendition of what humanity believed- many still do - to have been one of the most important, divine moments ever.
In fact, the unbelievable accomplishments, acts of outstanding valor made me think of one passage in the fundamental book about cinema:
Adventures in the Screen Trade by the late, regretted, phenomenal William Goldman.
In it he talks about one incredible premise wherein a character in a movie climbs walls to this impenetrable castle, avoids all traps, finds the impossible path and then the well guarded woman he wanted to get to is by a miracle alone, without protection.
We would not believe the script, but it happened with...the Queen of Great Britain.
The other impossible example took place in the second part of World War II, during an operation depicted in A Bridge Too Far, directed by another cinematic God, Richard Attenborough.
William Goldman could not write a credible passage for the crossing of the Rhine, where a first wave of allied soldiers is decimated and massacred and a second wave has to cross, seeing that it is suicidal.
The formidable winner of two Academy Awards for his scripts explains that it is hard to convince audiences to be live scenes like that, although they ...
Actually happened!
The whole Battle of Britain is hard to believe, but it took place and the Supermen and Wonder Women were real, unlike the fare we - I mean, some, I don't- watch in Avengers, Transformers and other such paraphernalia.
Winston Churchill has concluded about the Ubermensch that fought and won the Battle of Britain:
"Never was so much owed by so many to so few"
September 24, 2024
A dense and fact-filled book which mainly chronicles the Battle of Britain from July - October 1940. A story with numerous leading characters, some of which are aeroplanes not people. Whilst there has been a vast amount of later research since it was first published in 1960, still this book makes some essential points that are easily overlooked: Britain's successful defence relied totally on the early warning system provided by Chain Home radar, the Observer Corps, and the plotters at Bentley Park and Uxbridge - thousands of people collating information as if part of a human computer (something no other country had then); Operation Sealion was a genuine plan for invasion; the Hurricane won the battle, not the Spitfire. The authors also argue convincingly that the Blitz on London, whilst a distraction and strategic error on the Germans' part, was not a fatal one, in other words, if they had focused on destroying the fighter command airfields with the forces they had available, they would still not have won.
It is strange that the Pen & Sword edition makes no mention of the Battle of Britain film. The film's screenplay credit reads 'James Kennaway and Wilfred Greatorex' with underneath it in smaller type the title of this book and its authors. There is no 'based on the book' shown on the screen. However, how could any two hour film be in any sense based on this encyclopeadic book?
An excellent book, one I am glad to have. And what a testimony to the sheer organisational story telling ability of James Kennaway (far removed from his literary novels) to construct a coherent story and to his superb ear for dialogue, to concisely create a character in just a few spoken words - given that the film has scores of characters and several main plot lines. The necessities of film making and cutting mean that all these strands are not always clear on the screen, but I have no doubt they would have been in his script.
It is strange that the Pen & Sword edition makes no mention of the Battle of Britain film. The film's screenplay credit reads 'James Kennaway and Wilfred Greatorex' with underneath it in smaller type the title of this book and its authors. There is no 'based on the book' shown on the screen. However, how could any two hour film be in any sense based on this encyclopeadic book?
An excellent book, one I am glad to have. And what a testimony to the sheer organisational story telling ability of James Kennaway (far removed from his literary novels) to construct a coherent story and to his superb ear for dialogue, to concisely create a character in just a few spoken words - given that the film has scores of characters and several main plot lines. The necessities of film making and cutting mean that all these strands are not always clear on the screen, but I have no doubt they would have been in his script.
February 11, 2009
This remarkable and well-researched book traces the innovative efforts of the RAF's defense of the British Isles during WW2. Of particular note is the fact that the authors were able to reply on first-hand sources for much of their historical information. It makes the case for RADAR being the turning point technology in the Battle of Britain.
Want to read
November 6, 2010The basis for the movie Battle of Britain, featuring Michael Caine.
March 25, 2020
Wonderfully researched and written. I use it as a reference book but it’s also very readable.
October 26, 2021
Comprehensive Battle of Britain guide
Enthralling for those who like WW2 aircraft books. Well written. Only drawback of the Ebook is the vast number of typos.
Enthralling for those who like WW2 aircraft books. Well written. Only drawback of the Ebook is the vast number of typos.
August 28, 2012
Just reread the updated version. Still a classic of WWII analysis.
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews