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Dam Buster: Barnes Wallis: An Engineer’s Life
'A stunningly good and surely definitive biography of one of the most fascinating British engineers ever to have lived' JAMES HOLLAND
Barnes Wallis became a household name after the hit 1955 film The Dam Busters, in which Michael Redgrave portrayed him as a shy genius at odds with bureaucracy. This simplified a complicated man.
Wallis is remembered for contributions to aviation that spanned most of the 20th century, from airships at its start to reusable spacecraft near the end. In the years between he pioneered new kinds of aircraft structure, bombs to alter the way in which wars are fought, and aeroplanes that could change shape in flight. Later work extended to radio telescopy, prosthetic limbs, and plans for a fleet of high-speed cargo submarines to travel the world's oceans in silence.
For all his fame, little is known about the man himself - the confirmed bachelor who in his mid-30s fell hopelessly in love with his teenage cousin-in-law, the enthusiast for outdoor life who in his eighties still liked to walk up a mountain, or the rationalist who dallied with Catholic spiritualty. Dam Buster draws on family records to reveal someone thick with a Victorian who in his imagination ranged far into the 21st century; a romantic for whom nostalgic pastoral and advanced technology went together; an unassuming man who kept a close eye on his legacy.
Wallis was last in a line of engineers who combined hands-on experience with searching vision. Richard Morris sets out to locate him in Britain's grand narrative.
Barnes Wallis became a household name after the hit 1955 film The Dam Busters, in which Michael Redgrave portrayed him as a shy genius at odds with bureaucracy. This simplified a complicated man.
Wallis is remembered for contributions to aviation that spanned most of the 20th century, from airships at its start to reusable spacecraft near the end. In the years between he pioneered new kinds of aircraft structure, bombs to alter the way in which wars are fought, and aeroplanes that could change shape in flight. Later work extended to radio telescopy, prosthetic limbs, and plans for a fleet of high-speed cargo submarines to travel the world's oceans in silence.
For all his fame, little is known about the man himself - the confirmed bachelor who in his mid-30s fell hopelessly in love with his teenage cousin-in-law, the enthusiast for outdoor life who in his eighties still liked to walk up a mountain, or the rationalist who dallied with Catholic spiritualty. Dam Buster draws on family records to reveal someone thick with a Victorian who in his imagination ranged far into the 21st century; a romantic for whom nostalgic pastoral and advanced technology went together; an unassuming man who kept a close eye on his legacy.
Wallis was last in a line of engineers who combined hands-on experience with searching vision. Richard Morris sets out to locate him in Britain's grand narrative.
- GenresNonfictionHistory
447 pages, Kindle Edition
Published May 4, 2023
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About the author
Richard Morris
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There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.
This profile may contain books from multiple authors of this name.
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
February 26, 2024
An excellent and very readable book. It's not all about the bouncing bomb - it's about the man, his family, and wider engineering achievements. The book also describes well the period and industry in which Wallis lived. The era of my grandparents I guess.
July 2, 2025
Barnes Wallis by Richard Morris is an exhaustive and thoughtful portrait of one of Britain’s most original wartime minds. Morris draws on a wide range of sources to chart the life of a man he aptly describes as “Victorian” in outlook — conservative, moralistic, and fiercely inventive.
The early chapters delve deep into Wallis’ upbringing and formative years. While this section feels slightly extended and took some getting into, it does help lay the groundwork for understanding the convictions that later shaped his pioneering work. By contrast, the wartime chapters — covering his legendary innovations like Upkeep and Tallboy — seemed to flash by, which was a shame given how central they are to Wallis’ public legacy.
One of the most fascinating aspects for me was the discussion of Wallis’ later life including his close connection with R.C. Sherriff, the screenwriter of The Dam Busters film. Wallis was key in shaping the narrative, with his version of events — and even his character — making it into the opening scene. It’s a striking reminder of how historical memory can be influenced not just by action but by those who help tell the story.
I’ve really enjoyed Morris’ previous biographies of Guy Gibson and Leonard Cheshire, and this felt like a natural continuation. It’s not a fast-paced read, but it’s deeply researched and respectful of its subject. A worthwhile biography for anyone interested in engineering, aviation history, or the moral complexities of wartime innovation.
The early chapters delve deep into Wallis’ upbringing and formative years. While this section feels slightly extended and took some getting into, it does help lay the groundwork for understanding the convictions that later shaped his pioneering work. By contrast, the wartime chapters — covering his legendary innovations like Upkeep and Tallboy — seemed to flash by, which was a shame given how central they are to Wallis’ public legacy.
One of the most fascinating aspects for me was the discussion of Wallis’ later life including his close connection with R.C. Sherriff, the screenwriter of The Dam Busters film. Wallis was key in shaping the narrative, with his version of events — and even his character — making it into the opening scene. It’s a striking reminder of how historical memory can be influenced not just by action but by those who help tell the story.
I’ve really enjoyed Morris’ previous biographies of Guy Gibson and Leonard Cheshire, and this felt like a natural continuation. It’s not a fast-paced read, but it’s deeply researched and respectful of its subject. A worthwhile biography for anyone interested in engineering, aviation history, or the moral complexities of wartime innovation.
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews