Título: Race of Aces
Autor: John R. Bruning
Sinopse: The astonishing untold story of the WWII airmen who risked it all in the deadly race to become the greatest American fighter pilot.
In 1942, America's deadliest fighter pilot, or "ace of aces" -- the legendary Eddie Rickenbacker -- offered a bottle of bourbon to the first U.S. fighter pilot to break his record of twenty-six enemy planes shot down. Seizing on the challenge to motivate his men, General George Kenney promoted what they would come to call the "race of aces" as a way of boosting the spirits of his war-weary command.
What developed was a wild three-year sprint for fame and glory, and the chance to be called America's greatest fighter pilot. The story has never been told until now.
Based on new research and full of revelations, John Bruning's brilliant, original book tells the story of how five American pilots contended for personal glory in the Pacific while leading Kenney's resurgent air force against the most formidable enemy America ever faced.
The pilots -- Richard Bong, Tommy McGuire, Neel Kearby, Charles MacDonald and Gerald Johnson -- riveted the nation as they contended for Rickenbacker's crown. As their scores mounted, they transformed themselves from farm boys and aspiring dentists into artists of the modern dogfight.
But as the race reached its climax, some of the pilots began to see how the spotlight warped their sense of duty. They emerged as leaders, beloved by their men as they chose selfless devotion over national accolades.
Teeming with action all across the vast Pacific theater, Race of Aces is a fascinating exploration of the boundary between honorable duty, personal glory, and the complex landscape of the human heart.
"Brings you into the cockpit of the lethal, fast-paced world of fighter pilots . . . Fascinating." -- Sara Vladic
"Extraordinary . . . a must-read." -- US Navy Captain Dan Pedersen
"A heart-pounding narrative of the courage, sacrifice, and tragedy of America's elite fighter pilots." -- James M. Scott
"Vivid and gripping . . . Confirms Bruning's status as the premier war historian of the air." -- Saul David
Contexto da obra
Como livro em inglês, esta obra costuma ganhar também uma camada própria de interesse editorial e linguístico. “Race of Aces”, de John R. Bruning, publicado pela editora Hachette Books, em 2021 e com 552 páginas, integra a categoria Livros em Inglês. Por isso, o interesse da obra tende a se ampliar quando o leitor considera também a relação com a língua em que ela circula.
Editora: Hachette Books
Páginas: 552
Ano: 2021-01-12
Edição:
Linguagem: en
ISBN: 0316508632
ISBN13: 9780316508636
Sobre a editora
Os livros da editora Hachette Books costumam oferecer experiências de leitura marcadas por narrativas intensas e pessoais, que transitam entre memórias de músicos e figuras públicas, relatos de superação, e investigações detalhadas de histórias reais. O catálogo privilegia obras que exploram trajetórias de vida com tons que vão do íntimo ao social, como memórias de artistas do rock e do metal, histórias de justiça criminal, e relatos de batalhas pessoais e coletivas. A linguagem tende a ser direta, com ritmo que ora se concentra em relatos vívidos e emocionais, ora em análises profundas e contextualizadas, sem perder a fluidez. Há uma clara preferência por temas ligados à música, biografias, justiça, e histórias de transformação pessoal e social.
