You know, many think that because something is old, that it is no longer enjoyable or interesting. While this may be true of cheese and slide rules, it isn't always the case with books. I've always been a fan of the short-lived MacDonald series of aircraft monograph books. I have the Sabre and Meteor book and had heard of the Hurricane volume, but when I saw the Gladiator at a recent swap meet, it was one that I knew I had to own. After some dickering, I managed to get the book for way more than the 35 shillings it sold for back in 1964.

I knew from the author that it would be well done and I wasn't disappointed. Upon opening the book I was assaulted by the fragrance of 'quality old book' that I have found so particular to British books of the era. All my William Green books smell just like it!

You find more than just a Gladiator history in here. There is also a well done background on the designer of the Gladiator and many of its prececessors, H.P. Folland. There is a pretty complete history of the Gauntlet and it isn't until page 33 of the 136 in the book that we first meet the Gladiator.

The book then follows a logical sequence of events and covers RAF, Royal Navy and Foreign Gladiators. Probably the more interesting sections cover Swedish Gladiators in Finland, British Gladiator operations in Norway and operations in the Middle East and East Africa. Though I have read quite a bit on Gladiators, I learned a great deal more.

As with other MacDonald books, there is an extensive appendix covering the various different marks of Gladiator along with specs and three views. A complete listing of planes by serial gives those units the planes served with and their fate (if known).

Frankly, I have to give all of the MacDonald Monographs very high marks. They are books that even today, nearly 40 years later, I find are still quite accurate in their information and have yet to be surpassed.

Review book courtesy of my library.

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