The Last Enemy

Hillary joined the Royal Air Force at the start of the Second World War as a university undergraduate. Its text details his experiences as a Spitfire pilot during the Battle of Britain, during which he was shot down in action, sustaining severe injuries. He wrote the book in New York City while still recuperating from his wounds during a propaganda publicity tour in the United States in 1941 organized by the British Government to attempt to raise support for the Allied cause and the U.S.A.'s entry into the war. However, he was not allowed to appear in public personally, owing to concerns that his severely facially scarred appearance might prove counter-productive, and his work was confined to newspaper interviews and radio broadcasts. Hillary was killed just 7 months after writing this book in his 24th year while piloting an aircraft in a training accident in 1943.

Hillary joined the Royal Air Force at the start of the Second World War as a university undergraduate. Its text details his experiences as a Spitfire pilot during the Battle of Britain, during which he was shot down in action, sustaining severe injuries. He wrote the book in New York City while still recuperating from his wounds during a propaganda publicity tour in the United States in 1941 organized by the British Government to attempt to raise support for the Allied cause and the U.S.A.'s entry into the war. However, he was not allowed to appear in public personally, owing to concerns that his severely facially scarred appearance might prove counter-productive, and his work was confined to newspaper interviews and radio broadcasts. Hillary was killed just 7 months after writing this book in his 24th year while piloting an aircraft in a training accident in 1943.

In 1918, the RAF was established as the world's first independent air force. To mark the 100th anniversary of its creation, Penguin are publishing the Centenary Collection, a series of six classic books highlighting the skill, heroism and esprit de cor ps that have characterised the Royal Air Force throughout its first century. The Last Enemy is Richard Hillary's extraordinary account of his experience as a Spitfire pilot in the Second World War. Hillary was shot down during the Battle of Britain, leading to months in hospital as part of Archibald McIndoe's 'Guinea Pig Club', undergoing pioneering plastic surgery to rebuild his face and hands. The Last Enemy was first published in 1942, just seven months before Hilary's untimely death in a second crash and has gone on to be hailed as one of the classic texts of World War II. The Centenary Collection: 1. The Last Enemy by Richard Hillary 2. Tumult in the Clouds by James Goodson 3. Going Solo by Roald Dahl 4. First Light by Geoffrey Wellum 5. Tornado Down by John Peters & John Nichol 6. Immediate Response by Mark Hammond

In 1918, the RAF was established as the world's first independent air force. To mark the 100th anniversary of its creation, Penguin are publishing the Centenary Collection, a series of six classic books highlighting the skill, heroism and esprit de cor ps that have characterised the Royal Air Force throughout its first century. The Last Enemy is Richard Hillary's extraordinary account of his experience as a Spitfire pilot in the Second World War. Hillary was shot down during the Battle of Britain, leading to months in hospital as part of Archibald McIndoe's 'Guinea Pig Club', undergoing pioneering plastic surgery to rebuild his face and hands. The Last Enemy was first published in 1942, just seven months before Hilary's untimely death in a second crash and has gone on to be hailed as one of the classic texts of World War II. The Centenary Collection: 1. The Last Enemy by Richard Hillary 2. Tumult in the Clouds by James Goodson 3. Going Solo by Roald Dahl 4. First Light by Geoffrey Wellum 5. Tornado Down by John Peters & John Nichol 6. Immediate Response by Mark Hammond

Richard Hillary's book The Last Enemy was first published in the UK in 1942 just seven months before his untimely death. It is an extraordinary first-hand account of the experiences of a young man swept into the Battle of Britain as a Spitfire pilot. The book is in two parts, beginning with his time at Trinity College, Oxford, where he was a successful oarsman and carefree student. Joining the RAF Volunteer Reserve he displayed an undisciplined approach towards flying training schools whilst making new acquaintances prompted some reappraisal of his attitude to life. His descriptions of flying a Spitfire are gripping as we share both the horror and excitement of close combat in the air. Shot down over the English Channel on 3 September 1940 he is seriously burned and comes under the care of Archibald McIndoe and his pioneering reconstructive plastic surgery. He writes in graphic detail but with no self-pity of the operations and pain endured during his long stints in hospital at East Grinstead. Towards the end of the book he eloquently portrays his inner struggles and relates an epiphany that inspired him to write this book. The Last Enemy is undoubtedly one of the most important and compelling books to have been written during recent wars and will stay with you as you reflect on Hillary's short but eventful life.

Richard Hillary's bookThe Last Enemywas first published in theUK in 1942 just seven months before his untimely death. It is anextraordinary first-hand account of the experiences of a youngman swept into the Battle of Britain as a Spitfire pilot. The book is in two parts, beginning with his time at TrinityCollege, Oxford, where he was a successful oarsman and carefreestudent. Joining the RAF Volunteer Reserve he displayed anundisciplined approach towards flying training schools whilstmaking new acquaintances prompted some reappraisal of hisattitude to life. His descriptions of flying a Spitfire are gripping as we share boththe horror and excitement of close combat in the air. Shot down over the English Channel on 3 September 1940 he isseriously burned and comes under the care of Archibald McIndoeand his pioneering reconstructive plastic surgery. He writes ingraphic detail but with no self-pity of the operations andpainendured during his long stints in hospital at East Grinstead. Towards the end of the book heeloquently portrays his innerstruggles and relates an epiphanythat inspired him to write thisbook. The Last Enemy is undoubtedlyone of the most important andcompelling books to have beenwritten during recent wars andwill stay with you as you reflect onHillary's short but eventful life.