"Fokker—the creative years,"

“Fokker The Creative Years,” by A. R. Weyl. 420 pp. (Putnam & Co. Ltd., 42, Great Russell Street, London, W.C.1. 84s.)

This is another excellent aviation book, different in conception from “In Full Flight,” for it is in the Putnam documentary series which means that it contains a vast amount of detailed data about Fokker’s life and work and his aeroplanes, from the early Spiders to post-war Fokker machines. While it is as beautifully-produced as the former Putnam aviation books and as copiously illustrated and provided with informative appendices, this is not a catalogue of Fokker productions but is the story of Fokker’s life, correcting many erroneous beliefs and setting straight the record of the formative years of the great Dutchman, while paying belated honour to Reinhold Platz who designed the best of the Fokker aeroplanes of World War I and the most famous of the Fokker transport monoplanes.

Weyl died in 1959 and J. M. Bruce completed the book, which should be read by all serious students of aviation history, as being a full and true account of Fokker’s life—a fascinating case of an aviation pioneer who turned his enthusiasm into a solid business undertaking.—W. B.

Iliffe Books Ltd. have brought out the 1965 edition of that unique reference work “World Car Catalogue.” It follows the format of earlier editions, giving detailed specifications of nearly 600 of the World’s automobiles, each with two photographs, one of the whole car, the other of some particularly interesting detail—over 1,100 photographs, many in full colour. A loose-leaf stop-press section ensures a very up-to-date volume. The work of the Automobile Club of Italy, this enormous reference book, now in its 4th edition, is edited by Sergio D’Angelo. The English edition runs to 588 10 5/8 in. x 8 7/8 in. pages and costs 92s. 9d. Advertisements are not accepted.