Merlin
The Power Behind the Spitfire, Mosquito and Lancaster: The Story of the Engine That Won the Battle of Britain and WWII
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Merlin
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Narrated by:
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Chris Courtenay
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Philip Pope
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By:
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Graham Hoyland
About this listen
Published to coincide with the 75th anniversary of VE Day and the 80th anniversary of the start of the Battle of Britain, Merlin is the extraordinary story of the development of the Rolls-Royce engine that would stop Hitler from invading Britain and carry the war to the very heart of Germany.
The story of the Merlin engine encompasses the history of powered flight, from the ingenuity of the Wright Brothers to the horrors of World War I, and from the first crossing of the Atlantic to the heady days of flying in the 1920s. There is also the extraordinary story of the Schneider Trophy – an international contest wherein nations poised on the precipice of war competed for engineering excellence in the name of progress.
And at the heart of this story are the glamourous lives of the pilots, many of whom died in their pursuit of speed; the engineers, like Henry Royce of Rolls-Royce, who sketched the engine that would win WWII in the sand of his local beach; and perhaps most importantly the Lady Lucy Houston who after the Wall Street Crash singlehandedly funded the development of the engine and the iconic Spitfire.
Never was so much owed by so many to so few – and without the Rolls-Royce Merlin engine, the few would have been powerless.
©2020 Graham Hoyland (P)2020 HarperCollins Publishers LimitedListeners also enjoyed...
Critic reviews
"Illuminating and entertaining." (The Times)
"A towering work full of twists and turns." (Independent)
"Richly enjoyable." (Daily Mail)
What listeners say about Merlin
Average customer ratingsReviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- J. Chettleburgh
- 30-11-20
Wonderful book
I really enjoyed this book, it's one that I will come back to repeatedly and may even purchase the hardcopy!. A lot of depth and history with detailed engineering information.
Maybe the Merlin title is a little misleading as it concentrates (rightly so) on the men behind Rolls Royce and the gestation of the company, as well as the other major players in the story.
I loved it.
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Overall4 out of 5 stars
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Performance4 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Martin
- 29-01-24
Fascinating history of the Merlin engine
A really good book, documenting the development of the Merlin engine, the airframes that used them and how it won the Battle of Britain!
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Amazon Customer
- 27-10-20
Superbly entertaining and informative account
This is not just a narrow history of the Merlin engine but a history of flight, the times, the politics, the characters, of the aviation and engineering companies- as well as being a satisfying insight into the incredible practical and theoretical challenges of creating the engine itself. The narration was perfect, delivered with a nice precision and gentle wryness at the right places. Really enjoyed the whole thing, one of the best.
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1 person found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Alec Sharples
- 19-02-21
11,000 lumps of metal which changed the course war
One of the most outstanding books I have ever read.
How could 11,000 or more finely engineered lumps of metal have changed the course of the war - well read on and find out how this mystical engine did just that.
A superb mix of detail, history and engineering excellence which is riveting. The author also details some extraordinary insights into the amazing people behind pivotal moments in our island history.
Told by someone with a technical background but with a true storyteller's sympathetic understanding which enthrals this is a must-read book.
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Overall4 out of 5 stars
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Performance4 out of 5 stars
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Story4 out of 5 stars
- Stolly
- 10-03-22
Lots of RR
Lots of RR and not too much Merlin but there’s a limit to what can be told about an engine.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Nigel Southern
- 10-08-20
Engineering Enlightenment
A magnificent history of engineering evolution sprinkled with relevant; social, economic, military, political and aviation history. I was educated, entertained and amused.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- swotty
- 22-11-20
Absolutely Brilliant
This is the best book I've listened to since joining audiobooks approx 3 years ago.
it links so many aspects of the two world wars that took place in the 20th century together and the time inbetween.
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1 person found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance3 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Philip
- 03-08-20
Brilliant story covering related and interesting additional history.
I wondered what this book would cover. As an avid aero-enthusiast, I was cautious of content and presentation. I need not have worried as the early history of flight, British politics, commercial intrigue and fascinating tales, all knitted together to make an enjoyable and cohesive book. The narrator has a clear concise pleasant English voice but sadly is unfamiliar with many aeronautical pronunciations, and this was my reason for deducting two stars. I’m now looking forward to further work by Graham Howland as he also includes many of his own personal experiences and history. I highly recommend this book!
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1 person found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Amazon Customer
- 11-12-20
A Good Story
But maybe the Guernica atrocity needed not to be included, first jet airliner Nene Viking
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance4 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- P N MILNE
- 22-11-23
Accessible geekery and stirring stories.
If you take an interest in engineering but you’re not an expert, this is a wonderful book for you. Blends the people, the stories and the science beautifully. Delivery a little slow for me but not distractingly so, and very clear.
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