Winkle, Paul Beaver
Winkle, Paul Beaver
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Winkle
The Extraordinary Life of Britain’s Greatest Pilot

Author: Paul Beaver

Narrator: Steve John Shepherd, Paul Beaver

Unabridged: 11 hr

Format: Digital Audiobook Download

Publisher: Penguin

Published: 06/08/2023


Synopsis

Brought to you by Penguin.

The daring life story and astonishing adventures of Captain Eric 'Winkle' Brown - Britain's greatest-ever pilot.

Small in stature but immense in reputation and talent, there was more to Eric 'Winkle' Brown than met the eye.

The pilot who set the standard for Britain's golden age of aviation, Winkle cemented his worldwide fame with incredible skill, extraordinary daring - and nerves of steel when things went wrong. From shooting down Luftwaffe bombers from the deck of a carrier in the Battle of the Atlantic and narrowly escaping death when his ship was torpedoed, to accumulating a never-to-be repeated litany of world records and firsts as a test pilot, his unparalleled flying career saw him take the controls of over four hundred different kinds of aircraft - more than any other pilot in history.

A rival to Chuck Yeager and hero to Neil Armstrong, by the time of his appearance on Desert Island Disc's 1000th episode Winkle had become a legend in his own lifetime, and by his death, a national treasure.

But despite his enormous fame, there have always been mysteries at the heart of Winkle's story. To truly understand this fascinating but secretive man is to grapple with questions that have intrigued and confounded biographers throughout his extraordinary life.

Drawing on previously unseen documents and unfettered access to Winkle's own personal archive Paul Beaver records a life with more twists and turns than a Battle of Britain dogfight - which was, of course, something Winkle had taken part in himself - uncovering the complex and enigmatic man behind the legend - the real story of Britain's greatest pilot.

A story Winkle insisted could only be told after his death . . .

©2023 Paul Beaver (P)2023 Penguin Audio

Reviews

Goodreads review by Stephen on September 28, 2023

detailed and interesting biography of one of the greatest British pilots from his origins in London and Edinburgh to his love of flying. the author was given access to personal papers after Winkle had died and this is the result of the research.......more

Goodreads review by John on July 22, 2023

Much has been written, and much video interview time expended, and widely available, on the remarkable life of Captain Eric ‘Winkle’ Brown, R.N., perhaps the world most experienced test pilot. Paul Beaver’s new biography adds much to the man’s extraordinary history. Brown’s beginnings are charted her......more

Goodreads review by Stephen on January 16, 2024

Very historical read on life of a great pilot.......more

Goodreads review by Jackson on February 13, 2025

Winkle: The Extraordinary Life of Britain’s Greatest Pilot is an absolutely captivating read. I picked it up knowing a little about Eric “Winkle” Brown’s legendary status, but I had no idea just how incredible his story truly was. From test-flying hundreds of aircraft to surviving near-impossible si......more

Goodreads review by Jim on August 21, 2023

Eric Brown was (is) the greatest Test Pilot this country has ever produced. His number of types flow reaches a staggering 487 and surely cannot be topped. Paul Beaver has done an excellent job of producing a readable book on a very complex character. If you have read Erics own book, 'Wings on my slee......more


Quotes

An excellent biography PATRICK BISHOP, DAILY TELEGRAPH

Beaver recounts the story of a man he regarded as a mentor in unshowy but fascinating detail, and restores a British hero to his rightful place Observer

The extraordinary story [of] a fearless pilot and decorated war hero ... epic THE HERALD

Eric 'Winkle' Brown may not be a household name, but he certainly should be, and this thumping great biography by Britain's leading aviation historian deserves to put that right DAILY MAIL 'BOOK OF THE WEEK'

Winkle Brown's astonishing adventures make for fascinating reading Sunday Express

Riveting ... one of those must-read books, compelling and full of incidents that leave you gasping with surprise ... an incredible story Flyer

An incredible life ... Brown took a secret to the grave that makes his story all the more remarkable The Sun