The Flying Poilu: A Story of Aerial Warfare, Marcel Nadaud — 1st UK Edition

£22.00

The Flying Poilu: A Story of Aerial Warfare, Marcel Nadaud — 1st UK Edition

Name: The Flying Poilu: A Story of Aerial Warfare, Marcel Nadaud — 1st UK Edition
Brand: Broadhursts Books
SKU: 4745
Price: 22.00 GBP
Availability: InStock

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Publication: London, Hodder and Stoughton, 1918.

Formatting: 8vo, pp. [viii], 216.

Condition Report: Very Good. The publisher's original tan cloth binding is remarkably well-preserved for a wartime production, remaining sound and square with only minor bumping to the spine ends and corners. The pictorial onlay affixed to the upper board retains its sharp, striking imagery without severe rubbing or peeling. The binding remains tight with no splitting to the hinges. Internally, the book presents well, though there is pronounced foxing to the endpapers which carries through, albeit lighter, to the preliminary leaves including the frontispiece and title page. The page block edges are predictably toned with age, and occasional, scattered spotting is present throughout the text block, yet the pages remain supple and entirely legible. Overall, a highly attractive and robust survivor of World War I aviation literature.

Catalogue Note: First UK edition. Originally published in France, this English translation by Frances Wilson Huard brings Marcel Nadaud's firsthand aerial experiences to the Anglophone world. Nadaud himself served as an Observer-Bombardier in the French Aviation Corps, lending undeniable authenticity to the narrative. The volume is notably enhanced by the evocative black-and-white drawings of Charles Huard, capturing the grim reality and sparse beauty of early dogfights.

Bound in the publisher’s original cloth featuring a striking pictorial onlay to the front board, this copy lacks the rare dust jacket but remains a highly collectable piece. Early aviation literature produced during the conflict itself is becoming increasingly uncommon on the open market, particularly in sound, unrestored condition.

The Flying Poilu follows the thrilling and perilous exploits of Chignole, a spirited and quintessential Parisian street-urchin turned French aviator. Set against the harrowing backdrop of the First World War, the narrative captures the adrenaline of early aerial combat, from terrifying dogfights to daring reconnaissance missions, while exploring the intense camaraderie and fatalistic humour of the pilots who flew fragile biplanes into the unknown. Written by Marcel Nadaud, an active Observer-Bombardier, the novel is less a work of pure fiction and more a thinly veiled, authentic testament to the daily lives, fears, and triumphs of the pioneers of military aviation.

Book Condition: Very Good

Book Authors: Marcel Nadaud

Book Publisher: Hodder and Stoughton

Book Language: English

Narrative Type: Fiction

Genre: Historical Fiction

Book edition: First Edition

Signed: No

Book Pages: 216

Book Publication Year: 1918

Book Publication Date:

Book Binding: Hardcover

Illustrator: Charles Huard

Book Series: N/A

Country/region of manufacture: London, United Kingdom

Book Dimensions:

Book Condition Guide

We stock thousands of books in a wide range of conditions. To make things clear and to help you know exactly what to expect, Please refer to these condition categories to understand the condition of the book you will receive.

Condition	Description
New	A brand-new, unread and professionally handled book. Carefully preserved from publication to purchase, these books are offered in the best attainable condition. This grade applies to recently published titles that have not entered long-term storage.
As New	The book is in pristine, original condition as if just published. No signs of use or handling. The dust jacket (if present) is equally flawless. This grade applies to any book that has remained untouched in storage for years.
Fine	The book is close to As New. It remains bright and attractive, but could show minor imperfections to the boards and/or dust jacket (if present). Its pages are typically clean and unmarked.
Near Fine	The book has a number of small flaws, i.e. slight rubbing to the edges, or tiny chips or creases to the dust jacket (if present). Its pages may have faint marks, or creases that are barely perceptible — nothing that detracts from their overall condition.
Very Good	The book maintains its structural integrity, and has no major flaws such as tears to its binding or pages. It may, however, show signs of careful use, handling, or storage — small marks and creases, light foxing. Its dust jacket (if present) remains fully intact, but small tears may be present.
Good	A book that remains intact and readable with complete text pages, but shows moderate signs of wear and use to both the book and dust jacket (if present). It may have noticeable creases, nicks, or stains, and the spine likely shows fading, bumping, and rubbing. There could be writing, underlining, and other marks on some pages, though the majority will be clean and tidy.
Fair	A book with significant wear or damage. The text pages will be complete, but there may be heavy underlining, highlighting and staining throughout, and the book’s endpapers, half-title, and copyright pages could be damaged or missing. The binding could be loose, and the dust jacket (if present) may have notable scuffs or tears. These copies are usually of interest for content, signature(s) or scarcity.
Poor	A heavily worn book whose value lies in its complete and legible text. A poor book will have substantial defects — loose joints or hinges, detached covers, loose and/or missing pages, and could be heavily soiled. A poor book is also known as a reading copy, and although compromised, can hold historical or bibliographic significance.