Operation Bowler by Jonathan Glancey
A story of incredible military daring--set against the splendor of Venice--that tells how an unlikely squad of pilots executed the most meticulous air raid of World War II.March 21st, 1945. Bursting through a hazy sky, dozens of Allied fighters and bombers sweep over German-occupied Venice.
Their mission: destroy Germany's strategic outposts nestled along the port, while leaving the floating city unscathed.
As bombs rained down upon Europe, flattening city after city, Venice--La Serenissima; home of Titian and Veronese; immortalized in the serene landscapes of Canaletto--remained sacrosanct. Its artistic and architectural treasure too considerable, too precious to risk destruction.
But as the push up through Italy reached its final, grueling months, the Allies were confronted with a terrible dilemma. The ancient city of Venice was now closer and closer to the line of fire. As casualties mounted, the value of art--of history--seemed diminished; just a month earlier Allied bombers had reduced the ancient hilltop abbey of Monte Cassino to a stony husk.
In this vivid narrative, bestselling author Jonathan Glancey reveals the thrilling story of Operation Bowler. Following the exploits of audacious Wing Commander George Westlake and his elite team, Operation Bowler explores how an unlikely squad of pilots executed the most meticulous and complex air raid of World War II, sparing not only Venice but also its people.
Jonathan Glancey is a journalist, author and radio and television broadcaster. An Honorary Fellow of the Royal Institute of British Architects, he writes for the Daily Telegraph, BBC Culture, the Economist and CNN Style among other publications and websites. He was Architecture and Design correspondent of the Guardian from 1997 to 2012. His architectural books include The Story of Architecture, Lost Buildings, 20th Century Architecture, Eyewitness Companion to Architecture, John Betjeman on Churches, London: Bread and Circuses and What's So Great About the Eiffel Tower.
| SKU | Unavailable |
| ISBN 13 | 9781639369195 |
| ISBN 10 | 1639369198 |
| Title | Operation Bowler |
| Author | Jonathan Glancey |
| Condition | Unavailable |
| Binding Type | Hardback |
| Publisher | Pegasus Books |
| Year published | 2025-07-01 |
| Number of pages | 336 |
| Cover note | Book picture is for illustrative purposes only, actual binding, cover or edition may vary. |
| Note | Unavailable |