Gavin Mortimer

Chasing Icarus

“A wonderful story not just for aficionados ...believe me, this book is the perfect airplane companion.”
The Cleveland Dealer, June 2009

“This is a 'wonderful, absorbing story'...and its cast of daredevils, society beauties, gasping crowds and bigger-than-life crowd pleasers is as engaging today as it was for newspaper readers at the time.”
Dallas Morning News, May 2009

“The front-page celebrities of the moment, these aeronauts excited popular interest that Mortimer, capitalizing on archives and contemporary gazettes, restores excellently... For fans of death-defying early aviation, Mortimer's history is great fun”
Booklist, May 2009

“The author excels in depicting both the pilots and the New York City society swells attracted to aerobatic thrills...his evocative final chapter outlines the advances in aviation and its cost in lives. A singular contribution to early aviation history”
Library Journal May 2009

“Mortimer expertly interweaves the three stories, vivifying each event with a riveting combination of historical detail and novelistic suspense. He does especially fine work in rendering Hawley and Post’s ordeal after their balloon went down...enjoyable, accessible technological history, further enlivened by colorful character sketches of some of the most interesting figures in the early days of flying”
Kirkus Reviews April 2009

“Gavin Mortimer's Chasing Icarus brings us up close and personal with those daring young men and their flying machines...[his] narrative is dramatic, fast-paced, and entertaining [and] he skillfully describes the events.”
Barnes & Noble Review, August 2009

The Great Swim

“Mortimer's book, narrated with pacy enthusiasm and highlighted by the achievements of four largely forgotten heroines, is a fascinating and irresistible slice of sporting history.”
The Daily Mail, May 2008

“Mortimer’s deft, uncomplicated prose emerges as the perfect vessel for the story…his thorough research provides a cultural context as striking as his narrative”
The Times Literary Supplement, June 2008

“Mortimer has done a marvellous job in telling the story of a sporting phenomenon that gripped newspaper audiences on either side of the Atlantic during the summer of 1926...the effect makes for a thoroughly compelling read.”
The Birmingham Post, June 2008

“Mortimer's story of the grit of these women cracks along like a Channel tide...his descriptions of the caprice of the ribbon of water that defeated so many are compelling, but the tenacity of these women is this book's heart. The Great Swim admirably resuscitates the achievements of Ederle, Cannon, Barrett and Gade, all gunning for glory in that extraordinary summer of '26.” The Daily Telegraph, May 17, 2008

“Engrossing book…The Great Swim follows four American women who competed that summer to become the first female to cross the treacherous strait. Mortimer's descriptions of their attempts are gripping”
Entertainment Weekly, February 23 2008

“Mortimer tells this story with a verve that pulls the reader in like a high tide”
Washington Post, March 23 2008

“In his re-creation of Ederle's crossing you can't help but feel cold, wet and exhausted.”
Seattle Times, March 30 2008

“Mortimer has done Ederle—and sports history in general—a huge service in this wonderfully written book....”
Publishers Weekly, December 2007

“An engaging, entertaining read....a stirring portrait of courage and endurance, but also a bittersweet tale of the vagaries of fame and fortune.”
Kirkus Reviews, January 2008

“The book can be read as the story of a sporting competition or as an exploration of our timeless fascination with celebrity. Either way, it’s an absorbing and inspirational saga”
Booklist, January 2008

“The long-forgotten battles against cold, adverse tides, jellyfish and each other were front-page news on both sides of the Atlantic and are marvellously brought back to life here.”
The Sunday Times, November 2008

Fields of Glory

“It makes sobering as well as inspiring reading…he has done sports fans a service”
Brough Scott, Sunday Telegraph

Excellent…Mortimer is to be envied for his choice of subject and the skill with which he has treated it.”
Robin Marlar, The Cricketer [one of his five books of the year in 2001]

“Masterly”
Cape Argus [South Africa]

“A fascinating compilation that mixes boys' own tales of great deeds on sportsfields and battlefields.”
The Sunday Times

“This excellent book skilfully recalls the heady days when top sportsmen really were heroes”
Aberdeen Press & Journal

“A compelling read about men who fought hard, played hard and lived hard.”
Bolton Evening News

“If you like yarns that come spitting out of the pages with the ferocity of an overheated Lewis gun, then this one’s for you. A cracking read, make no mistake.”
Worcester Evening News

“One of the most fascinating sports books in a long time.”
Rugby World Magazine

Stirling’s Men

“Mortimer’s account possesses depth…a serious and extremely readable account of a band of warts-and-all warriors”
Western Daily Press

“A fascinating insight into the regiment’s birth and its early years…an enthralling read”
Mars & Minerva, Regimental Magazine of the SAS

“Mortimer proves that there is always room for thorough, well-crafted studies which go beyond the boys’ own bravado”
Eastern Daily Press

“Mortimer is a fine writer and brings his skills to bear in retelling the story…he knows how to hold the reader’s attention”
Scottish Legion News

“A fascinating book”
Derby Evening Telegraph

“A fabulous page-turning narrative that will capture the imagination”
The National Army Museum

The Longest Night

“The careful scene-setting painlessly imparts forgotten information about the facets of wartime life…Gavin Mortimer’s book is a timely reminder that there are still many living survivors who remember and were scarred by the terrifying experiences.”
The Literary Review

“Mortimer deserves full credit for assembling a mountain of material and presenting it with lucidity and balance”
Philip Ziegler, Daily Mail

“An excellent book…Gavin Mortimer has interviewed scores of survivors for his gripping narrative.”
Andrew Roberts, Wall Street Journal

“Well written…recaptures that desperate gripping time when the very survival of the country seemed to hang in the balance”
Morning Star

“Mortimer has achieved a complex task with great aplomb. The story of the Second World War always needs new ways of being told and this is a daring and effective attempt.”
Mail on Sunday

“Brilliantly constructed and utterly absorbing.”
The Romford Recorder

“This book vividly recalls the terror that came to London that May night”
Leicester Mercury

“Mortimer has written a hard-worked, widely-researched and altogether admirable book.”
The Contemporary Review

“A gripping account”
The Vancouver Sun

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Chasing Icarus “A wonderful story not just for aficionados ...believe me, this book is the perfect airplane companion.” The Cleveland Dealer, June 2009 “This is a 'wonderful, absorbing story'...and its cast of daredevils, society beauties, gasping crowds and bigger-than-life crowd pleasers is as engaging today as it was for newspaper readers at the time.” Dallas Morning News, May 2009 “The front-page celebrities of the moment, these aeronauts excited popular interest that Mortimer, capitalizing on archives and contemporary gazettes, restores excellently... For fans of death-defying early aviation, Mortimer's history is great fun” Booklist, May 2009 “The author excels in depicting both the pilots and the New York City society swells attracted to aerobatic thrills...his evocative final chapter outlines the advances in aviation and its cost in lives. A singular contribution to early aviation history” Library Journal May 2009 “Mortimer expertly interweaves the three stories, vivifying each event with a riveting combination of historical detail and novelistic suspense. He does especially fine work in rendering Hawley and Post’s ordeal after their balloon went down...enjoyable, accessible technological history, further enlivened by colorful character sketches of some of the most interesting figures in the early days of flying” Kirkus Reviews April 2009 “Gavin Mortimer's Chasing Icarus brings us up close and personal with those daring young men and their flying machines...[his] narrative is dramatic, fast-paced, and entertaining [and] he skillfully describes the events.” Barnes & Noble Review, August 2009 The Great Swim “Mortimer's book, narrated with pacy enthusiasm and highlighted by the achievements of four largely forgotten heroines, is a fascinating and irresistible slice of sporting history.” The Daily Mail, May 2008 “Mortimer’s deft, uncomplicated prose emerges as the perfect vessel for the story…his thorough research provides a cultural context as striking as his narrative” The Times Literary Supplement, June 2008 “Mortimer has done a marvellous job in telling the story of a sporting phenomenon that gripped newspaper audiences on either side of the Atlantic during the summer of 1926...the effect makes for a thoroughly compelling read.” The Birmingham Post, June 2008 “Mortimer's story of the grit of these women cracks along like a Channel tide...his descriptions of the caprice of the ribbon of water that defeated so many are compelling, but the tenacity of these women is this book's heart. The Great Swim admirably resuscitates the achievements of Ederle, Cannon, Barrett and Gade, all gunning for glory in that extraordinary summer of '26.” The Daily Telegraph, May 17, 2008 “Engrossing book…The Great Swim follows four American women who competed that summer to become the first female to cross the treacherous strait. Mortimer's descriptions of their attempts are gripping” Entertainment Weekly, February 23 2008 “Mortimer tells this story with a verve that pulls the reader in like a high tide” Washington Post, March 23 2008 “In his re-creation of Ederle's crossing you can't help but feel cold, wet and exhausted.” Seattle Times, March 30 2008 “Mortimer has done Ederle—and sports history in general—a huge service in this wonderfully written book....” Publishers Weekly, December 2007 “An engaging, entertaining read....a stirring portrait of courage and endurance, but also a bittersweet tale of the vagaries of fame and fortune.” Kirkus Reviews, January 2008 “The book can be read as the story of a sporting competition or as an exploration of our timeless fascination with celebrity. Either way, it’s an absorbing and inspirational saga” Booklist, January 2008 “The long-forgotten battles against cold, adverse tides, jellyfish and each other were front-page news on both sides of the Atlantic and are marvellously brought back to life here.” The Sunday Times, November 2008 Fields of Glory “It makes sobering as well as inspiring reading…he has done sports fans a service” Brough Scott, Sunday Telegraph Excellent…Mortimer is to be envied for his choice of subject and the skill with which he has treated it.” Robin Marlar, The Cricketer [one of his five books of the year in 2001] “Masterly” Cape Argus [South Africa] “A fascinating compilation that mixes boys' own tales of great deeds on sportsfields and battlefields.” The Sunday Times “This excellent book skilfully recalls the heady days when top sportsmen really were heroes” Aberdeen Press & Journal “A compelling read about men who fought hard, played hard and lived hard.” Bolton Evening News “If you like yarns that come spitting out of the pages with the ferocity of an overheated Lewis gun, then this one’s for you. A cracking read, make no mistake.” Worcester Evening News “One of the most fascinating sports books in a long time.” Rugby World Magazine Stirling’s Men “Mortimer’s account possesses depth…a serious and extremely readable account of a band of warts-and-all warriors” Western Daily Press “A fascinating insight into the regiment’s birth and its early years…an enthralling read” Mars & Minerva, Regimental Magazine of the SAS “Mortimer proves that there is always room for thorough, well-crafted studies which go beyond the boys’ own bravado” Eastern Daily Press “Mortimer is a fine writer and brings his skills to bear in retelling the story…he knows how to hold the reader’s attention” Scottish Legion News “A fascinating book” Derby Evening Telegraph “A fabulous page-turning narrative that will capture the imagination” The National Army Museum The Longest Night “The careful scene-setting painlessly imparts forgotten information about the facets of wartime life…Gavin Mortimer’s book is a timely reminder that there are still many living survivors who remember and were scarred by the terrifying experiences.” The Literary Review “Mortimer deserves full credit for assembling a mountain of material and presenting it with lucidity and balance” Philip Ziegler, Daily Mail “An excellent book…Gavin Mortimer has interviewed scores of survivors for his gripping narrative.” Andrew Roberts, Wall Street Journal “Well written…recaptures that desperate gripping time when the very survival of the country seemed to hang in the balance” Morning Star “Mortimer has achieved a complex task with great aplomb. The story of the Second World War always needs new ways of being told and this is a daring and effective attempt.” Mail on Sunday “Brilliantly constructed and utterly absorbing.” The Romford Recorder “This book vividly recalls the terror that came to London that May night” Leicester Mercury “Mortimer has written a hard-worked, widely-researched and altogether admirable book.” The Contemporary Review “A gripping account” The Vancouver Sun
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