His Majesty’s Airship by SC Gwynne The world’s largest blimp, known as the R101, had luxurious berths, a smoking room — and huge bags of hydrogen. Disaster was thus inevitable on its maiden flight in 1930. The tragic tale is expertly documented in this delightful book about the royal flying machine.
Oneworld £11.99 Caret by Adam Mars-Jones At 752 pages, the prolific literary critic’s latest novel is his longest yet, but not a word is wasted. It offers an immersive, ultra-realistic and relentlessly chronological account of 1973, told through the lens of his usual protagonist, the disabled gay Hindu John Cromer.
Faber £9.99 Ian Fleming: The Complete Man by Nicholas Shakespeare James Bond might now be the world’s favourite spy, but the first 44 years of his creator’s life were defined by failure. In this fascinating biography, Nicholas Shakespeare investigates the influence of Ian Fleming’s mocking mother, his ludicrous love affairs and his career capers.
Vintage £14.99.