Reginald Mitchell is one of the greatest names in aviation history. A visionary engineer with a passion for speed, his legacy is the most iconic fighter aircraft of all time: the Spitfire. 

During the uneasy peace of the 1920s, he was a trailblazing innovator working at the cutting edge of technology. As Europe's politics darkened in the 1930s, the work of Mitchell and his team became crucial to a nation preparing for war. Though he did not live to see the Spitfire in action, his work led to triumph at the Battle of Britain - and to a legendary aircraft that still inspires awe to this day. 

This is the first time Mitchell's full story has been told. In this exhilarating biography, Paul Beaver takes us behind the scenes, exploring the creative genius of a man devoted to pushing the boundaries of technology. We see his flair for leadership and collaboration with Rolls-Royce, the pinnacle of British engineering; we learn of Mitchell's other innovative designs that could have changed the course of the war, had he not died in 1937; and, at last, we hear the real story behind the Spitfire.  

Drawing on new interviews, private archives and previously unpublished material, this is the definitive biography of a man who helped change the course of history - one of the great design leaders of the twentieth century.