This is a real ‘boy’s own adventure’ tale from the inter war years. It’s Sir Alan Cobham’s first-hand account of his pioneering journey (accompanied by his wife) across Africa in 1929, seeking out routes and landing sites for future imperial air travel. Their incident-rich flights took them from Rochester, across France and the Mediterranean to Egypt. Then through East Africa and around much of the African coast to the Ivory Coast and canaries, before returning to England. Invariably, along the way, they were rescued, hosted and/or entertained by the local gentry or military. Sir Alan’s book was originally published in 1930. My copy is the 1932 re-print with 46 B/W photographs from the trip. This new paperback edition is illustrated with over 50 photographs, the additional unpublished images coming from the family archive.