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Raaj Singh

Reviewed on Apr 27, 2023

Must read 🏆

it's a must-read for history buffs and anyone who loves a well-told story.

Synopsis

"The Legend of Lilia" is the story of Lilia Litvyak, who at 15 made her first solo flight in a wood and canvas biplane. By the age of 21 she was the most dangerous woman in the sky as an ace fighter pilot over the Eastern Front of WWII. Research was gathered through in person interviews in post-Soviet Russia, with veteran female pilots and mechanics, Colonels of Lilia's regiment, historians, and declassified records from Soviet archives. "The Legend of Lilia" tells the amazing true story as never told before, uncovering previously unknown history of WWII, and the truth surrounding a decades old mystery.

After Germany invaded the Soviet Union in June of 1941, three regiments of all female pilots were formed to join the war effort. Lilia enlisted with the hope of both saving her country and clearing her politically troubled family name. From the Battle of Stalingrad and across the frontline, Lilia would shoot down one enemy aircraft after another to earn the designation of ace. Yet it would take more than that to achieve her nation's highest honor, the title of Hero of the Soviet Union, and her place in history as a legend.

"The Legend of Lilia" by Igor Ljubuncic is an exceptional and gripping historical novel that tells the true story of Lilia Litvyak, the world's first female ace fighter pilot. The book takes readers on a journey through Lilia's life, from her love for flying at a young age to her enlistment in the Soviet Union's three all-female pilot regiments during World War II.

The author's research is meticulous, including in-person interviews with veteran female pilots and mechanics, colonels of Lilia's regiment, historians, and declassified records from Soviet archives. The result is a rich and vivid portrayal of Lilia's experiences, including aerial dogfights, ground crews, and battle scenes with precision and accuracy.

The book also explores the mystery surrounding Lilia's final fate, as she disappeared in the skies above the front in 1943. The author expertly delves into the massive graft, fraud, and corruption that was the Soviet Union, and how its duplicity and mendacity impacted the life of one female fighter pilot, her family, and history.

The writing is engaging and nimble, and the story-within-a-story approach adds depth and complexity to the narrative. The author's command of the subject matter is impressive, and his skill in bringing history to life and filling it with vivid color, action, and intensity is remarkable.

Overall, "The Legend of Lilia" is a little Twelve O'clock High and a little Top Gun, and will appeal to military history buffs and anyone who enjoys a well-told story. It is a finely crafted historical novel that merits a wide audience, and stands as a tribute to the remarkable and brave Lilia Litvyak, whose monument stands in a small coal mining town in what is now Ukraine. I highly recommend this book, and give it five stars in spades.

A women is not just a women anymore.

Thank you, Enjoy.

Reviewed by
Raaj Singh

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