Richard Hillary's book The Last Enemy was first published in the UK in 1942 just seven months before his untimely death. It is an extraordinary first-hand account of the experiences of a young man swept into the Battle of Britain as a Spitfire pilot. The book is in two parts, beginning with his time at TrinityCollege, Oxford, where he was a successful oarsman and carefreestudent. Joining the RAF Volunteer Reserve he displayed anundisciplined approach towards flying training schools whilstmaking new acquaintances prompted some reappraisal of hisattitude to life.His descriptions of flying a Spitfire are gripping as we share boththe horror and excitement of close combat in the air.Shot down over the English Channel on 3 September 1940 he isseriously burned and comes under the care of Archibald McIndoeand his pioneering reconstructive plastic surgery. He writes ingraphic detail but with no self-pity of the operations andpainendured during his long stints in hospital at East Grinstead. Towards the end of the book heeloquently portrays his innerstruggles and relates an epiphanythat inspired him to write thisbook. The Last Enemy is undoubtedlyone of the most important andcompelling books to have beenwritten during recent wars andwill stay with you as you reflect onHillary's short but eventful life.
