Donald L. Miller’s bestseller, Masters of Air: How the Bomber Boys Broke Down the Nazi War Machine, is a soaring account of the world’s first and only bomber war. Drawing on personal letters, interviews, and international archives, it inspired the acclaimed Apple TV mini-series co-produced by Steven Spielberg and Tom Hanks, starring Austin Butler and Callum Turner.The Folio Society, an independent publisher of beautifully illustrated hardback books, will publish a deluxe edition of this deeply human account of courage, sacrifice, and the brutal cost of strategic air power.
The gorgeous hardcover title features an exclusive introduction by Tom Hanks, an introduction by Kirk Saduski, and over 60 photographs, including several previously unpublished shots, all captioned by the author.
The Folio Society’s Edition of Masters of Air will be published on March 3, 2026, joining other iconic wartime tombs from the Folio Society, including Band of Brothers by Stephen E. Ambrose, Dispatches by Michael Herr, and Shōgun by James Clavell.
In addition to the exclusive introduction by Tom Hanks, the 728-page Folio Society edition will be bound in printed and blocked cloth.
This Folio book features a photographic title page spread, 32 black and white photographs, a large foldout of color cutaway sections of a B-17 Flying Fortress, two black and white integrated maps, a diagram, a blocked slipcase, original illustrations from a 1940s B-17 manual, and an exclusive reproduction of a famous piece of aviation art by master artist Gil Cohen.
“Writer Donald Miller has been involved from the start, and with his help, we’ve brought in special elements that take our version of MASTERS OF THE AIR beyond any previous incarnation,” said Folio Society Non Fiction Publisher Mandy Kirkby.
“We’ve collaborated with Tom Hanks, Kirk Saduski, aviation artist Gil Cohen, the 100th Bomb Group, and the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force. The result is the ultimate fan’s book. We can’t wait for readers on both sides of the Atlantic to dive into this unbeatable new edition.”
In MASTERS OF THE AIR: How the Bomber Boys Broke Down the Nazi War Machine, historian and World War II expert Donald Miller brings us the story of the bomber boys who brought the war to Hitler’s doorstep. Unlike ground soldiers, they slept on clean beds, drank beer in local pubs, and danced to the swing music of the travelling Air Force bands. But they were also an elite group of fighters who put their lives on the line in the most dangerous role of all. Drawn from interviews, oral histories, and American, British and German archives, MASTERS OF THE AIR takes readers from the adrenaline filled battles in the sky, to the airbases across England, the German prison camps, and onto the ground to understand the devastation faced by civilians.
The Folio Society edition of MASTERS OF THE AIR: How the Bomber Boys Broke Down the Nazi War Machine will be available for £100 / US $145 from 4pm UK time (11am EST, 8am PT) on March 3, 2026 exclusively from thefoliosociety.com For more information, follow the Folio Society on social media:
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ABOUT DONALD L. MILLER
Donald L. Miller is the John Henry MacCracken Professor of History Emeritus at Lafayette College and author of ten books, including Vicksburg, and Masters of the Air, currently being made into a television series by Tom Hanks. He has hosted, co-produced, or served as historical consultant for more than thirty television documentaries and has written for The New York Times, The Washington Post, and other publications.
ABOUT THE FOLIO SOCIETY
The Folio Society, based in London, publishes beautifully produced, illustrated hardback books. From a single purchase to a lifetime of collecting, book lovers around the world can buy these exquisite editions exclusively from their website, foliosociety.com. Proudly independent for its 75-year history, in 2021 under the leadership of its CEO, Joanna Reynolds, The Folio Society became an Employee Ownership Trust. The Folio Society is committed to a progressive sharing of power and profit in publishing, and this is reflected in their new status.
The Folio Society publishes some of the best names in publishing past and present, across the globe in high specification, collector editions. Notable publications include Frank Herbert’s Dune, Margaret Atwood’s The Handmaid’s Tale, Andrew Chaikin’s A Man on the Moon and Alice Walker’s The Color Purple among many other contemporary and classic titles including a publishing partnership with Marvel delivering the world-recognized, iconic brand’s luxury editions.
photo credit: The Folio Society
