Willy Ley: Rockets, Missiles, and Space Travel

The first half of Rockets, Missiles and Space Travel (claims Willy Ley) is concerned with the past. The second half is devoted to the future. There is, the author says, no "present", and his authority is proven by the fact that progress in the world of rockets and space exploration has been so rapid that, despite the youthfulness of the subject and the newness of this book, Willy Ley has overhauled this volume three times, brought it up-to-date on numerous occasions, and it has already been printed and reprinted twelve times!
Here are the details of research, the statistics of accomplishment which establish the facts we read about in our daily papers. Hero is a vast blueprint on the subject planned with the vision of a meticulous scientist, drawn with the pen of a skilled engineer and analysed with clinical thoroughness.
Starting with the Babylonians, Mr. Ley gives a full-yet concise-history of space study. His knowledge of the work done at famous rocket centres such as Pennemunde and White Sands allows him to give a unique outlining of the progress of recent years. It is all contained in this book together with liberal illustrations.
The appendix, "Rocket Airplanes and Rocket-assisted Take-off" is encyclopaedic in its compass while the second appendix ranges from the composition of blackpowder rocket charges to "Missile arsenal-Great Britain".
A fully detailed bibliography makes this an outstanding reference book as well as a major work on the subject. The large number of diagrams and illustrations will help the reader quickly to assimilate the technical points covered.