Evelyn Waughs masterful depiction of World War II now in a beautiful hardback edition with a new Introduction by Martin StannardWaughs own unhappy experience of being a soldier is superbly reenacted in this story of Guy Crouchback a Catholic and a gentleman commissioned into the Royal Corps of Halberdiers during the war years 193945. High comedy in the company of Brigadier RitchieHook or the denizens of Bellamys Club is only part of the shambles of Crouchbacks war. When action comes in Crete and in Yugoslavia he discovers not heroism but humanity. Sword of Honour combines three volumes Officers and Gentlemen Men at Arms and Unconditional Surrender which were originally published separately. Extensively revised by Waugh they were published as the onevolume Sword of Honour in 1965 in the form in which Waugh himself wished them to be read.Marvellous ... one of the masterpieces of the centuryJohn Banville Irish Times