In October 1942, Vladimir Peniakoff (nicknamed Popski) formed his own elite fighting force in the North African desert. Over the next year ‘Popski’s Private Army’ carried out a series of daring raids behind the German lines that were truly spectacular—freeing prisoners, destroying installations, spreading alarm. This, one of the classic memoirs of the Second World War, is their story. ‘A story of adventure...which has no rival in the literature of any war.’—DAILY EXPRESS ‘This is certainly among the best of war books...splendid writing.’—THE OBSERVER ‘One of the small handful of really first-class war books. A superb story of adventure told masterfully, brilliantly.’—EVENING STANDARD ‘His courage, resourcefulness and qualities of leadership deservedly gained him a high reputation. He has now shown that he also possesses unusual literary talent.’—THE DAILY TELEGRAPH