Wavell was one of Britain's great military leaders. With extraordinary resilience, he faced triumph and disaster in the Middle East, Africa and Asia. His renowned victory in the Western desert was matched by the ignominy of the surrender at Singapore and the evacuation from Burma. Wavell's appointment as Viceroy of India was even more challenging, as he began its arduous move to independence. Yet behind such distinction lay an enigmatic man, equally celebrated for his unexpected silences as for his prolific memory and love of poetry.

Drawing upon unpublished letters and diaries, together with interviews with the last surviving generation who knew him, she reveals the hopes, fears and the difficulties Wavell faced. Appointed and yet chastised by Winston Churchill, the failure of one of the most important relationships of WW2 is laid bare.

From this beautifully written, well-researched book Wavell emerges as a man of tremendous sensitivity, a soldier and a statesman, for whom duty was paramount and who, despite his taciturn behaviour, inspired exceptional loyalty. In a world where the origins of today's conflicts lie in yesterday's wars, the story of Wavell's life holds a timeless fascination.