Archibald Wavell's life and career makes a marvellous subject. Not only did he reach the highest rank (Field Marshal) and become an Earl and Viceroy of India but his character was complex. He joined the Black Watch in 1901. He stood out during the Great War, quickly earning the Military Cross but losing an eye. He was at Versailles in 1918 but between the Wars his career advanced with Brigade and General commands notably in Palestine where he spotted Orde Wingate. By the outbreak of war he was GOC-in-C Middle East.Early successes against the Italians turned into costly failures in Greece and Crete and Wavell lost the confidence of Churchill; their temperaments differed completely. Wavell was sent to India as C-in-C. After Pearl Harbour Wavell was made Supreme Allied Commander for the SW Pacific and bore responsibility for the humiliating loss of Singapore (he quickly recognized that it could not be held). Problems in Burma tested Churchill 's patience and he was removed from command to be Viceroy and Governor General of India. As civil unrest and demands for independence grew, in 1947 Prime Minister Attlee replaced Wavell with Mountbatten who oversaw Partition.Wavell died in 1950, after a life of huge achievement tempered with many reverses, most of which were not of his making. AUTHOR: Victoria Schofield is first and foremost an authority on South Asia and Wavell enabled her to bring her knowledge of the sub-continent and military history to bear. She has a degree from Oxford and she was President of the Oxford Union in 1977. She is a published author and frequent commentator on the BBC World Service and BBC World TV and contributor to periodicals. SELLING POINTS: -Acclaimed biography of one of the great military leaders of WWII and the penultimate Viceroy of India -Wavell was in the thick of the action throughout the War, surviving Churchill's indifference despite shouldering responsibility for several serious disasters -Reveals the character of this enigmatic man who was intensely private yet proved himself entirely fit for high command under the most testing conditions -Superbly written and researched REVIEWS: 'Excellent'...Hugh Massingberd, Country Life 'Eminently fair, Victoria Schofield describes his campaigns lucidly and concisely'...Philip Ziegler, The Spectator 'Well written and based on detailed research'...BBC History Magazine ILLUSTRATIONS 16 pages of b/w plates *
