The Victors

This is book three in the World War I fortunes of Martin Falconer (after The Fledglings and The Professionals). It is early 1918 and Martin has bluffed his way back into active flying over France after being severely wounded and sent back to England for six months' enforced convalescence. The predictable dog-fights punctuate the story, the statutory praise of comradeship and grit abounds and there is a romantic element involving the choice between a Belgian Resistance worker, now consumptive, and an amazingly tenacious V.A.D. who trails after Martin, even to France. War is not exactly glorified here, but neither is it wholeheartedly condemned. Devotees of World War I history (who surely must be rare) will no doubt revel in the details but the unconverted will not be gripped.