Von Moltke and 'quick victory': Jellicoe and the Battle of Jutland: Petain and the wave of mutinies: Ludendorff and the 1918 offensives. Four key men, four key moments in the Great War. Corelli Barnett, in his famous study, writes with brilliant insight about these flawed men grappling with events that were outside their comprehension. In his preface he writes thus: 'The Theme of this book is the decisive effect of individual human character on history. The background, in sharpest contrast, is a sudden and violent transition to mass collectivised life - to twentieth century industrial civilization. The principal actors are four national commanders-in-chief: two German, one Frenchman, one Englishman. Theirs was the novel task of directing these new and terrifying forces of mass powering battle. Each had been born and bred in the last century; each belonged to a highly conservative profession. Their abilities and defects reflected and illustrated those of their countries. For the historian, with the priceless gift of hindsight, it is moving and fascinating, therefore, to study these men locked in struggle with events greater than themselves; to see their moments of clarity and prophesy, of optimistic self-delusion, of uncertainty, of despair. Each in turn, as commander-in-chief, bore his nation's sword at a period when the course of the war pivoted on his judgement and will: four actors in a continental tragedy of death and re-birth.'

This is the first book in the 'Pride and Fall' sequence on British power in the 20th century. Correlli Barnett seeks to explain the decay of British power between 1918 and 1940 and its collapse between 1940 and 1945.

The accepted interpretation of Britain's wartime role as an island sea power is challenged by Correlli Barnett's brilliant demonstration that the dependence on seashore imports of food and raw materials, together with the obligations of Empire, were less a form of strength to Britain than a weakness. Topics discussed in this book range from strategic debates in London and Washington to gripping descriptions of the Royal Navy in action: the remorseless struggle against the U-boat in the Atlantic, the desperate convoy battles in the Mediterranean and the Arctic, and the battles in the Far East. It weaves in the rivalry between Allied and German technology and the all-important secret war of the cryptographers. 'This outstanding military historian has turned to maritime war and written an authoritative, meticulously researched and stirring account of the Royal Navy's part in World War II.' Admiral of the Fleet Lord Lewin of Greenwich, KG, GCB, LVO, DSC

First published in 1970, "Britain and Her Army" was Correlli Barnett's sixth published book and earned him the Royal Society of Literature's W.H. Heinemann Award. It is a unique general study of the historical development of the British Army, from the reign of King Henry VIII to the end of the Second World War.

Barnett shows how our military institutions transformed themselves over the course of four centuries of social and technological change. Civil wars, imperial conquest and two World Wars are described in detail, along with more day-to-day topics such as recruitment, administration, pay, the social origins of officers and men, supply and equipment. Through the book he compares developments in Britain with those in Continental armies, and analyses the lessons the British learned, or failed to learn, from their European cousins. The result is a truly comprehensive work, and a fascinating portrait of Britain's most misunderstood institutions.

Correlli Barnett's 'Pride and Fall' sequence on the decline of British power and influence in the twentieth century concludes with this majestic, controversial study. Between the outbreak of the Korean War in 1950 and the Suez debacle of 1956, Barnett argues, Britain squandered every chance to re-invent itself as an industrial nation. While Japan and Germany progressed and innovated, Britain stagnated, leaving other countries to dominate market share in new technologies.

'Barnett's demolition both of British nuclear pretensions and the Suez fiasco is devastating... His argument that 'global overstretch' depleted British resources after 1945 would meet with widespread agreement... Some of his best pages are on the weakness of education... Barnett's analysis of our failure to modernise industries like cars and shipbuilding, develop (British-invented) computers or promote long-term public investment would be endorsed by every motorist or rail commuter.'

Kenneth O. Morgan, Independent

Faber Finds is devoted to restoring to readers a wealth of lost or neglected classics and authors of distinction. The range embraces fiction, non-fiction, the arts and children's books. For a full list of available titles visit www.faberfinds.co.uk. To join the dialogue with fellow book-lovers please see our blog, www.faberfindsblog.co.uk.

In 1945 Britain emerged from war triumphant. On July 26, after Labour won a landslide election victory, Churchill resigned, Attlee became Prime Minister and the nation awaited Labour's 'New Jerusalem' in which poverty, unemployment, ill health and poor housing would be abolished. However Correlli Barnett - drawing on material from Cabinet and other Whitehall records - argues that what followed was an era of mistaken strategies and costly consequences.

'An almost irresistible indictment of post-war thinking delivered with Barnett's customary panache and argumentative power.' Martin Kettle, "Guardian"

'Wonderfully readable... Barnett excels at the exploding of myths.' Toby Buchan, "Literary Review"

Correlli Barnett described his "Audit or War" as an "'operational study'" to "'uncover the causes of Britain's protracted decline as an industrial country since the Second World War.'" First published in 1986, the book swiftly became one of the most controversial and influential historical works of its time.

"' The Audit of War] "argued that British industry during the Second World War was scandalously inefficient, a situation Barnett blamed on an establishment more concerned with welfare than with industry, technology or the capacity of the nation to fight a war... Alan Clark records approvingly that Mrs Thatcher herself read it...' David Edgerton, "London"" Review of Books"

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'A stimulating polemic.' "Times Literary Supplement"

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'A formidable book, essential reading.' Asa Briggs, "Financial Times"