"As Neville Chamberlain lay dying in October 1940 almost the last entry in his diary records him reading press reports of his resignation: 'Not one shows the slightest sign of sympathy for the man or even any comprehension that there may be a human tragedy somewhere in the background.' This book tries to put that right. Most studies of the period assume that the Second World War was, in some ways, a triumph for Britain; this book dissents from that verdict."--Book jacket.