Macintyre (A Spy Among Friends), who specializes in writing about espionage and clandestine operations, describes the founding and operations of the British Army's elite Special Air Service (SAS) regiment during WWII, in this well-written and comprehensive history. The SAS was born not from the staff work of military professionals but from the imagination of a very junior officer who was convalescing in a hospital. Macintyre uses unprecedented access to the SAS official records, along with memoirs, diaries, and interviews with the few surviving veterans, to chronicle the major operations, key personalities, successes, and failures of the regiment in WWII. He vividly captures the bravery and the sheer audaciousness of the SAS troopers and their leadership operating hundreds of miles behind enemy lines. Macintyre also illuminates their faults, including failed operations, lack of discipline, and drunkenness. He demonstrates that even in a global war, a few uniquely talented, imaginative, and bold individuals of relatively junior rank can have a major impact. Macintyre delivers a solid history and an enjoyable read that will appeal to those interested in military history as well as readers who enjoy real-life tales of adventure. Agent: Ed Victor, Ed Victor Ltd. (U.K.). (Oct.) © Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved.

The SAS (Special Air Service) is an elite special operations combat unit with humble beginnings during World War II when the war was not going well for the Allies. Enter David Stirling, a British aristocrat with some outlandish ideas. He conceives the notion of parachuting soldiers behind the lines to sabotage and frustrate the enemy. Macintyre (Agent Zigzag: A True Story of Nazi Espionage, Love, and Betrayal) traces the fantastic successes and painful failures of what was, at the time, a radical idea. The individual men who were crazy enough to sign up for these extremely dangerous missions were a motley crew of daredevils, patriots, and pirates. The cauldron of World War II transformed them into a lethal force and vindicated Stirling's original insight into the changing nature of combat. Macintyre has written a startling account of the formation of a new type of soldier, and the author's excellent reading of the work vividly draws out the unique personalities of the first SAS soldiers. VERDICT A memorable contribution to our understanding of this pivotal moment in military history. ["Highly recommended for students of military history and readers interested in a different perspective of World War II": LJ 9/1/16 starred review of the Crown hc.]-Denis Frias, Mississauga Lib. Syst., Ont. © Copyright 2017. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.