The Phantom Major by Virginia Cowles

The Phantom Major

The Story of David Stirling and the S.A.S. Regiment

by Virginia Cowles

Readers Book Club, 1958, black and white photographic plates, hardcover

Very Good Condition, a little edge and shelf wear, a little rubbing and bumping to edges and corners, a little discoloration at edges, previous owners’ inscription on front endpaper, small insect holes on back flyleaves (see photographs)

“In the dark and uncertain days of 1941 and 1942, when Rommel?s Afrika Korps was sweeping towards Egypt and the Suez Canal, a small group of daring raiders made history for the Allies. They operated deep behind the German lines, driving hundreds of miles through the deserts of North Africa. They hid by day and struck by night, destroying aircraft, blowing up ammunition dumps, derailing trains and killing many times their own number. The men were the Special Air Service, the SAS, the brainchild of David Stirling, a deceptively mild-mannered man with a brilliant idea. Under his command, small teams of resourceful, highly trained men penetrated beyond the front lines of the opposing armies and wreaked havoc where the Germans least expected it.”