This work investigates how the British government's reliance on globalized trade networks and economic warfare strategies directly contributed to the strategic failure at Gallipoli. Nicholas A. Lambert, a recognized historian of naval strategy and economic warfare, utilizes extensive archival research and primary government documents to argue that the Dardanelles campaign was not merely a military blunder but a consequence of flawed economic assumptions. He demonstrates how the British cabinet prioritized the preservation of international financial systems over coherent military planning, ultimately leading to the disastrous outcome of the campaign.

Historians and military scholars frequently cite this text for its rigorous re-evaluation of the Gallipoli campaign through the lens of economic history. Experts highlight the book as a significant contribution to understanding the complexities of British strategic planning during the First World War.