This work investigates the extent to which Field Marshal Douglas Haig manipulated his personal records to obscure his strategic failures and command decisions during World War I. Denis Winter, a military historian, utilizes archival research and a critical analysis of Haig's private diaries to challenge the established historical narrative regarding the British High Command. The author argues that Haig systematically altered his accounts to protect his reputation and shift blame for the catastrophic losses sustained on the Western Front.

Historians and military scholars frequently note the provocative nature of Winter's claims regarding the integrity of Haig's diaries. While the book is recognized for its meticulous archival research, experts often debate the author's interpretation of Haig's motivations and the degree of his culpability in the war's outcome.