This book investigates the complex and often contradictory diplomatic, economic, and intelligence relationship between Great Britain and Switzerland during the Second World War. Neville Wylie, a specialist in international history, utilizes previously restricted archival materials to examine why Britain tolerated Swiss economic cooperation with the Axis powers. The work argues that British policy was driven by a pragmatic, albeit morally fraught, calculation to maintain Switzerland as a neutral intelligence hub and a conduit for information, often at the expense of humanitarian concerns regarding refugee policies.

Historians and scholars of the Second World War recognize this text as a definitive study on the nuances of Anglo-Swiss relations. The prose is noted for its academic rigor and its ability to synthesize complex diplomatic history into a coherent narrative.