The Audit of War

<p>Correlli Barnett described his <i>Audit or War</i> as an <i>''operational study''</i> to <i>''uncover the causes of Britain''s protracted decline as an industrial country since the Second World War.''</i> First published in 1986, the book swiftly became one of the most controversial and influential historical works of its time.<br><br><i>''[The Audit of War] </i>argued that British industry during the Second World War was scandalously inefficient, a situation Barnett blamed on an establishment more concerned with welfare than with industry, technology or the capacity of the nation to fight a war... Alan Clark records approvingly that Mrs Thatcher herself read it...'' David Edgerton, <i>London</i><i> Review of Books</i><br><br>''A stimulating polemic.'' <i>Times Literary Supplement</i><br><br>''A formidable book, essential reading.'' Asa Briggs, <i>Financial Times</i></p>