Tunes of Glory

Set in Scotland in the 1950s, this book is a story of two leaders: Lt. Colonel Jock Sinclair is a war hero much beloved by his battalion. Colonel Barrow is Sinclair’s replacement, an educated man who has never led troops and spent much of WWII in a Japanese POW camp. The two possess completely different leadership styles and clash immediately. When Sinclair, impaired by alcohol, strikes an enlisted man, Barrow initiates court-martial proceedings, but Sinclair’s loyal troops resist Barrow’s orders.

These characters are vividly portrayed. Sinclair is a popular personality among his troops and the local populace, a colorful, forceful, boisterous character. Barrow is almost his opposite. He is quiet, introverted, obviously has suffered show more mental distress during his years as a prisoner. The story moves to an inevitable climactic scene. Neither character backs down. They each take action consistent with their personalities. Published in 1956, the ending of this book seems to represent the end of an era – after many years of war, changes are taking place, and this book represents a break wartime and post-war armed forces service, and the difficulties of adapting to change. I enjoyed it very much. show less