Paul Fussell examines the immediate impact of World War II on soldiers and civilians. He depicts the psychological and emotional atmosphere of World War II by, most importantly, emphasizing the damage the war did to intellect, discrimination, honesty, individuality, complexity, ambiguity, and wit.

Paul Fussell is Donald T. Regan Professor of English at the University of Pennsylvania. He is the author of nine other books, including The Great War and Modern Memory, Abroad: British Literary Traveling Between the Wars and The Boy Scout Handbook and Other Observations