A Thought of Honour

by Alexander Cordell

First published 1954

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3.0(1)

John Macmasters is a specialist in bomb disposal, a profession in which technical knowledge and self-command must overcome the possibility of instant death. During wartime weapons work he handles explosives at close range, accepting risks that seem manageable only while they remain part of the job.

His relationship with Loetia changes that calculation. As Macmasters becomes more conscious of what he might lose, professional courage is tested by fear, responsibility and the strain placed on people who must repeatedly approach devices designed to kill without warning. Alexander Cordell’s early novel concentrates less on large-scale battle than on the psychology of specialised military work and the difficult distinction between bravery, duty and recklessness.