earlier to devote himself to the National Service League, which promoted universal military training. For these, and similar, writers, Britain's safety depended on building up its armed forces. Du Maurier's play was described in the Annual Register as "a forcible and written argument in favour of universal military training". (quoted in ) Wodehouse "transforms the established pattern by reversing all expectations". Not only is Britain unprepared for invasion, the public shows a complete disregard for the invasion – except as a source of entertainment. And the invading armies are defeated not by the might of Britain's military, but by the cunning stratagems of an unknown "Man of Destiny", the 14-year-old Clarence Chugwater, assisted by his band of Boy Scouts. "Wodehouse concocted a preposterous plot which, unlike his models, was preposterous by intent." References and sources References Sources External links The Russian Wodehouse Society's page, with photos of book covers and a list of characters Free eBook of The Swoop at Project Gutenberg Novels by P. G. Wodehouse 1909 British novels British satirical novels Invasion literature Fictional invasions of England