Alan Clark's first book, The Donkeys (1961), was a revisionist history of the British Expeditionary Force's campaigns at the beginning of World War I.

The book's title was drawn from the expression "Lions led by donkeys" which has been widely used to compare British soldiers with their commanders.

The book was considered to be the inspiration for the popular pacifist musical Oh, What a Lovely War! and Clark, after legal wrangles, was awarded some royalties. (Wikipedia)