Schoolbook

On the day after Hitler's annexation of Austria and little more than a year before the start of World War 2 Richard Preston interviews for a post as head of a famous but crumbling British public school and gets the job despite never being allowed to answer a question. But his problems are just beginning when he struggles with his own war memories an abusive or apathetic staff a crooked bursar a coup by fascist prefects harassed juniors offended royals tumbling frescoes decaying buildings his daughters' romantic entanglements and the realisation that amidst a deteriorating international situation he is losing his own fight with a fate where everything he touches turns to farce.