3 JANUARY 1947, Page 32

Any book which has as its subject Lincoln, dogs or

doctors is, by

book-trade tradition, destined for success. It has been suggested that the author of a book called Lincoln's Doctor's Dog couldn't prevent himself from writing a best-seller. But to these mystical thret subjects must now be added a fourth, the American Civil War. The latest traveller along this well-trodden track is Thomas Armstrong, and none will be surprised to learn that for his The Sun is My Un-- doing Collins are printing the biggest .firs(edition in the history of - their fiction publishing.