Dispatches from the front often have the quality of being personal, direct, ground-upwards descriptions of a conflict. They are not the military analyst's careful, objective reports as to how the war might be won by new strategies or the redeployment of forces. Each type of account has its own virtues.

Hauerwas' dispatches come in two collections. The first, under the heading 'Behind the Lines', presents two essays considering the function of narrative and a third which highlights the importance of belonging to a narrative tradition. The second part, 'Engagements', brings together essays on three of Hauerwas' favourite themes: the relationship between Christians and American society; Christians and war; and his analysis of the morality of attitudes toward the handicapped. The whole collection is introduced by an essay in which Hauerwas seeks to locate himself within contemporary discussions and to articulate his purpose in writing.