The novel is the winner of the National Book Award for fiction in 1952.The 1953 film, 1979 miniseries, and 1980 dramatic series were all adapted from the novel.

• 作者透过主人的抗命和犯上行为，纠正、检讨了不只美国甚或众多国家的军队伦理中混淆不清的乱象，并且区分了长官(个人)意志与组织(全体/整体)目标的差异。