Books The Man Who Knew Too much by Alexander Baron

"The Man Who Knew Too Much" by Alexander Baron is a short story about Private Quelch, a highly knowledgeable and ambitious young soldier who recently joined the army. Quelch has an extensive store of information on various military and general subjects, which he shares freely during training sessions. His eagerness to correct others and demonstrate his knowledge causes friction with his superiors and fellow soldiers.

Despite being talented and doing well in training, Quelch's assertiveness and refusal to hide his intelligence result in resentment toward him. He is nicknamed "The Professor" because of his intellectual demeanor, which makes him stand out in the army environment where practical and humble behavior is valued more. The story reaches a turning point when Quelch is unexpectedly asked to lead a lecture, which he does competently, showing his true ability.

However, due to the hard feelings among his superiors, he is relegated to kitchen duty, a task seen as a form of punishment and humiliation. The story explores themes of arrogance, military discipline, and the clash between individual intelligence and conformity to group norms.