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171st out of 199 books
—
147 voters
The Women Who Lived for Danger: The Agents of the Special Operations Executive
The Special Operations Executive was formed by Winston Churchill in 1940 to "set Europe ablaze." In the SOE women were trained to handle guns and explosives, work undercover, endure interrogation by the Gestapo, and use complex codes. In "The Women Who Lived for Danger, acclaimed historian Marcus Binney recounts the story of ten remarkable women who were dropped in occupie...more
Hardcover, 380 pages
Published
September 30th 2003
by William Morrow & Company
(first published 2002)
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I became interested in this subject many years ago after reading Ken Follett's Jackdaws. I was sorely disappointed
During WWII, Churchill developed a program entitled the Special Operational Executive which recuited young, attractive women with exellent language skills to undertake special assignment behind enemy lines. The program eventually served as the model for the establishment of America's CIA program. The book opens briefly by discussing the recruitment and training process then highlight...more
During WWII, Churchill developed a program entitled the Special Operational Executive which recuited young, attractive women with exellent language skills to undertake special assignment behind enemy lines. The program eventually served as the model for the establishment of America's CIA program. The book opens briefly by discussing the recruitment and training process then highlight...more
I was not unfamiliar with the story of SOE before reading this account of the lives of ten women agents and their courage, daring and resourcefulness. I'd read about Noor Inayat Khan and Violette Szabo in several accounts of this exciting period, but had not previously read about Christina Granville - an agent who served throughout the entire war with amazing distinction, was then dumped by SOE, reduced to doing various servile jobs before being brutally killed by a rejected lover just when it l...more
This is the most riveting book I've read in a while. I'd pick it up to glance through it for names or photos, read a paragraph, sit down and read to the end of the chapter, then go back and read the whole chapter through from the beginning--without being able to focus on anything else around me. I did eventually make my way through the whole book from front to back.
It's a series of portraits of adventurers and freedom fighters, all working for the British Special Operations Executive (SOE) durin...more
It's a series of portraits of adventurers and freedom fighters, all working for the British Special Operations Executive (SOE) durin...more
As an American I was not as familier with the explots of some of the agents, who have been asborbed into pop culture. I had hoever, read a book on Vera Atkins (A Life in Secrets) who appears briefly, so I knew some of the stories, and the two books work in tandem, espcially for an American audience.
The stories of the women agents were thrilling and inspiring, and tragic. Even those who survived were not always given their due, which is a tragedy in and of itself. Interesting reading.
The stories of the women agents were thrilling and inspiring, and tragic. Even those who survived were not always given their due, which is a tragedy in and of itself. Interesting reading.
Apr 04, 2010
Tara Chevrestt
rated it
2 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Recommended to Tara by:
Irene
Shelves:
non-fiction,
world-war-2
I spent two days picking this up on and off and as a result, took more naps than ever before in my life. I nodded off every time. In all fairness, biographies are not my usual choice of book, but I was pretty excited about this because of the subject matter. Unfortunately, the stories of the women were so bogged down with details I couldn't remember from one page to the next that I couldn't enjoy it as much as I wanted to. Also, I don't care who they took as lovers. I would have preferred the bo...more
I tried, but failed. It was just too hard going; the author kept leaping from one subject to the next and then back again, instead of concentrating on one person at a time. I need to try again when I'm in the mood for something factual as I'm ashamed to have given up on a book which was about such an interesting subject.
A fascinating book about many of the "special agents" who assisted the SOE in WWII.All pretty much unknown women, some who lived and some who died, with their own special reasons for joining the Resistance. Their bravery was remarkable.
Amazing story of espionage, double agents and death during WW2..............
An unexpected history of WWII.
If you are interested in the woman who went behind enemy lines during the war, risking their all, then this is the book for you. The unashamed bravery of these woman, put us all to shame, I was often left crying over their sacrifice.
Wonderfully written, a must read!
Wonderfully written, a must read!
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I loved true stories of everyday people turned into heroes. The women who served behind enemy lines in World War II were amazing. The stories could be uneven and I skipped around a bit reading out of order but it was a good read.
The subject of the book is incredible, however, I didn't find the book to be well written.
I loved true stories of everyday people turned into heroes. The women who served behind enemy lines in World War II were amazing. The stories could be uneven and I skipped around a bit reading out of order but it was a good read.
I love WWII history and have always had a fascination with espionage so this book is the perfect mix. It's an account of many of the female spies during WWII. The stories of these amazing women read like a movie!
Well researched and well written and SO interesting.
Feb 03, 2008
Marilou
rated it
5 of 5 stars
Recommends it for:
WWII buffs; spy story fanciers
Shelves:
world-war-two-non-fiction,
biography
More true spy stories of WWII.
May 23, 2013
Sara VA
marked it as to-read
May 20, 2013
Liza CK
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May 19, 2013
Liz Durham
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Apr 30, 2013
Mbrooke
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Apr 26, 2013
Merry Bones
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Apr 09, 2013
Finn Harris
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Apr 07, 2013
Kathleen
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Apr 01, 2013
Majka
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