A Very English Hero: The Making of Frank Thompson

by Peter J. Conradi

An untold story of love, idealism and courage in the Second World War

Genres: Biography

432 pages, Paperback

First published August 2, 2012

About the author

See also Sunday Times journalist Peter Conradi

Peter J. Conradi FRSL (born 8 May 1945) is a British author and academic, best known for his studies of writer and philosopher, Iris Murdoch, who was a close friend. He is a Professor Emeritus of English at the University of Kingston and has been Visiting Fellow at Magdalen College Oxford and Research Fellow at University College London.

Conradi was educated at Oundle School, before going on to study English Literature at the University of East Anglia (BA, 1967), the University of Sussex (MA, 1969) and University College London (PhD, 1983).

Conradi has taught at South Bank Polytechnic, University of Colorado, Boulder (Exchange Professor), University of East Anglia, Kingston University and the Jagiellonian University, Krakow, Poland (British Council Professor). In 1997 Conradi left Kingston University, where he is now Emeritus Professor, to write freelance; and in 2010 was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society of Literature.

Conradi has written a number of books, including studies of John Fowles, Fyodor Dostoevsky and Angus Wilson, but he is best known for his work on the life and work of Iris Murdoch. His authorised biography of Murdoch was widely chosen as a book of the year on its publication in 2001.

Peter Conradi lives in London and Radnorshire with his civil partner Jim O’Neill. He is a practising Buddhist. He is a Trustee of the Bleddfa Centre for the Creative Spirit and has been co-editor (2007-2018) of the Transactions of the Radnorshire Society.

Reviews

[Erez Davidi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Before reading this book, I knew Frank Thompson was a gifted solider-poet who served under the SOE (Special Operations Executive), but not much beyond that. I was rather uncertain as to why Conradi decided to write a biography about someone who died at such a young age and lived so little.

Frank Thompson was captured, tortured, and then executed after he was caught during an operation, which he was sent on by the SOE in order to establish a link between the Bulgarian Partisans and the British army. He was killed at the age of 23.

Despite his short life, he still managed to live life to the fullest; he studied in Winchester and Oxford, wrote dozens of letters and poems, fell in love, and had a very full-of-events army career in Phantom and SOE, in which he showed a remarkable leadership skills in spite of his young age. He had enough unique experiences enabling anyone to find something interesting enough to relate to in this book.

Frank Thompson was a complex person. He was a remarkable linguist who spoke numerous languages, a poet who hadn't achieved his potential, an avid reader, a fierce intellectual, and even a drunk. (During college his parents were truly worried that he was on his way to becoming an alcoholic). However, above all, his story is symbolic of the generation who believed that it must fight and defeat Hitler for the greater good of everyone. This wonderful and moving biography also sheds light on Thompson's remarkable family and the fascinating times of WWII.

[Mr D T Harris · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved the detail research that has gone in this book, and the endless list of people who given up their time and knowledge to give the book a real sense of the man that is Frank Thompson, from the first page to the last I found the writing engaging which for me is what a good book should always have. Poets I feel are seldom shown as hero's but the book shared more about the man himself, which for me could have been any young man of that time if it wasn't for the circumstance Frank found himself in at just 23yrs old, I would ask you the next reader of this fine book to take the time and think of the courage of this man and other men and women who are not among us now.

[Ann · Rating 3 out of 5]

Biography of the brilliant Frank Thompson who was tragically killed in World War Two at the age of 23. Although he was a prolific writer of letters, poetry, essays, etc., it must have been a struggle to write a biography of one who died so young because this book is filled with the minutiae of his family life. His parents knew everyone - Nehru sent condolences on learning of Frank's death. However, I found the frequent digressions to further explain (pad?) the story disruptive to the narrative. Interesting glimpse into British intellectual life in the 1930s and 40s.

[Inken · Rating 4 out of 5]

Yes it took me 3+ months to finish this but I finally did. I did enjoy this fascinating tale of a talented, brave and extraordinary man, Frank Thompson, who died much too young (why does that always happen?!) but I was somewhat traumatized by the fact he apparently dated, or at least knew very well, my former boarding school headmistress! Anyway, a great tale of a young man full of passion, ideas, ideals, a desire to achieve something great and help people whilst doing it.

[Simon McCrum · Rating 3 out of 5]

Pretty slow, first 60% deals with the subjects childhood! The details and information available of Franks final mission are pretty sketchy so the author has employed a lot of padding.....however still a very interesting read about a little know chapter of SOE's activities.