The Spy Who Loved
Author(s): Clare Mulley
In June 1952, a woman was murdered by an obsessive colleague in a hotel in South Kensington. Her name was Christine Granville. That she died young was perhaps unsurprising, but that she had survived the Second World War was remarkable. The daughter of a feckless Polish aristocratic and his wealthy Jewish wife, she would become one of Britain's most daring and highly decorated secret agents. Having fled Poland on the outbreak of war, she was recruited by the intelligence services long before the establishment of the SOE, and took on mission after mission. She skied over the hazardous High Tatras into Poland, served in Egypt and North Africa and was later parachuted into Occupied France, where an agent's life expectancy was only six weeks. Her courage, quick wit and determination won her release from arrest more than once, and saved the lives of several fellow officers, including one of her many lovers, just hours before their execution by the Gestapo. More importantly, perhaps, the intelligence she gathered was a significant contribution to the Allied war effort and her success was reflected in the fact that she was awarded the George Medal, the OBE and the Croix de Guerre.
Product Information
The remarkable story of Krystyna Skarbek, aka Christine Granville, George Medal, OBE and Croix de Guerre.
"A stunning biographical achievement." -- Alison Weir, "New York Times" bestselling author of "Innocent Traitor" and "The Lady Elizabeth" "This is a breath-taking story, told with panache and sympathy for an extraordinary heroine. Mulley vividly brings to life not only a resourceful and unusual woman but in doing so helps us understand what makes an ordinary person act with superhuman courage in times of adversity. "The Spy Who Loved" is required reading for anyone interested in understanding what makes an ordinary person act with superhuman courage in times of adversity. This is a gripping read." --Anne Sebba, "New York Times" bestselling author of "That Woman" "Not only was Christine Granville Britain's first woman agent in World War II but carried out some of the most daring missions ever conceived. Her biographer Clare Mulley has provided a vivid account of her activities yet maintains a balanced assessment of the results. Careful research has created sustained tension, vitality and immediacy which are truly page-turning." --Gordon Thomas, bestselling author of "The Pope's Jews" and "Gideon's Spies" "I enjoyed and admired "The Spy Who Loved.".. A really gripping account of the remarkable Christine Granville." --Simon Mawer, bestselling author of "Trapeze" and "The Glass Room" "An astonishing story, brilliantly told. If a Hollywood movie isn't made about Christine Granville's remarkable life, I'd be amazed." --Charles Cumming, award-winning author of "A Foreign Country" "Impressively researched, and absolutely fascinating. Christine Granville is one of those women you can't help wishing you'd met in real life." --Jojo Moyes, award-winning author of "Me Before You" "Compulsively readable... Clare Mulley has done a dogged piece of detective work piecing together Christine's ultimately tragic life... She has written a thrilling book, and paid overdue homage to a difficult woman who seized life with both hands" --"The Sunday Telegraph "(UK) "Brings a
Clare Mulley joined Save the Children as a corporate fundraiser in the 1990s. She is the mother of three daughters and currently lives in Essex, UK. Her first book, The Woman Who Saved the Children, a biography of Eglantyne Jebb was both critically acclaimed and won the Daily Mail Biographers' Club Prize.
General Fields
- :
- : PAN MACMILLAN UK
- : Macmillan
- : 01 June 2013
- : 01 May 2013
- : books
Special Fields
- : Clare Mulley
- : Paperback
- : English
- : 940.548641092
