The Women Who Lived for Danger: The Agents of the Special Operations Executive

by Marcus Binney

Book Overview

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 occupied territories to work as secret agents. Once they were behind enemy lines, theirs...

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0060540877
• ISBN13: 9780060540876
• Release Date: September 2003
• Publisher: William Morrow
• Length: 400 Pages
• Weight: 1.61 lbs.
• Dimensions: 9.0" x 1.3" x 6.0"

Customer Reviews

Good introduction to a fascinating topic

Marcus Binney's book is a wonderful introductory book for anybody wanting information on women involved in espionage during WWII. These are remarkable stories about remarkable women, and a part of WWII history which is rarely covered. The book gives a quick introduction to 10 women who were important to these efforts, along with a glimpse of what they went through to prepare for their missions and the price they sometimes paid. If you want to learn about the women of the OSS, this is a great place to start, before delving into the longer volumes dedicated to the individual women (notably Violet Szabo, Virginia Hall and Vera Atkins).

For fans of ALIAS meet the real women who risked everything

"They flirted with men...and with death!""Sky-Girl spied for 7 Months""No plane so Spy Girl died""All these unknown young girls have proved one thing forever. The toughest tests of courage and endurance faced by men can be passed with honor by women."Marcus Binney introduces the reader to 10 young, bold, brilliant and fascinating women recruited to go behind enemy lines, passing themselves off as ordinary citizens, and leading normal lives-in constant danger of arrest and execution. At a time when survival didn't just require physical toughness, but the ability to live a cover story that could hold up under the toughest interrogation, women simply excelled. They were not commandos with masterful martial arts moves, nor modern Bond girls-this was an age when young women wouldn't bicycle for fear of bulky muscular thighs-they were simply charismatic and brilliant and displayed cool courage, intelligence, and adaptability in every situation-passing themselves off as country wenches by afternoon and chic Parisiennes by night. Putting country, and service to Britain and the Allied forces above all concerns for personal safety-they organized dropping grounds for explosives destined for the Resistance; helped operate escape lines for pilots shot down over Europe, and provided the Allies with vital intelligence. This book is addictive, inspiring, and well worth ordering and sharing with the other women in your life.

Keeping their Memory Alive

I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book with regard to the female agents of the Special Operations Executive; if anything, I did not want it to end but be more detailed. For someone who is beginning research into the subject, it is an excellent source to begin for some of the top agent names and leads via the sources / bibliography. Other famous agents such as Odette Sanson or Nancy Wake aka the White Mouse are not covered, but one of the most famous and well known agents, Violette Szabo is covered by a chapter. Other books to recommend would be We Landed by Moonlight by a top SOE pilot Hugh Verity,SOE in France by M.R.D. Foot,and Between Silk and Cyanide; Leo Marks. The sacrifices made by these brave individuals should never be forgotten.