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Rating: 
Summary: For fans of ALIAS meet the real women who risked everything
Review: "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.
Rating: 
Summary: Fascinating content that could have been better presented.
Review: 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.
Rating: 
Summary: Keeping their Memory Alive
Review: 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.
Rating:
Summary: Fascinating content that could have been better presented.
Review: The stories of ten women who were air-dropped behind enemy lines in WWII to work as secret agents for the British Special Operations Executive, this book seems at first glance to be full of tasty tales of bold women and their daring exploits. Unfortunately, while the author may be an acclaimed historian, he's not a terribly good writer. The juicy nuggets excerpted from case files are encased in layers of clunky prose, making the reading less exciting and more just plain hard work. A better writer could have woven the facts into gripping narrative threads; I hope that better writer will come along and do this amazing material justice.
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