Book description
In World War II, 37 women were dropped in occupied France to work as
Special Operations Executive agents and 'set Europe ablaze'. 13 never
returned. They were executed in Hitler's concentration camps.
This is the fascinating story of eight of those female agents, all
striking beauties (despite the need to be inconspicuous), all from
civilian life, who were warned of the likelihood of arrest, torture and
a brutal death before they volunteered. None demurred. These young women
were given months of arduous fitness, gun, explosives, endurance and
code training before parachuting into occupied territory.
But Women Who Lived for Danger also contains eight very personal tales.
Why did these women volunteer? Where did they come from? Marcus Binney
tells of a life of Resistance work and uncover operations, clandestine
activities and even armed combat, and a constant fear of discovery. But
above this book tells of extreme bravery and devotion to duty. 'High
drama . . . a tribute to the remarkable women who risked their lives'
Marcus Binney went to Cambridge, and has lectured extensively to
historical societies in New York, Boston, Rhode Island, and Virginia on
architectural preservation and history. He has fronted a 39-part series
- Mansions: The Great Houses of Europe - broadcast in the US between
1993 and 1997.
