HER FINEST HOUR: THE HEROIC LIFE OF DIANA ROWDEN,WARTIME SECRET AGENT.

UK,8vo HB+dw/dj,1st edn.FINE+/FINE+.No owner inscrptn and no price-clip to dw/dj.Bright,crisp,clean,matt,b/w photographic illustrated dw/dj with white+red lettering; with negligible shelf-wear or creasing to edges and corners - no nicks or tears present.Top+fore-edges bright and clean; contents bright,tight,clean,solid and sound - pristine - no dog-ear reading creases to any pages' corners,appears unread - apart from my own collation.Bright,crisp,clean,sharp-cornered,publisher's original plain black cloth boards with bright,crisp,blocked gilt letters to spine,and immaculate plain white endpapers.UK,8vo HB+dw/dj,1st edn, vii-xxpp+2-300pp [paginated] includes contents list/table,double-page b/w map (SOE active circuits,1943),foreword by David M. Harrison, author preface with author's note to verso,acknowledgements,Pts One +Two comprising 6 and 8 chapters respectively,16pp contemporary b/w photographs in 1 block,between pp140/1,appendices,notes,a bibliography and an index; plus [unpaginated] half-title+title pages, epigram+dedication to same page.
Diana Rowden was a woman of the finest character.As an agent with the Special Operations Executive (SOE),she was dropped into France alongside Noor Inayat Khan (see my book ID rja541315 for a related female SOE agents) and worked in the Resistance stronghold of the Franche-Comte department.Hunted at every turn by the Gestapo, Diana worked tirelessly for the Allied war effort, playing a part in the sabotage of the Peugeot factory at Sochaux and delivering frequent radio messages.In the ultimate tale of intrigue,Gabrielle McDonald-Rothwell relates how Diana's escapades ended in betrayal by one her own colleagues,and describes the final desperation of the concentration camp where her war ended.
This full biography,untold until now,attempts for the first time to honour Diana's service to her country.At a time when the use of female secret agents was controversial and marred by establishment prejudices, Diana's tragic life is here given its full recognition.Although she was later Mentioned in Despatches and awarded an MBE and the Croix de Guerre,this little known individual has all but vanished from the annals of Second World War history.This is a story of a woman who,with a singular bravery and devotion to duty,distinguished herself as one of the SOE's finest agents.
Please contact rpaxtonden@blueyonder.co.uk ,because of the weight/ value of this item for correct,insured shipping/P+p quotes - particularly ALL overseas buyers - BEFORE ordering through the order page! ** N.B. ALL buyers please note,stocks' actual shipping/P+p costs are adjusted and any difference is refunded,after order's receipt and before the order's despatch,especially if the item(s) are offered either P+p included/FREE. ** N.B. US/Canada customers please be aware: Standard AIRMAIL postage from UK to these destinations can now cost more than the price of the book! If speed is not of the essence,then Economy rate is recommended - at approx. anything from a 1/3rd to 1/2 of the standard AIR quote/rate - sometimes arriving sooner than the 42 days - but not always.