The Women Who Lived For Danger, by Marcus Binney

The Women Who Lived For Danger: Behind Enemy Lines During WWII, by Marcus Binney
Perennial, 2002 (first published in England)
337 pages, plus 16 pages of b&w photos, Notes on Sources, Glossary, Bibliography and Index

Description
"They flirted with men, and with death." In The Women Who Lived For Danger, acclaimed historian Marcus Binney recounts the story of ten remarkable women-some famous, some virtually unknown-recruited to work behind enemy lines as secret agents during WWII. Part of Winston Churchill's Special Operations Executive, formed in 1940 to "set Europe ablaze", the women of the SOE were trained to handle guns and explosives, work undercover, endure interrogation by the Gestapo, and use complex codes.

Once in enemy territory, theirs was the most dangerous war of all, leading an apparently normal civilian life but in constant danger of arrest and execution. Passing themselves off as country wenches by afternoon and chic Parisiennes by night, these women put service to Britain and the Allied forces above all concerns for public safety-they organized dropping grounds for arms and explosives destined for the Resistance, helped operate escape lines for airmen who had been shot down over Europe, and provided Allied Command with vital intelligence.

The exploits of those chronicled in The Women Who Lived For danger form a new chapter of heroism in the history of warfare matched only by their legacy of daring, determination, resourcefulness and ability to stay cool in the face of extreme danger.

Table of Contents
List of illustrations
Acknowledgments
A Note on SOE
1. Recruitment and Training
2. An Agent's Life
3. Christina Graville
4. Virginia Hall
5. Lise de Baissac
6. Noor Inayat Khan
7. Pear Witherington
8. Paddy O'Sullivan
9. Violette Szabo
10. Marguerite "Peggy" Knight
11. Paola del Din
12. Alix d'Unienville
Epilogue
Note on Sources
Glossary
Bibliography
Index

Photos
Christina Granville
Virginia Hall
Christina Granville and Andrew Kennedy
Christina Granville, and the Maquis: Gilbert Galetti, Captain Patrick O'Regan, Captain John Roper, and Captain Leonard Hamilton
Noor Inayat Khan
Lise de Baissac
Violette Szabo
Pearl Witherington
Paddy O'Sullivan
Paola del Din
Paola del Din
Paola del Din and two unidentified men
Peggy Knight
Lela Karayanni
Alix d'Unienville ans unidentified men
Hannah Senesh
Yvonne Rudellat
Vera Atkins