Between Silk and Cyanide

A Codemaker's War, 1941 to 1945

By: Leo Marks

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Paperback | 12 September 2000 | Edition Number 1

At a Glance

Paperback
624 Pages

Dimensions(cm)
23.5 x 15.88 x 3.81

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This true account of spycraft in the UK during World War II is "spellbinding...a compelling insider's view to the shadow war: intrigue and treachery, double-dealing and deception, hope and despair, triumph and tragedy" (The New York Times Book Review).

In 1942, Leo Marks left his father's famous bookshop, 84 Charing Cross Road, and went off to fight the war. He was twenty-two. Soon recognized as a cryptographer of genius, he became head of communications at the Special Operations Executive (SOE), where he revolutionized the codemaking techniques of the Allies and trained some of the most famous agents dropped into occupied Europe, including "the White Rabbit" and Violette Szabo. As a top codemaker, Marks had a unique perspective on one of the most fascinating and, until now, little-known aspects of World War II.

Writing with the narrative flair and vivid characterization of his famous screenplays, Marks gives free rein to his keen sense of the absurd and his wry wit, resulting in a thrilling and poignant memoir that celebrates individual courage and endeavor, without losing sight of the human cost and horror of war.

Industry Reviews

Martin Scorsese A mesmerizing account of World War II as fought on the home front in Great Britain by the ingenious codemakers whose work determined the life and death of the Allied agents in occupied Europe. Leo Marks, a brilliant cryptographer, is a masterful and passionate storyteller. I was immediately swept into his secret world of codes and "undecipherables," trying at times (without success) to unravel the puzzles myself, and found it difficult to put down the book until the drama had come to an end. Ken Ringle The Washington Post A welcome and powerfully affecting chapter of World War II history, and a very human story of the most clandestine and cerebral art of making war. Richard Bernstein The New York Times An enthralling book, one full of an eccentric charm as well as fascinating, previously undisclosed details of the secret war waged in the occupied countries. The New York Times Book Review [A] spellbinding real-life thriller....A compelling insider's view to the shadow war: intrigue and treachery, double-dealing and deception, hope and despair, triumph and tragedy.

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You Can Find This Book In

Non-Fiction History General & World History Military History Second World War Biographies & True Stories Biographies Historical, Political and Military Biographies Literary Biographies Warfare & Defence Military & Defence Strategy Military Intelligence

List of Illustrations	p. viii
A Hard Man to Place	p. 1
The Pilot Light	p. 16
A Collector's Item	p. 21
'Merde Alors!'	p. 37
All Things Bright and Beautiful	p. 46
The Fifth Grouse	p. 60
SOE-minded	p. 69
The Plumber and His Mate	p. 79
The Godfather	p. 89
The Sixth Sense	p. 98
The High-Pitched Bleep	p. 110
A Shock Discovery	p. 126
The Biter Bitten	p. 136
The Last-Chance Month	p. 145
The Bolt Hole	p. 151
A Question of Y	p. 159
Arquebus, Gunnerside and Golf	p. 166
The Coding Cabaret	p. 176
Summit Meeting	p. 183
The Findings of the Court	p. 190
Repercussions	p. 198
The Launching of Plan Giskes	p. 203
Special Devices	p. 209
Judgement Day	p. 214
Permission to Proceed?	p. 218
Court Martial	p. 221
Criminal Negligence	p. 230
Green Ink	p. 237
Best Read at Night	p. 242
The War Dance	p. 245
Accidents Will Happen	p. 254
Pilgrim's Progress	p. 260
The 'Hard Men'	p. 267
Judicial Review	p. 274
The Masterstroke	p. 279
Desperate Measures	p. 286
Punitive Expedition	p. 291
The Secret Weapon	p. 299
Appointment with Royalty	p. 307
The Extended Briefing	p. 315
Operation Gift-horse	p. 322
A Terrible Gaffe	p. 326
Operation Sidetrack	p. 335
Beyond Belief	p. 342
Parallel Action	p. 350
The Club Rules	p. 355
Lake Como's Bottom	p. 358
'I Hereby Bequeath ...'	p. 363
A Treat for the Natives	p. 367
Homecoming	p. 379
Stranglehold	p. 383
Man with a Mission	p. 390
Breaking Point	p. 397
Who Stole Your Grace?	p. 405
The Forty-Eight Mistakes	p. 417
Unique in SOE	p. 424
The Major Development	p. 430
'If I Should Die, Etcetera'	p. 433
The Invisible Presence	p. 449
Fumigated	p. 455
A Mere Squadron Leader	p. 463
Without Precedent	p. 471
Open Arrest	p. 479
Misgivings	p. 485
'The Life that I Have'	p. 492
April Fool's Day	p. 499
The New Boys	p. 502
Inexcusable	p. 510
For Your Ears Only	p. 517
Neptune's Trident	p. 521
Staying Power	p. 526
'They Also Serve ...'	p. 534
Self-Defence	p. 539
Taken for Granted	p. 546
The Day of Reckoning	p. 554
Pockets of Resistance	p. 560
Operation Periwig	p. 566
Serial Number 47685	p. 578
For Services Rendered	p. 581
Exemplary Conduct	p. 588
The Last Mischief	p. 595
Epilogue	p. 599
Appendix	p. 601
Index	p. 607
Table of Contents provided by Syndetics. All Rights Reserved.

Between Silk and Cyanide

A Codemaker's War, 1941 to 1945

At a Glance

Paperback

Industry Reviews

Shipping

How to return your order

Defective items

You Can Find This Book In

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