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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 the Second World War. 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.… (meer)
Wonderful book. I didn't understand anything about the codes, but that didn't prevent me from enjoying this book immensely. The story he has to tell us is fascinating and he tells it with great wit and humanity. Marks, by the way, was the son of one of the owners of Marks and Co., the bookshop at 84 Charing Cross Road. The agents who risked their lives to defeat the Germans were an extraordinary bunch of brave and highly intelligent people. And so were people like Marks, who did everything they could to try to keep them from getting caught.
I didn't read this edition. I read a 2008 edition published by The History Press -- the worst editing I have ever seen in a printed book. And I loved it in spite of that (and the codes). But I advise you to stay away from The History Press publication and find another one, which I will do when I go to buy more copies as gifts. ( )
A fantastic, humorous, very well-written memoir by Britain's top codemaker and Director of Communications for SOE during WWII. At age 23 Marks leaves home hoping to do his bit for his country. While everyone else in his cryptographic class heads off for Bletchley Park, Leo ends up on Baker Street with the SEO. He becomes the head of code making for the British. His story is honest, self-deprecating, and funny. But he never forgets the agents lost, especially Violette Szabo and Yeo-Thomas. The title refers to a conversation Marks had to convince the purse-string holders to produce his codes on strips of silk. He says the agents lives may very well come down to his silks, or cyanide. Highly recommended. (Read and reviewed in 2017) ( )
Another WWII book that's quite different. Unbelievable that Leo Marks was a master cryptographer and was only in his 20's. Irreverent, funny, sarcastic and readable describing very hard to describe methods of encrypting agents messages and the value of communications in war and peace time. This on will move along to a non-BC reader in Utah. ( )
British codebreaker’s memoir of WWII, where he tried to keep agents safe and occasionally succeeded. Dry British humor and lots of bureaucratic infighting. ( )
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 the Second World War. 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.
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I didn't read this edition. I read a 2008 edition published by The History Press -- the worst editing I have ever seen in a printed book. And I loved it in spite of that (and the codes). But I advise you to stay away from The History Press publication and find another one, which I will do when I go to buy more copies as gifts. (