Maria Krystyna Janina Skarbek (Christine Granville), OBE, GM, Croix de guerre : SOE

Browsing the website of The Bookseller, I noticed that Pan Macmillan have acquired the rights to a forthcoming biography of Christine Granville by Clare Mulley, who has previously written a biography of social reformer Eglantine Jebb. It's scheduled for publication in 2012, but I have to wonder how much it adds to Madeleine Masson's 1975 book "Christine", especially as Masson's book was republished with an extra chapter in 2008.

Christine, SOE Agent and Churchill's Favourite Spy - HagsHarlotsHeroines

I suppose we'll just have to wait and see ...

Pan Mac acquires "Vesper Lynd" secret agent biog | The Bookseller

 

Vitesse,
I have to put my hand up and admit that I had never heard of her. Mind you I am only about to start looking into the 'secret' side of the war. To that effect I have ordered up 'SOE A Outline History' by Foot. Maybe in a year or two I will know something of that side of the war. Meanwhile I will look out for the book on Christine.
Len

 

Christine was a very complex character and a new biography is well overdue!

 

Christine was a very complex character ...
Delicately put!

 

Interesting link on Krysyna Skarbek - Christine Granville

Polish Greatness (Blog): SPY WEEK Famous Polish Spies - Krystyna Skarbek

 

I just tried the link and it doesn't work for me. Can anyone else read it?

 

Seems to work fine from here!

 

Link ok for me.
This book is still sat on my shelf unread.

 

Works here now too which is good because, as you said, it's an interesting link

 

Dear WW2 Talk forum users,

As some of you already know, I have been commissioned to write a new biography of Christine Granville for Macmillan publishers in the UK. It was wonderful to see Vitesse, Len Trim and Jedburgh 22's mention of the project on this site, so I have signed in to say hello! If anyone would like more info on me, my website is at Clare Mulley: Home

Although Madeleine Masson's very interesting biography of Granville was republished with an update in 2005, I was delighted to see some feeling that a new look is overdue. I agree, of course. There is plenty of new information, and different angles, that validate a new look at Granville.

Having said this, I am still researching and writing away, and if anyone has any information, suggestions or thoughts about sources, I would be delighted to hear from you.

With all best wishes, Clare

 

Maria Krystyna Janina Skarbek, OBE, GM, Croix de guerre
Buried Kensal Green St Marys RC Cemetery,London
Krystyna Skarbek - Wikipedia
Photos from my collection

 

Maria Krystyna Janina (aka Christine GRANVILLE) (Polish agent of British SOE during World War II in France & Poland) SKARBEK
1908–1952
BIRTH 1 MAY 1908 • Warsaw, Mazowieckie, Poland
DEATH 15 JUN 1952 • London, City of London, Greater London, England

Krystyna Skarbek - Wikipedia

TD

 

Blue Plaque announced for Christine Granville by English Heritage.

Six New Blue Plaques for Women | English Heritage

 

For those interested, seek this one out (it's over forty years old and for me has some priceless content, the forward by Francis Cammaerts being just one example).

Kind regards, always,

Jim.

 

BBC Radio 4 - Great Lives, Series 39, Graeme Lamb on Christine Granville

Graeme Lamb on Christine Granville
Great LivesSeries 39
Episode 5 of 9

Lt-Gen Sir Graeme Lamb, former head of British special forces, champions the life of wartime spy Christine Granville, assisted by her biographer Clare Mulley.

Christine, born Kristina Skarbek, was a glamorous swashbuckling heroine who skied into occupied Poland to distribute Allied propaganda, and parachuted into southern France to work with the Resistance after D Day. Murdered after the war by a jilted lover, she is little known today - thanks partly to the efforts of a group of men she had been close to, who formed a committee to "protect her reputation" from suggestions of sexual impropriety.

Matthew Parris chairs the discussion.

First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in 2016.

 

I just finished Clare's book and therefore joined this site. It is a wonderful book with its terribly sad conclusion. But, interestingly, in Clare's final summary, we speculate as to whether Christine's life was leading to this inevitable conclusion of an extraordinary journey. And as must have been the case with many active participants of WW2, peacetime just didn't hold the same thrill. Having read many books on SOE, I cannot recommend 'The Spy Who Loved' highly enough as one of the best researched and written. Can we hope for any more in similar vein?
Gareth

 

Still making the news in 2024.

The late Christine Granville.

Always remember, never forget,

Jim.

Christine Granville: The Polish aristocrat who was Churchill's favourite spy

For those who would wish to read more:

Another Christine Granville biography

Max Waem

Athena – Women With Wings • The Parachute Regimental Association

 

A BBC News story about her today - presumably based on a new book - which refers to:

Claire Mulley was the lady who campaigned for a Blue Plaque in London, at the hotel where she lived and was murdered post-war by a former lover.
From: Christine Granville: The Polish aristocrat who was Churchill's favourite spy

Note there was a another thread - later merged - where Granville is the subject and Claire Mulley joined the forum in 2011, so perhaps the book is being republished? A little research indicates her book was published first in 2013 and there is her website and the reviews date from then. See: Another Christine Granville biography

 

The timing of the article seems unclear to me. Clare Mulley's book came out in 2013!

Is there a new one?

 

Chris,

It maybe the paperback edition that has been published. Or, just successful PR!
From: https://uk.bookshop.org/p/books/the...roines-clare-mulley/1194089?ean=9781447201182

There is another thread under the Skarbek name, which Jim H. updated earlier today. See: Maria Krystyna Janina Skarbek, OBE, GM, Croix de guerre :Special Operations Executive

Later today the three threads have been merged!