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Rake's Progress: The Gay and Dramatic Adventures of Major Denis Rake MC, The Reluctant British Wartime Agent
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June 16, 2026
Interesting life of a morse coder during WWII. Volunteering at a late age for a soldier (40-ish), Denis gives a little background on his childhood followed by his account of how life unrolled for him during his SOE service.
I chose to read this because of his close and loving relationship with Nancy Wake, and I am happy that his book ended with that (mostly) very happy time in his service.
Mr. Rake had a challenging childhood. Unwanted by his mother, he was sent off to be brought up in the circus. Then life on his own as a gay person in the 1930s. Then, after joining the SOE, being imprisoned, beaten, and abused for much of the time he spent in service to the SOE.
Two bright spots were the time he spent coding for Virginia Hall and Nancy Wake, both powerful females serving the SOE fighting in France against the Germans.
And yes, he fell in love, had lovers, and performed (Denis Greer) in the theater when not coding.
I'm glad I read this book because in all the other books I've read about the Maquis, the Resistance, and Nancy Wake, he is painted as the always jovial, not-a-care-in-the-world kind of guy-and through this, I learned that he had a hard life, hard military service causing life-long ramifications, and smiled despite his circumstances and care, not because of them.
I chose to read this because of his close and loving relationship with Nancy Wake, and I am happy that his book ended with that (mostly) very happy time in his service.
Mr. Rake had a challenging childhood. Unwanted by his mother, he was sent off to be brought up in the circus. Then life on his own as a gay person in the 1930s. Then, after joining the SOE, being imprisoned, beaten, and abused for much of the time he spent in service to the SOE.
Two bright spots were the time he spent coding for Virginia Hall and Nancy Wake, both powerful females serving the SOE fighting in France against the Germans.
And yes, he fell in love, had lovers, and performed (Denis Greer) in the theater when not coding.
I'm glad I read this book because in all the other books I've read about the Maquis, the Resistance, and Nancy Wake, he is painted as the always jovial, not-a-care-in-the-world kind of guy-and through this, I learned that he had a hard life, hard military service causing life-long ramifications, and smiled despite his circumstances and care, not because of them.
Displaying 1 of 1 review