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The War We Won Apart: The Untold Story of Two Elite Agents Who Became One of the Most Decorated Couples of WWII
Love, betrayal, and a secret the untold story of two elite agents, one Canadian, one British, who became one of the most decorated couples of WWII.
On opposite sides of the pond, Sonia Butt, an adventurous young British woman, and Guy d’Artois, a French-Canadian soldier and thunderstorm of a man, are preparing for war.
From different worlds, their lives first intersect during clandestine training to become agents with Winston Churchill’s secret army, the Special Operations Executive. As the world’s deadliest conflict to date unfolds, Sonia and Guy learn how to parachute into enemy territory, how to kill, blow up rail lines, and eventually . . . how to love each other. But not long after their hasty marriage, their love is tested by separation, by a titanic invasion—and by indiscretion.
Writing in vivid, heart-stopping prose, Ayed follows Sonia as she plunges into Nazi-occupied France and slinks into black market restaurants to throw off occupying Nazi forces, while at the same time participating in sabotage operations against them; and as Guy, in another corner of France, trains hundreds into a resistance army.
Reconstructed from hours of unpublished interviews and hundreds of archival and personal documents, the story Ayed tells is about the ravaging costs of war paid for disproportionately by the young. But more than anything, The War We Won Apart is a story about two secret agents who were supposed to land in enemy territory together, but were fated to fight the war apart.
On opposite sides of the pond, Sonia Butt, an adventurous young British woman, and Guy d’Artois, a French-Canadian soldier and thunderstorm of a man, are preparing for war.
From different worlds, their lives first intersect during clandestine training to become agents with Winston Churchill’s secret army, the Special Operations Executive. As the world’s deadliest conflict to date unfolds, Sonia and Guy learn how to parachute into enemy territory, how to kill, blow up rail lines, and eventually . . . how to love each other. But not long after their hasty marriage, their love is tested by separation, by a titanic invasion—and by indiscretion.
Writing in vivid, heart-stopping prose, Ayed follows Sonia as she plunges into Nazi-occupied France and slinks into black market restaurants to throw off occupying Nazi forces, while at the same time participating in sabotage operations against them; and as Guy, in another corner of France, trains hundreds into a resistance army.
Reconstructed from hours of unpublished interviews and hundreds of archival and personal documents, the story Ayed tells is about the ravaging costs of war paid for disproportionately by the young. But more than anything, The War We Won Apart is a story about two secret agents who were supposed to land in enemy territory together, but were fated to fight the war apart.
422 pages, Kindle Edition
Published May 28, 2024
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 104 reviews
July 5, 2024
Relationships are complicated. They are even more complicated when both people are spies during World War II. This is the case for the couple in Nahlah Ayed's The War We Won Apart.
I am disappointed to say this book missed the mark for me. Ayed's prose is quite good but the story and the framing around it really lets the reader down. A technical but confusing aspect is the timeline of the book. The middle sections focus on when our main characters are dropped into occupied France. Ayed tells a lot of story (and side characters) in a relatively short amount of time. It throws off the timescale and we never really get time to sit with characters. The book is basically cut up into thirds which cover the early lives and military training of our protagonists, then World War II activities, and then their married lives after the war. This book is marketed as a World War II spy book and there is not enough of it.
The other negative aspect of the story may be just a "me" problem, but here goes. Without going into too many specifics, the love story between the two main characters suffers badly because of a love triangle. While you know that they couple stays together, the documented reason why they did is one of the most insulting I ever heard. After that, I had a hard time being invested in them as a couple and there was still half the book to go.
Ultimately, Ayed is a good writer, but this story needed to be told differently to minimize some rough edges. There is a lot of great World War II spy literature and, unfortunately, this one does not measure up.
(This book was provided as a review copy by the publisher.)
I am disappointed to say this book missed the mark for me. Ayed's prose is quite good but the story and the framing around it really lets the reader down. A technical but confusing aspect is the timeline of the book. The middle sections focus on when our main characters are dropped into occupied France. Ayed tells a lot of story (and side characters) in a relatively short amount of time. It throws off the timescale and we never really get time to sit with characters. The book is basically cut up into thirds which cover the early lives and military training of our protagonists, then World War II activities, and then their married lives after the war. This book is marketed as a World War II spy book and there is not enough of it.
The other negative aspect of the story may be just a "me" problem, but here goes. Without going into too many specifics, the love story between the two main characters suffers badly because of a love triangle. While you know that they couple stays together, the documented reason why they did is one of the most insulting I ever heard. After that, I had a hard time being invested in them as a couple and there was still half the book to go.
Ultimately, Ayed is a good writer, but this story needed to be told differently to minimize some rough edges. There is a lot of great World War II spy literature and, unfortunately, this one does not measure up.
(This book was provided as a review copy by the publisher.)
August 25, 2024
I was disappointed in the book. I did not expect the journalistic style of writing.
June 14, 2024
Loved her first book. Love her on my radio. Loved this book also.
Firstly, this is a story in all sense of the word. It flows and captivates like fiction - but it’s real. This is a real spy thriller!
Secondly, while the e-book clocks in at 406 pages, the ‘story’ actually ends on page 324. That last (almost) 100 pages are her notes and sources and bibliography… fascinating in and of themself.
Thirdly, this speaks to the importance of international coalitions. No more need be said about that!
Fourthly this celebrates the gumption and success of everyday people. Guy, and Sonia, and all of the others involved here were anything but privileged and their successes were a result of collective community action.
Fifthly, this is a deeply personal story. Guy and Sonia - and everyone else - are ‘real’ people - characters who come to life on the page and whom you feel you know, like neighbours. Everyone - anyone - could be - is/was! - the person you live next door to… or indeed, yourself.
Sixthly, this is an important piece of setting the record straight as it relates to the historical involvement of women in war.
Lastly, though there are likely additional reasons I could think of if I had time to think longer about this, is that the ‘work’ that is explored here was all building up to D-Day. Without the efforts of people like Guy and Sonia - and everyone else!! - D-Day would not - could not - have succeeded. Given that we just ‘celebrated’ the 80th anniversary of D-Day last week - this feels entirely fitting.
Think back to all of the media around D-Day recently. How much did you hear/see about the resistance fighters? Or any of the ‘behind the scenes’ efforts - the planning, preparation and infiltration - that laid the ground work for the actual ‘attack’ to be able to be successful? Exactly - nothing!
Highly recommended.
Firstly, this is a story in all sense of the word. It flows and captivates like fiction - but it’s real. This is a real spy thriller!
Secondly, while the e-book clocks in at 406 pages, the ‘story’ actually ends on page 324. That last (almost) 100 pages are her notes and sources and bibliography… fascinating in and of themself.
Thirdly, this speaks to the importance of international coalitions. No more need be said about that!
Fourthly this celebrates the gumption and success of everyday people. Guy, and Sonia, and all of the others involved here were anything but privileged and their successes were a result of collective community action.
Fifthly, this is a deeply personal story. Guy and Sonia - and everyone else - are ‘real’ people - characters who come to life on the page and whom you feel you know, like neighbours. Everyone - anyone - could be - is/was! - the person you live next door to… or indeed, yourself.
Sixthly, this is an important piece of setting the record straight as it relates to the historical involvement of women in war.
Lastly, though there are likely additional reasons I could think of if I had time to think longer about this, is that the ‘work’ that is explored here was all building up to D-Day. Without the efforts of people like Guy and Sonia - and everyone else!! - D-Day would not - could not - have succeeded. Given that we just ‘celebrated’ the 80th anniversary of D-Day last week - this feels entirely fitting.
Think back to all of the media around D-Day recently. How much did you hear/see about the resistance fighters? Or any of the ‘behind the scenes’ efforts - the planning, preparation and infiltration - that laid the ground work for the actual ‘attack’ to be able to be successful? Exactly - nothing!
Highly recommended.
December 30, 2024
For those interested in WWII I would highly recommend. The story of Sonia and Guy is interesting and engaging from beginning to end. Interesting to read how they volunteered to enter in service and then how it followed them throughout their lives after they left.
July 13, 2024
I’m incredibly mixed on this one. The story itself was interesting, but the writing was pretty subpar. It seemed conflicted what style of narration it wanted to use. When I read the blurb, I immediately preordered a digital copy, and basically went into this blind on author details. I really expected to get to the end and realize the writer was a family relation to Sonia or Guy d’Atois, which would have explained the overly emotional passages.
It takes a lot to build a biography, especially one two individuals who were both historically present and private. Their joint work was largely censored even after the war which limited sources, but bogging down the plain facts with an excess of names swinging in and out just slowed the pace down. After a point it felt less of a historical write up and more of something that was intended to be a very dry, flat story. Ayed dropped plenty of names with limited purpose.
There’s also a very strange way she talks around the subject of an affair. War and love aren’t easy subjects to navigate, and things happen. But: ‘she upheld a marriage some said would unravel in months’ was slapped in at the very end of this book, which is a really strange rewrite of the infidelity that Ayed brought up numerous times.
The history itself was interesting, Sonia’s life needed a spotlight. But maybe a more experienced writer could have done more for this one.
It takes a lot to build a biography, especially one two individuals who were both historically present and private. Their joint work was largely censored even after the war which limited sources, but bogging down the plain facts with an excess of names swinging in and out just slowed the pace down. After a point it felt less of a historical write up and more of something that was intended to be a very dry, flat story. Ayed dropped plenty of names with limited purpose.
There’s also a very strange way she talks around the subject of an affair. War and love aren’t easy subjects to navigate, and things happen. But: ‘she upheld a marriage some said would unravel in months’ was slapped in at the very end of this book, which is a really strange rewrite of the infidelity that Ayed brought up numerous times.
The history itself was interesting, Sonia’s life needed a spotlight. But maybe a more experienced writer could have done more for this one.
July 15, 2024
3.5 stars
Well-researched and readable, but I kept asking myself why did Ayed choose to write about these two people.
Some of the book is interesting to read in our polarized context:
“Did we really need to kill each other? Did we change anything at all?…We fought in pursuit of an ideal…[and] you have to wonder whether the fight, and the loss of life, were worth it when we seem to be in an even greater state of decline today.
“We’ve never achieved a just society, so we’ve justified the use of force instead” (291).
Also, Ayed captures what it’s like after the war is over:
“[You’re] only really welcome there until the war ends, and then you’re likely to become a footnote to history” (210-211).
“And for many who survived it had been forty years of recovery, of tears, of ailments, of occasional triumph, and of the many disappointments of an ordinary life. They would never wish for war to return, but they could never really get beyond it.”
Well-researched and readable, but I kept asking myself why did Ayed choose to write about these two people.
Some of the book is interesting to read in our polarized context:
“Did we really need to kill each other? Did we change anything at all?…We fought in pursuit of an ideal…[and] you have to wonder whether the fight, and the loss of life, were worth it when we seem to be in an even greater state of decline today.
“We’ve never achieved a just society, so we’ve justified the use of force instead” (291).
Also, Ayed captures what it’s like after the war is over:
“[You’re] only really welcome there until the war ends, and then you’re likely to become a footnote to history” (210-211).
“And for many who survived it had been forty years of recovery, of tears, of ailments, of occasional triumph, and of the many disappointments of an ordinary life. They would never wish for war to return, but they could never really get beyond it.”
October 22, 2024
As Remembrance Day approaches, I thought this would be appropriate to read.
Sonia Butt, born in 1924 was a Briton raised in France. Guy D’Artois, born in 1917 was a francophone raised in Québec, Canada and WWII brought them together. In June 1940, a new volunteer force - the Special Operations Executive (SOE) - was set up to wage a secret war. Its agents were mainly tasked with sabotage and subversion behind enemy lines. They had an influential supporter in Prime Minister Winston Churchill, who famously ordered them to "set Europe ablaze!” Sonia was the youngest SOE woman agent and that was where she met Guy.
After the war, the military refused to recognize the women’s contributions for their military service and the women were only offered the “Civilian” MBE (Member of the Order of the British Empire). In August 1946, the King finally amended and approved the transfer of the Civilian MBE to the Military one. Sonia and those wonderful brave women were years ahead of their time and paved the way for what we call “Women’s Lib”.
It must have been difficult for Sonia to adjust to civilian life and move to a new country, Canada. Guy’s life didn’t really change, he stayed in the Military. Family moves were “part and parcel” of that life as Guy went on missions and training exercises, for months at the time. Sonia was kept busy by raising 6 kids, three boys and three girls. When a husband came home, the “rule” was for the wife to defer to her husband. Guy didn’t want her to learn to drive, but she did, behind his back.
Not sure if there is a true love story between them. Nor am I sure if this was enough for Sonia after living the life she did. She had a short military career that had been packed with an eternity of living.
As for Guy, it was never enough. He died in 1999 while Sonia died in 2014. It makes you wonder whether war and the loss of life was worth it.
Beautiful book! Recommend reading.
Sonia Butt, born in 1924 was a Briton raised in France. Guy D’Artois, born in 1917 was a francophone raised in Québec, Canada and WWII brought them together. In June 1940, a new volunteer force - the Special Operations Executive (SOE) - was set up to wage a secret war. Its agents were mainly tasked with sabotage and subversion behind enemy lines. They had an influential supporter in Prime Minister Winston Churchill, who famously ordered them to "set Europe ablaze!” Sonia was the youngest SOE woman agent and that was where she met Guy.
After the war, the military refused to recognize the women’s contributions for their military service and the women were only offered the “Civilian” MBE (Member of the Order of the British Empire). In August 1946, the King finally amended and approved the transfer of the Civilian MBE to the Military one. Sonia and those wonderful brave women were years ahead of their time and paved the way for what we call “Women’s Lib”.
It must have been difficult for Sonia to adjust to civilian life and move to a new country, Canada. Guy’s life didn’t really change, he stayed in the Military. Family moves were “part and parcel” of that life as Guy went on missions and training exercises, for months at the time. Sonia was kept busy by raising 6 kids, three boys and three girls. When a husband came home, the “rule” was for the wife to defer to her husband. Guy didn’t want her to learn to drive, but she did, behind his back.
Not sure if there is a true love story between them. Nor am I sure if this was enough for Sonia after living the life she did. She had a short military career that had been packed with an eternity of living.
As for Guy, it was never enough. He died in 1999 while Sonia died in 2014. It makes you wonder whether war and the loss of life was worth it.
Beautiful book! Recommend reading.
March 25, 2025
Great book. It’s got everything: espionage, love, war, and family (both the dysfunctional and the disciplined). Overall, it’s a good book and offers a neat look into the roles of French Canadians during WW2.
January 1, 2025
I have mixed feelings about this book. On the one hand, it was a fascinating story about resistance fighters sent by the Allies to occupied France. I felt as restless as they did as the months of training went on- but it was good to read of how they were prepared for their duties.
But then I wanted more about what they actually did. How they managed their lives while undercover, how they recruited resistors without being tricked and caught. More tales of interactions, trains bombed, whatever. How did they get supplies? What was the message system?
And then there’s the marriage thread, which I found hard.
Much is made of Sonia’s infidelity, but apparently Guy never strayed? I’m skeptical and it seems like another way that women are held to different standards than men.
The second half of the book is more about their lives post-war. It gradually made me angry, as more and more awards were given to Guy while Sonia was left largely unregarded. She’s left with hauling children hither and yon while her husband continues in the military, spending his evenings at the mess. When he’s home he takes all control away from her. When he’s away, she’s left to manage it all, unthanked or recognized.
It’s all too familiar to me as a former military spouse.
In any case I am glad to see some recognition given to these hidden participants in WW2, especially the women. It was fascinating to read of their contribution to D-day’s “success”, and impressive that so many took the risks they did. Sad to see the world teetering on unrest again, and I fear others will be called upon to make such sacrifices.
But then I wanted more about what they actually did. How they managed their lives while undercover, how they recruited resistors without being tricked and caught. More tales of interactions, trains bombed, whatever. How did they get supplies? What was the message system?
And then there’s the marriage thread, which I found hard.
Much is made of Sonia’s infidelity, but apparently Guy never strayed? I’m skeptical and it seems like another way that women are held to different standards than men.
The second half of the book is more about their lives post-war. It gradually made me angry, as more and more awards were given to Guy while Sonia was left largely unregarded. She’s left with hauling children hither and yon while her husband continues in the military, spending his evenings at the mess. When he’s home he takes all control away from her. When he’s away, she’s left to manage it all, unthanked or recognized.
It’s all too familiar to me as a former military spouse.
In any case I am glad to see some recognition given to these hidden participants in WW2, especially the women. It was fascinating to read of their contribution to D-day’s “success”, and impressive that so many took the risks they did. Sad to see the world teetering on unrest again, and I fear others will be called upon to make such sacrifices.
January 18, 2025
What an incredible book! Terrific storytelling and attention to detail while describing an incredible couple and their separate exploits as SOE agents in Nazi-occupied France during WWII. Ayed does a wonderful job illustrating the beautiful, heroic, and, at times, painful lives of Guy and Sonia (Butt) d'Artois, beginning with their turbulent childhoods, detailing the turbulent and harrowing War years, and concluding with their lives as parents, grandparents, and decorated veterans. Would highly recommend to any reader as this book has a bit of everything: love, danger, history, and heroism. Would make one hell of a movie...
March 3, 2025
There is a ton of research in this book! The sacrifices made by that generation, and many people around the world today are unfathomable for most of us.
May 10, 2025
This is an absorbing story. The author tells it “warts and all,” which is at should be. But the warts do not detract from the essence of the story: two very young people who met in England during the war before being parachuted into France to help prepare for D-Day and who were nonetheless able to build a life together afterwards.
August 20, 2024
Fascinating story. Perhaps a tiny bit more editing.
March 27, 2025
I felt mixed emotions throughout the book. I loved the story of these two, it’s not often you get to read happy endings in World War II. However, it felt like her writing was over complicated at times and I struggled to keep track of characters and timelines. Definitely worth while for a new war story and information from behind enemy lines.
September 9, 2024
One day, my husband had asked me if I’ve read any books by Nahlah Ayed. I said, no. I’m not familiar with her work. It turns out, she’s a local celebrity and went to the same high school as my husband. So, I looked into her work, and this popped up. Nahlah is not only a writer but a CBC reporter as well. I was ecstatic.
I was even more interested because her latest is about a couple of spies in World War II – a love story, a spy story, a true story set in World War II? Yes, please. Sonia & Guy were both assigned in Special Operations Executive as agents. The SEO was a voluntary agency created by Churchill in the 40s to spy, sabotage and infiltrate local resistance fighters to halt the Germans as they advanced to Normandy.
They parachuted into French Territory before the Allied invasion. During their time as elite agents, they fell in love and got married. Despite their COs telling them it was a bad idea. Because if captured, their identities as husband and wife could be used against them. Theirs was not an ‘instant-love”, however. It was complicated and it took time. But in the end, they had six children together.
Last month, I read a book about the women who enlisted in the Vietnam war. How their stories almost always get swept up under the rug. And how little fanfare they receive as returning heroes after the war ended. Well, this book also highlighted how easily Sonia’s story was forgotten. Despite the bravery of a young woman and the other women who enlisted, they had to fight to get the acknowledgement they deserve.
Ayed has loads of experience in the front line as a journalist. She wrote skillfully and emphatically. Still, I feel this book only scratched the surface of Sonia & Guy’s story and I’m also curious about SEO. I wonder how deep their involvement was back then and if they’re still around nowadays. I'm so glad my non-reader husband recommended I check out her work.
I was even more interested because her latest is about a couple of spies in World War II – a love story, a spy story, a true story set in World War II? Yes, please. Sonia & Guy were both assigned in Special Operations Executive as agents. The SEO was a voluntary agency created by Churchill in the 40s to spy, sabotage and infiltrate local resistance fighters to halt the Germans as they advanced to Normandy.
They parachuted into French Territory before the Allied invasion. During their time as elite agents, they fell in love and got married. Despite their COs telling them it was a bad idea. Because if captured, their identities as husband and wife could be used against them. Theirs was not an ‘instant-love”, however. It was complicated and it took time. But in the end, they had six children together.
Last month, I read a book about the women who enlisted in the Vietnam war. How their stories almost always get swept up under the rug. And how little fanfare they receive as returning heroes after the war ended. Well, this book also highlighted how easily Sonia’s story was forgotten. Despite the bravery of a young woman and the other women who enlisted, they had to fight to get the acknowledgement they deserve.
Ayed has loads of experience in the front line as a journalist. She wrote skillfully and emphatically. Still, I feel this book only scratched the surface of Sonia & Guy’s story and I’m also curious about SEO. I wonder how deep their involvement was back then and if they’re still around nowadays. I'm so glad my non-reader husband recommended I check out her work.
September 5, 2024
Nahlah Ayed is a highly respected journalist working for CBC. Her detailed research of two daring and courageous SOE (Special Operations Executive) agents dropped into France to help prepare the French Resistance forces for D-Day is a compelling tale.
Guy D'Artois, a French-Canadian, and his British SOE agent wife, Sonya Butt from England, were heroic leaders behind German lines. Risking their lives and living apart in the tense world of Nazi-controlled France in 1943-44, Guy and Sonya were major players in preparing the rural guerrilla bands of French and Belgian Resistance fighters, called Maquisards, during the German military administration in occupied France during World War II.
The story follows Guy and Sonya through their selection, training, deployment in France, and the ensuing tense months before D-Day, leading bands of 'Maquis' in disruption of the Nazi army's response to the D-Day invasion.
Guy and Sonya, re-united in England following their clandestine work in different parts of France, went on to have a long life together and raise a large family in Canada. Guy continued to serve the Canadian armed forces in training and global conflicts until his retirement as a Major.
Both Guy and Sonya were highly decorated.
Nahlah Ayed does a masterful job in detailing this compelling story. In the Audible version of the book, Nahlah also does the narration.
Excellent!
Guy D'Artois, a French-Canadian, and his British SOE agent wife, Sonya Butt from England, were heroic leaders behind German lines. Risking their lives and living apart in the tense world of Nazi-controlled France in 1943-44, Guy and Sonya were major players in preparing the rural guerrilla bands of French and Belgian Resistance fighters, called Maquisards, during the German military administration in occupied France during World War II.
The story follows Guy and Sonya through their selection, training, deployment in France, and the ensuing tense months before D-Day, leading bands of 'Maquis' in disruption of the Nazi army's response to the D-Day invasion.
Guy and Sonya, re-united in England following their clandestine work in different parts of France, went on to have a long life together and raise a large family in Canada. Guy continued to serve the Canadian armed forces in training and global conflicts until his retirement as a Major.
Both Guy and Sonya were highly decorated.
Nahlah Ayed does a masterful job in detailing this compelling story. In the Audible version of the book, Nahlah also does the narration.
Excellent!
December 3, 2025
In her well-researched look at the little-known SOE (Special Operations Executive) agents that operated in World War II Ayed highlights the contributions of both men and women to the defeat of the Germans in Europe. The SOE, established in 1940, had a primary purpose to support the efforts of the French Resistance by carrying out espionage operations, sabotaging German infrastructure, and gathering information for Allied military attacks. Ayed’s story focuses on a biographical account of two of these agents, Quebecer Guy D’Artois, and Sonia Butt from both France and England. Although the two married in London before they parachuted into enemy territory in 1944 as part of the campaign to destabilize Germany before the D-Day invasion, to avoid the dangers of having a married couple together on the secretive missions, British military officers sent them to separate sectors, Guy to Charolles and Sonia to southern France. The book divides into three sections; the first focuses on the family backgrounds of both Sonia and Guy; the second on their work with the resistance in France; the third on their married lives after the war during which Guy, a lifelong military man continued with his itinerant lifestyle moving his family frequently across Canada and overseas so that he could accept another commission. In his absence, Sonia, meanwhile, was left with the thankless task of raising their six children. The focus on the camaraderie of the members of the SOE and with the maquis (members of the French Resistance) provides some uplifting moments in contrast to the disheartening ones in the accounts of the Germans’ cruel treatment of those fighters. One difficulty I found was that the sheer volume of names and identities made reading challenging at times.
While Ayed provides an important portrayal of the little-known and underappreciated contributions of women to the war effort, especially those in dangerous military zones, she also describes the lives of two unassuming war heroes whose love sustained them through the trials of separation and the turbulent times of WWII.
While Ayed provides an important portrayal of the little-known and underappreciated contributions of women to the war effort, especially those in dangerous military zones, she also describes the lives of two unassuming war heroes whose love sustained them through the trials of separation and the turbulent times of WWII.
December 9, 2024
Sonia Butt of England was 19 when she parachuted into France in 1944, the youngest member of the UK Special Operations Executive to work behind enemy lines. Guy d'Artois, 27, from Quebec, did the same. Guy had trained at Camp X in Ontario and with the SOE. Married a few months before departure, they operated apart in France - Guy in Saone et Loire organizing and arming resistance parties, and Sonia in the area of Le Mans executing communications and recruiting. Their valour and actions were recognized - Guy with a Distinguished Service Order, and Sonia, a Member of the British Empire. After the war, they settled in Quebec and, when Guy rejoined the Canadian army, were relocated to army bases in Canada and Germany.
The stories of their lives by Nahlad Ayed are gripping, fascinating, well-researched, and conveyed with sympathy and respect. One can't but marvel at their courage and steadiness in the face of grave danger and their ability to adapt to shifting circumstances and complete the mission. Like most SOE agents, they were young and capable of enormous sacrifice. Several whom Sonia and Guy knew perished.
It would make for a riveting TV series. But - oh wait - in the early 1980s, CBC had planned to produce The d'Artois Story as a three-part series. It was scrapped because of funding costs. (p 326) Perhaps the closest CBC came was with X Company about spies and the resistance movement told through three seasons, 2015-2017 (showing on GEM).
A search on the Web will yield loads of hits about the Secret War, Special Operations Executive and this couple. But for a compassionate and fully arced narrative, read The War We Won Apart: conditions of war, operations, personalities, deeds, and then follow their lives post-war. Nahlad Ayed's book honours their memory.
The stories of their lives by Nahlad Ayed are gripping, fascinating, well-researched, and conveyed with sympathy and respect. One can't but marvel at their courage and steadiness in the face of grave danger and their ability to adapt to shifting circumstances and complete the mission. Like most SOE agents, they were young and capable of enormous sacrifice. Several whom Sonia and Guy knew perished.
It would make for a riveting TV series. But - oh wait - in the early 1980s, CBC had planned to produce The d'Artois Story as a three-part series. It was scrapped because of funding costs. (p 326) Perhaps the closest CBC came was with X Company about spies and the resistance movement told through three seasons, 2015-2017 (showing on GEM).
A search on the Web will yield loads of hits about the Secret War, Special Operations Executive and this couple. But for a compassionate and fully arced narrative, read The War We Won Apart: conditions of war, operations, personalities, deeds, and then follow their lives post-war. Nahlad Ayed's book honours their memory.
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August 30, 2025SUMMARY:
Love, betrayal, and a secret war: the untold story of two elite agents, one Canadian, one British, who became one of the most decorated wartime couples of WWII. On opposite sides of the pond, Sonia Butt, an adventurous young British woman, and Guy d'Artois, a French-Canadian soldier and thunderstorm of a man, are preparing to go to war. From different worlds, they make their way to fight in Winston Churchill's secret army against the German forces and, unlike most involved in the world's deadliest conflict to date, to fight from behind enemy lines. Their lives first intersect during clandestine training to become agents with the Special Operations Executive. Sonia and Guy learn how to parachute into enemy territory, how to kill, blow up rail lines, support the French resistance, and eventually ... how to love each other. But not long after their hasty marriage, their love is tested by separation, by a titanic invasion -- and by indiscretion. Written in vivid, heart stopping prose, we follow their stories of uncommon courage -- as Sonia plunges into Nazi-occupied France and slinks into black market restaurants to throw off German forces who knew she'd arrived, while at the same time participating in sabotage operations against them by night; and as Guy, in another corner of France, trains hundreds into a resistance army, fashioning himself a military leader, weapons instructor, and peacemaker all at once. Reconstructed from hours of unpublished interviews and hundreds of archival and personal documents, Ayed tells a story of sacrifice and youthful folly; a story about the ravaging costs of war paid for disproportionately by the young. But more than anything, The War We Won Apart is a story about love: two secret agents who were supposed to land in enemy territory together, but were fated to fight the war apart.
Love, betrayal, and a secret war: the untold story of two elite agents, one Canadian, one British, who became one of the most decorated wartime couples of WWII. On opposite sides of the pond, Sonia Butt, an adventurous young British woman, and Guy d'Artois, a French-Canadian soldier and thunderstorm of a man, are preparing to go to war. From different worlds, they make their way to fight in Winston Churchill's secret army against the German forces and, unlike most involved in the world's deadliest conflict to date, to fight from behind enemy lines. Their lives first intersect during clandestine training to become agents with the Special Operations Executive. Sonia and Guy learn how to parachute into enemy territory, how to kill, blow up rail lines, support the French resistance, and eventually ... how to love each other. But not long after their hasty marriage, their love is tested by separation, by a titanic invasion -- and by indiscretion. Written in vivid, heart stopping prose, we follow their stories of uncommon courage -- as Sonia plunges into Nazi-occupied France and slinks into black market restaurants to throw off German forces who knew she'd arrived, while at the same time participating in sabotage operations against them by night; and as Guy, in another corner of France, trains hundreds into a resistance army, fashioning himself a military leader, weapons instructor, and peacemaker all at once. Reconstructed from hours of unpublished interviews and hundreds of archival and personal documents, Ayed tells a story of sacrifice and youthful folly; a story about the ravaging costs of war paid for disproportionately by the young. But more than anything, The War We Won Apart is a story about love: two secret agents who were supposed to land in enemy territory together, but were fated to fight the war apart.
May 26, 2025
I'd read a review of Nahlah's then-recently published history in, of all things, an aviation periodical. My wife remembered the title and picked it up some months later as a gift. Published by Penguin Canada, it's very much a contribution to Canadian history.
Written in a simplified style, which works on most occasions, but not every, Nahlah's history is meticulously researched with the scant resources available, which she notes in A Note on Sources as an afterword. Together with extensive Notes, there's an Index, something I always appreciate seeing.
The story itself of Guy and Sonia d'Artois is told in two halves. Their early lives, military selection, training and subsequent missions for the SOE in Occupied France take up the first half. Their second battle, on Guy's return to Canada, and Sonia's emigration there, is equally fascinating. With Guy really only happy in uniform, it is left to Sonia to become acquainted with her new country (being bilingual helped) cope with Guy's regular foreign deployments, and raise a large family on a lower-grade Canadian Army officers pay - Guy never progressing beyond the rank of major. In the midst of all that, she undergoes major surgery.
More photographs and in particular, maps of the areas of France that Sonia and Guy operated-in, would have been useful enhancements. Otherwise though, this history of two agents, who both performed far better than the leadership of SOE ever expected, is unique in being a testament to the willingness of gifted individuals to commit themselves to a wartime cause, and a marriage that on occasions would have tested many a partner.
Written in a simplified style, which works on most occasions, but not every, Nahlah's history is meticulously researched with the scant resources available, which she notes in A Note on Sources as an afterword. Together with extensive Notes, there's an Index, something I always appreciate seeing.
The story itself of Guy and Sonia d'Artois is told in two halves. Their early lives, military selection, training and subsequent missions for the SOE in Occupied France take up the first half. Their second battle, on Guy's return to Canada, and Sonia's emigration there, is equally fascinating. With Guy really only happy in uniform, it is left to Sonia to become acquainted with her new country (being bilingual helped) cope with Guy's regular foreign deployments, and raise a large family on a lower-grade Canadian Army officers pay - Guy never progressing beyond the rank of major. In the midst of all that, she undergoes major surgery.
More photographs and in particular, maps of the areas of France that Sonia and Guy operated-in, would have been useful enhancements. Otherwise though, this history of two agents, who both performed far better than the leadership of SOE ever expected, is unique in being a testament to the willingness of gifted individuals to commit themselves to a wartime cause, and a marriage that on occasions would have tested many a partner.
June 29, 2024
I was surprised to find myself in the middle of this book with World War II over and one the two elite agents out of the business of spying. The remainder of the book, and the most powerful social commentary in the book, is the exploration of the lives of a military family headed by Major Guy d'Artois and society's blindness to the contributions made by Sonia d'Artois, a woman who showed tremendous strength, courage and resourcefulness in an unconventional and, therefore, largely unrecognized role during the war and in the more traditional role in which she struggled after the war. The narrative in the book sometimes seems a bit jumpy, probably because of the limitations of available sources, but this is more than offset by the wealth of information about the operations of the resistance in France around the time of D-Day and by the story of a couple who, directly and indirectly, made tremendous sacrifices in the service of the country in which the husband was born and that was adopted by his war-bride wife.
March 10, 2025
I liked this book a lot. It is a story that more Canadians should know about. In a world filled with leaders that have less than stellar reputations, I needed to find everyday heros. This book did not disappoint.
Yes, it is written in a journalistic style but I actually appreciated that aspect. I was interested in reading this book when i saw the author. For me, it lent credibility to the telling of the story. This is not historical fiction.
Yes, the characters are a bit messy. The context of war is messy. Cultural norms and expectations are messy. But I listened to this book on International Women’s Day, and it was 100% appropriate. Sonia is at times rebellious and at others, falls into gendered expectations, even at her own peril. I don’t know how anyone can be critical of the choices and decisions made when there are very few that have lived in those circumstances, conditions and choices.
Yes, it is written in a journalistic style but I actually appreciated that aspect. I was interested in reading this book when i saw the author. For me, it lent credibility to the telling of the story. This is not historical fiction.
Yes, the characters are a bit messy. The context of war is messy. Cultural norms and expectations are messy. But I listened to this book on International Women’s Day, and it was 100% appropriate. Sonia is at times rebellious and at others, falls into gendered expectations, even at her own peril. I don’t know how anyone can be critical of the choices and decisions made when there are very few that have lived in those circumstances, conditions and choices.
December 11, 2024
3.5.
I enjoyed this read and would recommend it if you're into historical fiction. The author doesn't embellish much so the story can be a bit dry or anti-climactic at times, but it's still really interesting. The actual war portion of the book was shorter than I expected and I was left wanting more details. I was initially unsure if I was going to keep reading after this, but the focus on Sonia and Guy's adjustment (or lack of adjustment) to real life ended up being more interesting than I expected. If you're interested in getting a view of the post-war life of a woman spy who fought behind enemy lines, I recommend this. It's not pretty or glamorous, but I felt it was worth the read.
One criticism is that the writing felt a bit unpolished at times. It could have benefited from another pass with an editor.
I enjoyed this read and would recommend it if you're into historical fiction. The author doesn't embellish much so the story can be a bit dry or anti-climactic at times, but it's still really interesting. The actual war portion of the book was shorter than I expected and I was left wanting more details. I was initially unsure if I was going to keep reading after this, but the focus on Sonia and Guy's adjustment (or lack of adjustment) to real life ended up being more interesting than I expected. If you're interested in getting a view of the post-war life of a woman spy who fought behind enemy lines, I recommend this. It's not pretty or glamorous, but I felt it was worth the read.
One criticism is that the writing felt a bit unpolished at times. It could have benefited from another pass with an editor.
December 14, 2024
I was pleasantly surprised by this book. It's very well written, and the amount of care and detail put into it is truly impressive. Plus, the author must have done heaps and heaps of research. I think people are going into it with skewed expectations (admittedly, the blurb doesn't help with this). I also think the author included facts that sometimes may not seem applicable, but she did it so the readers would better understand the main characters and what they were experiencing at the time. This is a non-fiction memoir in which the author does her best to give the readers context so that the small collection of details we do have about Guy and Sonia come alive.
January 7, 2025
fascinating book. Sonia Butt entered the 2nd world war as a British SOE (Special Operations Executive) agent. This was Churchill’s secret army sent into France in the summer of 1944 as disruptors of the Nazi German Army shortly before D-Day. Sonia at 20 was (one of) the youngest agent(s). The women fought with the French resistance fighters behind enemy lines. This book tells her story along with her husband Guy d’Artois, another SOE agent she trained with and married several weeks before being parachuted into France. They had wanted to work together, but they were sent to separate missions.
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February 28, 2025Memoir of Sonia Butt and Guy d'Artois, Britisher and Canadian who met in 1944 while training with the SOE and before being parachuted into France just before D Day to help the Resistance. They married in London in 44 and then spent the war apart both doing their best to foul up the Germans. Both were decorated for their service. Life after the war wasn't as smooth. Guy needed action and bounced around from post to post seldom at home whereever that might be. Sonia organized the constant relocations and brought up six children. Only very late in life after Guy's death did Sonia tell her full story. We are lucky to have it. Well told by Ayed.
March 7, 2025
Excellent! Thank you to Ms. Ayed for all of her efforts and dedication to researching and retelling this incredible story - specifically Sonia’s. Sonia was accomplished in so many ways. I cannot fathom how she managed as an SOE agent at such a young age, separated from her husband so early in their marriage, eventually raising six kids, moving multiple times, overcoming health challenges … the list goes on!
While the love story drew me in initially, there is lots to uncover about Guy and Sonia as individuals and the war they fought. Ms. Ayed does an excellent job keeping the reader engaged.
I recommend this book.
🇨🇦 Canadian author
While the love story drew me in initially, there is lots to uncover about Guy and Sonia as individuals and the war they fought. Ms. Ayed does an excellent job keeping the reader engaged.
I recommend this book.
🇨🇦 Canadian author
July 21, 2024
The more I read about WWII, the more I realize that HP (particularly book 7) is just magical WWII. Like yes we all know that Voldemort is Hitler, but also the BBC radio show ‘ici londres’ is paralleled. And Harry camping in the woods is giving SOE, and then everyone rolls up to Paris to- I mean, Hogwarts to fight the Death Eaters.
Anyway, about the actual book: Pacing was a bit odd, but perhaps that can’t be helped with non fiction. I would’ve enjoyed more details and anecdotes from Sonia’s circuit. All in all, imminently readable and very interesting. Well written.
Anyway, about the actual book: Pacing was a bit odd, but perhaps that can’t be helped with non fiction. I would’ve enjoyed more details and anecdotes from Sonia’s circuit. All in all, imminently readable and very interesting. Well written.
October 13, 2024
While I can see how some people wouldn't enjoy this journalistic style writing,it was what I would have expected so it didn't bother me at all. This author has most certainly done her research and despite watching numerous documentaries and reading plenty WW2 non fiction novels, I found there was so much in this book that I had never heard of... this couple being just a small part of it. Respectfully written, and full of information without droning on or becoming boring. I would recommend this to all history buffs.
November 3, 2024
When I read about this book, I did not realise it was non-fiction. Seeing the subtitle “two elite agents who became one of the most decorated couples of WW2”, I thought it was historical fiction, books I quite enjoy. But this was more of a textbook about the SOE, very little conversation. Guy d’Artois was French Canadian, and Sonia was English. They married in England but lived mostly in Canada after the war, having 6 children. Guy was known as “Michel Le Canadien” by the French underground.
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