Violette: The Missions of SOE Agent Violette Szabó GC

by Tania Szabó

SOE agent Violette Szabó was one of the most incredible women who operated behind enemy lines during World War II. The daughter of an English father and French mother, and widow of a French army officer, she was daring and courageous, conducting sabotage missions, being embroiled in gun battles, and battling betrayal. On her second mission she was captured by the Nazis, interrogated and tortured, then deported to Germany where she was eventually executed at Ravensbrück concentration camp. Violette was one of the first women ever to be awarded the George Cross, and her fascinating life has been immortalized in film and on the page. Written by her daughter, Violette (formerly Young, Brave and Beautiful) reveals the woman and mother behind this extraordinary hero.

Genres: History, Biography, Nonfiction, World War II, War, Military Fiction, Espionage

640 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2007

Reviews

[Mike · Rating 1 out of 5]

Incredibly interesting story about an incredibly strong, fearless and smart woman: Violette Szabo. A young, beautiful and smart she was recruited into the SOE and parachuted twice into France to work with Resistance leaders prior to D-Day. The second jump was her last as she was captured, tortured and executed.
I can't believe I have lived 63 3/4 years without ever having read about Violette or any of the other females working for the SOE. And I was very excited about receiving this book but it is written in such a way that I can not get through it all. Violette's daughter, Tania, has written this book in the form of a novel. She has taken the known facts and surrounded them with what she imagined happened and the dialogues that took place. I knew that when I ordered the book and was prepared for that. Its the invented dialogues that I can't handle - just gawd awful - Sorry Tania. Great idea and nice try but you would have really been well-served by a strong and seasoned editor.
Tania, I'm totally smitten with your mother and her story but I will have to read about her amazing story by someone else. Perhaps "Carve Her Name with Pride" by R.J. Minney.

[Liam Mullen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Riveting tale of courage.

This wasn't the first book I've read about this heroic lady, but was made more poignant by the fact that it was penned by her daughter Tania Szabo. An epic tale of courage and perseverance against a terrible enemy.

[Olga Kowalska (WielkiBuk) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Czasami w obliczu Armagedonu, który pochłania miliony istnień, nawet jedna osoba, jeden akt odwagi może zrobić różnicę. „Piękna i odważna” udowadnia, że ze wszystkich opowieści o wojnie i z wojenną zawieruchą w tle, to te prawdziwe, oparte na faktach są najbardziej poruszające i nieprawdopodobne. Piękna kobieta, która skacze ze spadochronem pod osłoną nocy, na terytorium wroga, by wesprzeć ruch oporu, przekazać najważniejsze informacje i powrócić niewidzialna, nieodgadniona – to brzmi przecież jak scenariusz filmowy! Ta sama kobieta, która w obliczu niewyobrażalnych tortur i okrucieństwa nie łamie się i nigdy nie wydaje planów ani tożsamości swoich współpracowników – aż trudno pojąć, że istniała naprawdę! I umarła z uśmiechem na twarzy.

Violette Szabó. Bohaterka. Wojowniczka. Ulubiona agentka Churchilla.

[Mark · Rating 5 out of 5]

A superb book. I found that it offered a great insight into the life of Violette Szabo. Unlike a traditional biography in many ways - this fact did not detract from the book's quality in any way.

[Maureta Bohon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Liked it. She was a true hero who gave her life while spying during WWII.

[Josette · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was a difficult read. The amount of painstaking effort the author has put into researching the work and life of Violette Szabo was affected negatively by the suppositions re feelings and some conversations she describes - I think there are two books here - a much better editor was needed. Separately they would have worked better.

[Rob Weinhold · Rating 5 out of 5]

Agonizing yet Splendid and Heartwarming

This was an excellent account of a war hero, a most beautiful and brave lady who must never be forgotten. These words written by her daughter Tania should forever grace the annals of history. Violette Szabo will live always in the hearts and minds of those who cherish and love freedom and liberty.

[Niamh Gibson · Rating 5 out of 5]

An interesting book, with a wonderful and brave heroine, who fought for her freedom and her family.

[Debbie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Doesn't read like a novel, because it's a biography. Well researched and informative. I would recommend it to anyone who wants to know what the life of a woman at War was like.

[James · Rating 3 out of 5]

An amazing record of the life of Violette Szabo, an S.O.E. agent in WWII who sadly lost her life at the hands of her German captors. The story was immortalised on film with 'Carve her Name with Pride' starring Virginia McKenna. The book is written by her daughter, Tania, who was a small child when her mother was shot at Ravensbruck concentration camp. The story is fascinating and intrigues me as I live near Limoges in France, not far from where Violette was captured. It is not a great literary work, but reads as though her daughter is telling the story in her own words, which makes the book even more poignant.

[Andrea Rudge · Rating 2 out of 5]

I've been intrigued by Violette Szabo's tragic story since visiting the tiny museum near Hereford, where I bought this book. However, I'm afraid the book does not do it justice. I found it badly written and the imagined dialogue excruciating. It needs some serious editing. Disappointed!