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The Princess Spy
When Aline Griffith was born in a quiet suburban New York hamlet, no one had any idea that she would go on to live “a life of glamour and danger that Ingrid Bergman only played at in Notorious” (Time). As the US enters the Second World War, the young college graduate is desperate to aid in the war effort, but no one is interested in a bright-eyed young woman whose only career experience is modeling clothes.
Aline’s life changes when, at a dinner party, she meets a man named Frank Ryan and reveals how desperately she wants to do her part for her country. Within a few weeks, he helps her join the Office of Strategic Services—forerunner of the CIA. With a code name and expert training under her belt, she is sent to Spain to be a coder, but is soon given the additional assignment of infiltrating the upper echelons of society, mingling with high-ranking officials, diplomats, and titled Europeans, any of whom could be an enemy agent. Against this glamorous backdrop of galas and dinner parties, she recruits sub-agents and engages in deep-cover espionage to counter Nazi tactics in Madrid.
Even after marrying the Count of Romanones, one of the wealthiest men in Spain, Aline secretly continues her covert activities, being given special assignments when abroad that would benefit from her impeccable pedigree and social connections.
Filled with twists, romance, and plenty of white-knuckled adventures fit for a James Bond film, The Princess Spy brings to vivid life the dazzling adventures of a remarkable American woman who risked everything to serve her country.
Aline’s life changes when, at a dinner party, she meets a man named Frank Ryan and reveals how desperately she wants to do her part for her country. Within a few weeks, he helps her join the Office of Strategic Services—forerunner of the CIA. With a code name and expert training under her belt, she is sent to Spain to be a coder, but is soon given the additional assignment of infiltrating the upper echelons of society, mingling with high-ranking officials, diplomats, and titled Europeans, any of whom could be an enemy agent. Against this glamorous backdrop of galas and dinner parties, she recruits sub-agents and engages in deep-cover espionage to counter Nazi tactics in Madrid.
Even after marrying the Count of Romanones, one of the wealthiest men in Spain, Aline secretly continues her covert activities, being given special assignments when abroad that would benefit from her impeccable pedigree and social connections.
Filled with twists, romance, and plenty of white-knuckled adventures fit for a James Bond film, The Princess Spy brings to vivid life the dazzling adventures of a remarkable American woman who risked everything to serve her country.
384 pages, Hardcover
First published February 9, 2021
1049 people are currently reading
12594 people want to read
About the author
Larry Loftis
8 books377 followersOctober 18, 2024 - Thrilled to announce that INTO THE LION'S MOUTH is in development as a major motion picture, with Radar Pictures producing and Harald Zwart (The Karate Kid, Pink Panther 2, The 12th Man) directing.
News was posted on DEADLINE on Oct. 15, mentioning that I am writing the script (which is already finished and approved).
News coming soon about THE WATCHMAKER'S DAUGHTER.!
Happy reading, everyone!
Larry
News was posted on DEADLINE on Oct. 15, mentioning that I am writing the script (which is already finished and approved).
News coming soon about THE WATCHMAKER'S DAUGHTER.!
Happy reading, everyone!
Larry
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 517 reviews
February 3, 2021
I love reading about the contributions of women during World War 2. Aline Griffith grew up in New York and when her brothers left home to fight in the war, she wanted to do her part as well. She ended up being recruited to work for the Office of Strategic Services which was basically a precursor to the current day CIA. After secretive expert training, she was sent to work in Spain as a coder. With her model looks and charm, she was able to infiltrate the high society set in Madrid and provide useful info to her bosses about the comings and goings of the ultra wealthy and powerful. Lots of people were working for the enemy, and part of Aline's job was identifying those individuals.
Having read a few other nonfiction books about female spies, this one is less action based than others. The book focuses more on the people Aline surrounded herself with rather than going into great detail about her different tasks and missions. Aline wrote about her work during the war but there is some debate about what is truth vs. fiction. I think this author made the right call considering this is a nonfiction book in only writing about what is confirmed to be fact. Unfortunately, with this line of work so many things end up being taken to the grave rather than becoming public knowledge, but the author did a good job in presenting an overall view of Aline's work.
I found Aline's life both during the war and after when she was married to the Count of Romanones to be fascinating. Even though the full extent of her work might never be known there's no doubt she was well-respected and considered a big asset. Not a bad life for a former model from New York.
A well-researched book and worth reading if you enjoy WW2 history.
Thank you to Atria Books for providing me with an advance copy! All thoughts expressed are my honest opinion.
Having read a few other nonfiction books about female spies, this one is less action based than others. The book focuses more on the people Aline surrounded herself with rather than going into great detail about her different tasks and missions. Aline wrote about her work during the war but there is some debate about what is truth vs. fiction. I think this author made the right call considering this is a nonfiction book in only writing about what is confirmed to be fact. Unfortunately, with this line of work so many things end up being taken to the grave rather than becoming public knowledge, but the author did a good job in presenting an overall view of Aline's work.
I found Aline's life both during the war and after when she was married to the Count of Romanones to be fascinating. Even though the full extent of her work might never be known there's no doubt she was well-respected and considered a big asset. Not a bad life for a former model from New York.
A well-researched book and worth reading if you enjoy WW2 history.
Thank you to Atria Books for providing me with an advance copy! All thoughts expressed are my honest opinion.
December 27, 2020
The book is well written and researched. It was particularly well documented. I found the footnotes, notes and bibliography helpful.
The item that got my attention was in the preface of the book. Loftis said “For many war buffs, the testimony of spies is presumed false until proven true.” Spies never wrote things down or recounted details of their missions. Most of what they did is classified. Loftus took what Aline did and set out to prove what was true and what was false. I found this approach most fascinating. I appreciated the “Dramatis Personal” (a list of people in the story) and “The Rest of the Story” which summarized what happened to the various people. Loftis also included an overview history of Spain and its culture. I highly recommend this book. It is very easy to read.
The book is 349 pages and is to be released in 2021 by Atria Books. I received an Advance Reader’s Edition from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
The item that got my attention was in the preface of the book. Loftis said “For many war buffs, the testimony of spies is presumed false until proven true.” Spies never wrote things down or recounted details of their missions. Most of what they did is classified. Loftus took what Aline did and set out to prove what was true and what was false. I found this approach most fascinating. I appreciated the “Dramatis Personal” (a list of people in the story) and “The Rest of the Story” which summarized what happened to the various people. Loftis also included an overview history of Spain and its culture. I highly recommend this book. It is very easy to read.
The book is 349 pages and is to be released in 2021 by Atria Books. I received an Advance Reader’s Edition from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
January 5, 2021
I was gobsmacked to learn about this book, because in my youthful days working in book publishing, Aline was a friend of my boss and I remember her calling the office from time to time. I'm embarrassed to report that--with the supreme obliviousness of a 23 year old--I mentally categorized her as one of my boss's more elderly friends and wasn't curious about her at all. My boss was the CEO of the company that (I now realize) had published Aline's own books more than ten years prior.
Loftis tries in this book to untangle the truth about Aline's espionage activities from a combination of archival records and her fictionalized published books. (It seems likely to me that my former boss, a connoisseur of thrills, had a hand in encouraging her to spice it up.) Born Aline Griffith in New York State, she had an unremarkable childhood until she got her start as a model in NYC after college. She happens to mention to an acquaintance that she wants to help in the war effort despite being a woman and is almost immediately inducted into the OSS, given lessons on codes and shooting, and flown posthaste to the espionage hotbed of supposedly neutral Spain. She arrived not long before D-Day, making this a perfect read to follow Ben Macintyre's Double Cross, which ends around the same place and time. In Madrid, Aline falls into a whirlwind social life of flamenco and bullfighting that brings her effortlessly into contact with prominent Spanish socialites, Nazi sympathizers, and suspected spies. Loftis portrays her colorful, racy lifestyle in a fun and vivid way--this was a far cry from ration coupons and blackout curtains, a very different war indeed.
I thought the book had several flaws, not necessarily the author's fault since this is a true story. First, the book doesn't account for why OSS thought Aline, out of all the young women in New York, would make a good spy. It also doesn't explain how her cover story was believable or what her family or friends thought she was doing in Europe. Going to Spain in the middle of the war seems like a quite odd thing for a young American woman to do on her own and her cover job sounds like something she could have done in New York--why did the people in her life buy it? Second, at the end of the war, she makes the leap from coding clerk to active spy, but the author can't account for how she gets her information or from whom. There's probably no way to find this out in retrospect, but the party conversations where she managed to find out things like "who is transporting money via Spain to Argentina," while not seeming unusually curious, would be fascinating.
My final point of dislike is more with Aline than with the book, and this her eagerness to drop spying. Once her relationship with the Count becomes serious, the story devolves into the details of having a custom wedding gown made, wearing a tiara, receiving both a wedding ring and a diamond bracelet from her fiancé, vacationing at a fancy castle, and so forth. These are the princess daydreams of a 13 year old and I would much rather have read the alternate-universe version where Aline accepts a job in Prague working for the fledgling CIA. The period after her marriage is a relatively small part of the book, and consists of hanging out in places like Marbella with miscellaneous other rich people. It's hard to square Loftis's portrayal of a passionately patriotic young woman with her later choice to have Wallis Simpson as a BFF, unless you figure that she was mainly interested in fame and wealth.
In my publishing days, we would have said that this is a lot more "commercial" than Ben Macintyre's work, which is generally a sign that I like it less, but that more people will like it. Much as I've complained about not being able to read well during the pandemic, I polished this off in one afternoon on the sofa, which is a point in its favor.
Review copy received from Edelweiss.
Loftis tries in this book to untangle the truth about Aline's espionage activities from a combination of archival records and her fictionalized published books. (It seems likely to me that my former boss, a connoisseur of thrills, had a hand in encouraging her to spice it up.) Born Aline Griffith in New York State, she had an unremarkable childhood until she got her start as a model in NYC after college. She happens to mention to an acquaintance that she wants to help in the war effort despite being a woman and is almost immediately inducted into the OSS, given lessons on codes and shooting, and flown posthaste to the espionage hotbed of supposedly neutral Spain. She arrived not long before D-Day, making this a perfect read to follow Ben Macintyre's Double Cross, which ends around the same place and time. In Madrid, Aline falls into a whirlwind social life of flamenco and bullfighting that brings her effortlessly into contact with prominent Spanish socialites, Nazi sympathizers, and suspected spies. Loftis portrays her colorful, racy lifestyle in a fun and vivid way--this was a far cry from ration coupons and blackout curtains, a very different war indeed.
I thought the book had several flaws, not necessarily the author's fault since this is a true story. First, the book doesn't account for why OSS thought Aline, out of all the young women in New York, would make a good spy. It also doesn't explain how her cover story was believable or what her family or friends thought she was doing in Europe. Going to Spain in the middle of the war seems like a quite odd thing for a young American woman to do on her own and her cover job sounds like something she could have done in New York--why did the people in her life buy it? Second, at the end of the war, she makes the leap from coding clerk to active spy, but the author can't account for how she gets her information or from whom. There's probably no way to find this out in retrospect, but the party conversations where she managed to find out things like "who is transporting money via Spain to Argentina," while not seeming unusually curious, would be fascinating.
My final point of dislike is more with Aline than with the book, and this her eagerness to drop spying. Once her relationship with the Count becomes serious, the story devolves into the details of having a custom wedding gown made, wearing a tiara, receiving both a wedding ring and a diamond bracelet from her fiancé, vacationing at a fancy castle, and so forth. These are the princess daydreams of a 13 year old and I would much rather have read the alternate-universe version where Aline accepts a job in Prague working for the fledgling CIA. The period after her marriage is a relatively small part of the book, and consists of hanging out in places like Marbella with miscellaneous other rich people. It's hard to square Loftis's portrayal of a passionately patriotic young woman with her later choice to have Wallis Simpson as a BFF, unless you figure that she was mainly interested in fame and wealth.
In my publishing days, we would have said that this is a lot more "commercial" than Ben Macintyre's work, which is generally a sign that I like it less, but that more people will like it. Much as I've complained about not being able to read well during the pandemic, I polished this off in one afternoon on the sofa, which is a point in its favor.
Review copy received from Edelweiss.
September 5, 2021
Narrative nonfiction is one of my favorite genres. The Princess Spy is an exciting account of espionage.
As World War II is just beginning, Aline is a young college graduate living in NYC. She is compelled to help the war effort in some way, but no one takes her seriously. That is, until she meets a man at a dinner party who works for what would become the CIA. She is heavily trained and sent to Spain where she rubs elbows with the wealthiest diplomats alongside being a coder.
Aline eventually marries a Count while still working undercover, and her position in society only helped her attain her professional goals.
This book has been compared to a James Bond film, and I see it. Aline’s life has the contrasts of decadence and excitement with a spark of romance and a backdrop of espionage. What an inspiring and enthralling story of a strong woman, and I’m so grateful Larry Loftis highlighted her remarkable story and achievements.
I received a gifted copy.
Many of my reviews can also be found on my blog: www.jennifertarheelreader.com and instagram: www.instagram.com/tarheelreader
As World War II is just beginning, Aline is a young college graduate living in NYC. She is compelled to help the war effort in some way, but no one takes her seriously. That is, until she meets a man at a dinner party who works for what would become the CIA. She is heavily trained and sent to Spain where she rubs elbows with the wealthiest diplomats alongside being a coder.
Aline eventually marries a Count while still working undercover, and her position in society only helped her attain her professional goals.
This book has been compared to a James Bond film, and I see it. Aline’s life has the contrasts of decadence and excitement with a spark of romance and a backdrop of espionage. What an inspiring and enthralling story of a strong woman, and I’m so grateful Larry Loftis highlighted her remarkable story and achievements.
I received a gifted copy.
Many of my reviews can also be found on my blog: www.jennifertarheelreader.com and instagram: www.instagram.com/tarheelreader
August 14, 2023
What is fun about this book is that it is non-fiction, but it reads like a fiction novel.
It is an exciting story about a real person who wanted to do something during the war…and was thus recruited to become a spy.
Aline, an American college graduate and model, became one of the Office of Strategic Service’s (forerunner of the CIA) most daring spies before she married into European royalty and became the Countess of Romanones.
Well researched, this book separates the truth from the fictional representations of an active spy in the European arena in the second world war.
You will love this book if you are a fan of fashion, social intrigue, real life spy practices or history.
It is an exciting story about a real person who wanted to do something during the war…and was thus recruited to become a spy.
Aline, an American college graduate and model, became one of the Office of Strategic Service’s (forerunner of the CIA) most daring spies before she married into European royalty and became the Countess of Romanones.
Well researched, this book separates the truth from the fictional representations of an active spy in the European arena in the second world war.
You will love this book if you are a fan of fashion, social intrigue, real life spy practices or history.
November 7, 2020
‘The Princess Spy,’ written by Larry Loftis, is an exceptionally well-written biography of a World War II spy, Aline Griffith, to be published February 9, 2021. Aline, an American college graduate and model, became one of the Office of Strategic Service’s (forerunner of the CIA) most daring spies before she married into European royalty and became the Countess of Romanones.
In this true story, Aline, desperate to ditch her modeling job and aid in the war effort, accidentally meets Frank Ryan, a prominent OSS officer, at a party. This meeting changes the course of the rest of her life. Ryan, seeing potential, immediately hires her for the OSS and she’s whisked off to The Ranch for operative training. When she passes with flying colours, she’s given the code name BUTCH and sent to Spain to be a coder and go undercover to infiltrate high ranking society. Aline is told that this post is important because Spain is critical to the Allied success in the war. This girl who had never been on a plane nor farther away than “a stone’s throw from her backyard” is now flying in luxury on Pan American’s Yankee Clipper, the world’s largest aircraft, to her assignment in Madrid. What follows is an extraordinary climb up the social ladder as she mixes with royalty, haut couture designers, aristocrats and the Spanish elite. Finally, she captures the attention of Luis, one of the wealthiest men in Spain, but more importantly, the love of her life, and gives birth to 3 lovely boys. She continues her stealthy work and, unbeknownst to her husband, continues working for the CIA. In her defense, she admitted on her wedding night to being a spy, but Luis laughed at her and dismissed it as absurd!
I loved this well-researched and well-documented memoir. It was refreshing to feel like I was rushing to catch up to the story rather than being spoon fed as some authors feel the need to do. I have no doubt that Loftis’s career as a corporate lawyer was instrumental in his success as a biographer. His impeccable presentation and fact sharing are excellent testament to his career. I appreciated use of primary as well as secondary sources and the willingness of the ‘inner lawyer’ to question validity and propose alternative theories. What I found most surprising was that Aline was willing to give up a $2400/y modeling career for a $3190/y job as a spy. I couldn’t understand that she would risk her life on a daily basis (knowing she didn’t have immunity if her cover was blown) for an extra $790 per year! She wouldn’t have known about the glitz and glamour, nor the people she’d be hobnobbing with prior to accepting the post. She risked everything to serve her country. You’ll be delighted with this fast-paced account showcasing the evolution of an all American girl’s involvement in a life of espionage, an unsuspecting mother of three’s life in the CIA as well as the glamourous life of a respected and loved friend to many world leaders and celebrities such as Nancy Reagan, Jacqueline Kennedy and Audrey Hepburn.
Thank you to Larry Loftis, Atria Books and Netgalley for this exceptional advance copy in exchange for an honest review.
In this true story, Aline, desperate to ditch her modeling job and aid in the war effort, accidentally meets Frank Ryan, a prominent OSS officer, at a party. This meeting changes the course of the rest of her life. Ryan, seeing potential, immediately hires her for the OSS and she’s whisked off to The Ranch for operative training. When she passes with flying colours, she’s given the code name BUTCH and sent to Spain to be a coder and go undercover to infiltrate high ranking society. Aline is told that this post is important because Spain is critical to the Allied success in the war. This girl who had never been on a plane nor farther away than “a stone’s throw from her backyard” is now flying in luxury on Pan American’s Yankee Clipper, the world’s largest aircraft, to her assignment in Madrid. What follows is an extraordinary climb up the social ladder as she mixes with royalty, haut couture designers, aristocrats and the Spanish elite. Finally, she captures the attention of Luis, one of the wealthiest men in Spain, but more importantly, the love of her life, and gives birth to 3 lovely boys. She continues her stealthy work and, unbeknownst to her husband, continues working for the CIA. In her defense, she admitted on her wedding night to being a spy, but Luis laughed at her and dismissed it as absurd!
I loved this well-researched and well-documented memoir. It was refreshing to feel like I was rushing to catch up to the story rather than being spoon fed as some authors feel the need to do. I have no doubt that Loftis’s career as a corporate lawyer was instrumental in his success as a biographer. His impeccable presentation and fact sharing are excellent testament to his career. I appreciated use of primary as well as secondary sources and the willingness of the ‘inner lawyer’ to question validity and propose alternative theories. What I found most surprising was that Aline was willing to give up a $2400/y modeling career for a $3190/y job as a spy. I couldn’t understand that she would risk her life on a daily basis (knowing she didn’t have immunity if her cover was blown) for an extra $790 per year! She wouldn’t have known about the glitz and glamour, nor the people she’d be hobnobbing with prior to accepting the post. She risked everything to serve her country. You’ll be delighted with this fast-paced account showcasing the evolution of an all American girl’s involvement in a life of espionage, an unsuspecting mother of three’s life in the CIA as well as the glamourous life of a respected and loved friend to many world leaders and celebrities such as Nancy Reagan, Jacqueline Kennedy and Audrey Hepburn.
Thank you to Larry Loftis, Atria Books and Netgalley for this exceptional advance copy in exchange for an honest review.
May 21, 2021
Not really about spying... mostly about Ms. Griffith’s love life in Spain. Snore...
July 26, 2021
Marie Aline Griffith grew up in Pearl River, New York. As a teenager in the 1930’s, she dreamed of leaving her small town and moving to a big city where life would be more exciting. Little did she know how exciting her life would become!
Larry Loftis’ extensive research into the life of Aline, Countess of Romanones, reveals how a young woman from a middle class American family became a fashion model, a wartime intelligence operative, a member of European royalty, an author, a fashion icon, and an international celebrity.
The story of Aline’s life reads like a novel - but it is true. Aline’s intelligence, beauty, and uncanny ability to adapt to nearly any situation allowed her to indeed, live a storybook life.
I enjoyed reading about Aline. Mr. Loftis’ book also includes a wealth of information about the operation of the OSS (precursor to the CIA) as well as the history and culture of Spain, where the majority of Aline’s work and life took place. This is a fascinating look into a bygone era and the life of an international celebrity.
Thank you to Goodreads First Reads, Atria Books, and author Larry Loftis for giving me the opportunity to read the ARC of this interesting biography.
Larry Loftis’ extensive research into the life of Aline, Countess of Romanones, reveals how a young woman from a middle class American family became a fashion model, a wartime intelligence operative, a member of European royalty, an author, a fashion icon, and an international celebrity.
The story of Aline’s life reads like a novel - but it is true. Aline’s intelligence, beauty, and uncanny ability to adapt to nearly any situation allowed her to indeed, live a storybook life.
I enjoyed reading about Aline. Mr. Loftis’ book also includes a wealth of information about the operation of the OSS (precursor to the CIA) as well as the history and culture of Spain, where the majority of Aline’s work and life took place. This is a fascinating look into a bygone era and the life of an international celebrity.
Thank you to Goodreads First Reads, Atria Books, and author Larry Loftis for giving me the opportunity to read the ARC of this interesting biography.
May 28, 2021
A little glamour, a little romance, quite a lot of high society intrigue, and some very real, potentially life-ending danger. Larry Loftis did extensive research, and has the receipts to prove it, so it was especially interesting for me to get the skinny on how much of Aline's memoirs veered from reality. I read a couple of her books in the '90s, which I greatly enjoyed, but it was obvious that she took a lot of creative liberties. She either had a crappy memory, (quite possible given the time that had passed since the events she described), or she just made up a lot of shit from whole cloth to make her stories more exciting and entertaining. It was probably a little (or a lot) of both.
October 26, 2022
Ok, it's actually me giving a non-fiction woman's story during WWII 5 stars. Will miracles never cease?
This is a cliche but I could NOT put this book down. I read it within one day and neglected several other "usual" outings to do so. What an intrepid woman!
Don't read too many reviews or try to know too much about this before starting it. Because it is a difficult read with so many name drops and association tangents, you may have difficulty. But ignore all that and read it just the same. There WAS a time when good intent and tremendous will could intersect in such a way that could put a very pretty "usual" small town gem into a crack to become transposed into an elite of the elites. Just by taking up an obscure and vague phone call about a "job"? Yep.
How many young, young women of any era would take that HUMONGOUS jump to the unknown as this woman did under the circumstances of that exact situation. A good girl. Playing by all the early 20th century rules too. They WERE different.
There's lies. Continual. There's duplicity. Even between deep friends. There's history of how that very organizational entity (OSS and associated structures)was wonky and arbitrary to sets of loyalty from its very beginnings. There's tons also for those of you who like the fashion, food, top of the travel set of every ilk elite and noble, as well. Read this one.
Now I have to read the other one of his about Popov. For sure. The guy that 007 was patterned after.
Lastly, having read about the underground reality WWII in France for the women who were radio operators in hiding (4 or 5 books on them)- Aline surely took the more excellent course. What a difference in choices for outcomes they enabled!
This is a cliche but I could NOT put this book down. I read it within one day and neglected several other "usual" outings to do so. What an intrepid woman!
Don't read too many reviews or try to know too much about this before starting it. Because it is a difficult read with so many name drops and association tangents, you may have difficulty. But ignore all that and read it just the same. There WAS a time when good intent and tremendous will could intersect in such a way that could put a very pretty "usual" small town gem into a crack to become transposed into an elite of the elites. Just by taking up an obscure and vague phone call about a "job"? Yep.
How many young, young women of any era would take that HUMONGOUS jump to the unknown as this woman did under the circumstances of that exact situation. A good girl. Playing by all the early 20th century rules too. They WERE different.
There's lies. Continual. There's duplicity. Even between deep friends. There's history of how that very organizational entity (OSS and associated structures)was wonky and arbitrary to sets of loyalty from its very beginnings. There's tons also for those of you who like the fashion, food, top of the travel set of every ilk elite and noble, as well. Read this one.
Now I have to read the other one of his about Popov. For sure. The guy that 007 was patterned after.
Lastly, having read about the underground reality WWII in France for the women who were radio operators in hiding (4 or 5 books on them)- Aline surely took the more excellent course. What a difference in choices for outcomes they enabled!
December 4, 2024
The story of the life and adventures of Aline Griffith who became a spy for the OSS. Lots of interesting stories and people along the way. Its only partially about the spying. One thing in this book that I liked the most is the very nice last chapter that details what happened to many of the main characters after the events of the book. It’s something that I look for in a historical book. Although I also look for Notes in this type of book, 63 pages of them but it really dragged out a semi boring read.
January 13, 2022
The Princess Spy
The Princess Spy is historical narrative about Aline Griffith, prominent among America’s OSS spies during World War II, who went on to become a world-renowned countess and wrote fictional Spy novels based on her exploits. It’s the story of a small town girl who wished she too could help her country as her brothers set off to do when the U.S. finally entered the war. A former model, Aline quickly found herself embedded in neutral Spain, secretly working fir Uncle Sugar (the U.S.) and hobnobbing with various bullfighters and nobles, all of whom found their way to Spain. It was in those days a hotbed of spies from both sides and Aline had to ferret out who was working for who and sometimes supply misinformation to the Germans. As the tide of the war changed, her duties included finding fleeing Nazis and their loot as attempts were made to ship it to South America. Through it all, Aline walks a narrow line balancing her secret work with her social to-dos, often to the detriment of her personal life. The story is fascinating, but don’t expect too much of the cloak and dagger James Bond kind of stuff.
The Princess Spy is historical narrative about Aline Griffith, prominent among America’s OSS spies during World War II, who went on to become a world-renowned countess and wrote fictional Spy novels based on her exploits. It’s the story of a small town girl who wished she too could help her country as her brothers set off to do when the U.S. finally entered the war. A former model, Aline quickly found herself embedded in neutral Spain, secretly working fir Uncle Sugar (the U.S.) and hobnobbing with various bullfighters and nobles, all of whom found their way to Spain. It was in those days a hotbed of spies from both sides and Aline had to ferret out who was working for who and sometimes supply misinformation to the Germans. As the tide of the war changed, her duties included finding fleeing Nazis and their loot as attempts were made to ship it to South America. Through it all, Aline walks a narrow line balancing her secret work with her social to-dos, often to the detriment of her personal life. The story is fascinating, but don’t expect too much of the cloak and dagger James Bond kind of stuff.
March 5, 2021
This book was okay. It’s not what I expected and seemed to be more big name throwing rather than what she actually did as a spy. While the end of the book does go into some detail, it’s not enough for me to make it interesting. I like the premise of the book, it could have been a fascinating story about her work as a spy yet it just falls flat.
October 29, 2021
This was a gripping and accessible biography of a remarkable American women during World War II who decided to live life on her own terms. She competed on the same stage as the men and you could probably say she did better. She was lucky in the choice of her comrades at the time and even her boss. They fought for her and never seemed to look down on her.
As well as giving you outlook into the challenges of spying in Europe against the Nazis, it also showed the challenges of Franco's Spain, a man responsible for his own atrocities who never paid the price the Nazis did.
I will have to check out this author's backlist.
As well as giving you outlook into the challenges of spying in Europe against the Nazis, it also showed the challenges of Franco's Spain, a man responsible for his own atrocities who never paid the price the Nazis did.
I will have to check out this author's backlist.
July 26, 2021
Well written, and very interesting. A small town girl going to live such a fascinating life.
February 11, 2023
Warning*** I'm about to rant about how terrible this was.
First, the book title. She wasn't a princess, never referred to one and it was only the last quarter of the book was it her "fairytale" , I suppose.
All of the good reviews for this are lies; "The author did a ton of research on the book." Ummm, no he knows a lot about the events of WWII and then took what Aline said and made a story. Which was impossible to read.
I don't care about bullfighting and I especially hated the CONSTANT references to Hemmingway. Of course some egotistical man trying to ride out the success of his first female spy book would push his wannabe literary knowledge into his next attempt at a cash grab.
This reminded me of The Hiding Place in the sense that the author creates these dialogues and scenarios that are hugely embellished. It's just not believable. In this book I didnt care about anyone. I wanted to but when you have a chapter end with these false jump scares I about lost it.
Just no.
First, the book title. She wasn't a princess, never referred to one and it was only the last quarter of the book was it her "fairytale" , I suppose.
All of the good reviews for this are lies; "The author did a ton of research on the book." Ummm, no he knows a lot about the events of WWII and then took what Aline said and made a story. Which was impossible to read.
I don't care about bullfighting and I especially hated the CONSTANT references to Hemmingway. Of course some egotistical man trying to ride out the success of his first female spy book would push his wannabe literary knowledge into his next attempt at a cash grab.
This reminded me of The Hiding Place in the sense that the author creates these dialogues and scenarios that are hugely embellished. It's just not believable. In this book I didnt care about anyone. I wanted to but when you have a chapter end with these false jump scares I about lost it.
Just no.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 2, 2021
Special thanks to NetGalley and Artria Books for providing me with ARC.
This the first novel to.me by Larry Loftis but i loved it.
The most amazing thing about this novel that the events are real, i love historical fiction so much because it made me know information about people that inspired the history.
This the first novel to.me by Larry Loftis but i loved it.
The most amazing thing about this novel that the events are real, i love historical fiction so much because it made me know information about people that inspired the history.
March 28, 2021
This book should have been half its length. I wanted more exploits and less descriptions.
And...she isn’t a princess, so unsure why the book is titled this.
And...she isn’t a princess, so unsure why the book is titled this.
May 4, 2023
THE PRINCESS SPY
Larry Loftis
This was a great read about Aline Griffith, an American born in New York who would become part of the OSS in the Second World War. Her life changed at a dinner party in the States lead to Spain as a coder.
Very readable, interesting, and engaging. I enjoyed it greatly.
4 stars
Happy REading!
Larry Loftis
This was a great read about Aline Griffith, an American born in New York who would become part of the OSS in the Second World War. Her life changed at a dinner party in the States lead to Spain as a coder.
Very readable, interesting, and engaging. I enjoyed it greatly.
4 stars
Happy REading!
December 20, 2020
For me, this was more like cosy-espionage, a new term I am applying to works on espionage where there is not really a lot of espionage substance.
Much of Aline's "work" was social - meeting and mingling with society notables to gain access to any information that might come her way. The odd bits of derring-do come in the form of being tailed by "associates" of a jealous boyfriend (a bull-fighter of renown) and a short spell of imprisonment. Her work was carried out in the last year or so of the war in Europe - and with the surrender of the Germans, her work - for all intents and purposes - was over.
The author himself lets us know quite early on that even he was unsure if her story was even true, and that numerous events in her memoirs are indeed highly imagined. The constant adjustments to her narrative in her own books did not help matters in her favour.
This is a very readable story of a small town girl, who went from model to spy to novelist to celebrity all in one incredible lifetime.
Much of Aline's "work" was social - meeting and mingling with society notables to gain access to any information that might come her way. The odd bits of derring-do come in the form of being tailed by "associates" of a jealous boyfriend (a bull-fighter of renown) and a short spell of imprisonment. Her work was carried out in the last year or so of the war in Europe - and with the surrender of the Germans, her work - for all intents and purposes - was over.
The author himself lets us know quite early on that even he was unsure if her story was even true, and that numerous events in her memoirs are indeed highly imagined. The constant adjustments to her narrative in her own books did not help matters in her favour.
This is a very readable story of a small town girl, who went from model to spy to novelist to celebrity all in one incredible lifetime.
January 6, 2021
This true story about Aline Griffith was extremely well researched and very interesting. It was well written and read like a novel instead of non fiction. I read a lot of WWII fiction and really enjoyed this in depth look at one of the spies that helped the Allies win the war. This is a great book about a strong woman who wanted to do anything she could to help America win the war. Thanks to goodreads for a copy of this book to read and review. All opinions are my own.
April 11, 2021
I’d never heard of Aline Griffith and most spy biographies I’ve read seem to focus on operations in France, so it was interesting to read about the experience of being a spy in Spain, especially as a neutral country. The way that Loftis describes Madrid during WWII makes the reader feel like they’re actually there and experiencing the same culture and events as Aline.
The book focuses mostly on her social life as some of her professional records are still confidential. Of note later in the book is her marriage to the Count of Romanones and how that changed her future as a spy in Europe. I thought it was funny how disconnected her parents were from the concept of nobility; they thought that Luis was an accountant.
I recommend this for anyone who enjoys reading about WWII, spies, and/or women who are good at their jobs.
See more of my reviews: Instagram
The book focuses mostly on her social life as some of her professional records are still confidential. Of note later in the book is her marriage to the Count of Romanones and how that changed her future as a spy in Europe. I thought it was funny how disconnected her parents were from the concept of nobility; they thought that Luis was an accountant.
I recommend this for anyone who enjoys reading about WWII, spies, and/or women who are good at their jobs.
See more of my reviews: Instagram
January 1, 2023
A delightful read about Aline Griffith, who volunteered to be a spy in wartime Spain. Quick read, well researched, and fascinating subject matter.
My final read in 2022.
My final read in 2022.
January 18, 2021
Truly enjoyed this book. Larry Loftis does not disappoint. A Very fascinating read about how the "spies" in America were trained and placed in action during world war 2. I would highly recommend this book. Aline Griffith was an amazingly brave and strong woman who came across an amazing adventure. The book was well researched and would make an excellent movie. Thank you to NetGalley for giving me this opportunity to read and review this book.
October 1, 2022
I was really disappointed by this book. While I enjoyed learning about Aline Griffith, I feel like the title and book description were misleading. Too often, the author went off on rabbit trails about Spanish history, Aline’s love life, and bullfighting. The writing was really all over the place and the facts all seemed jumbled. If the book was marketed as a biography of Griffith, it would have been more accurate.
October 14, 2021
This is a true story of a socialite recruited for espionage in Europe during WW2. Aline Griffith, according to the author, was a colorful character, couture dresser, with European manners. All ideal for espionage according to her handler, Frank Ryan. A worthwhile read.
June 29, 2024
Intriguing concept in which the author attempts to prove that this historical person was truly a spy using old government records.
Overall, a dry presentation that felt more like a boring history class.
MY GRADE: C plus.
Overall, a dry presentation that felt more like a boring history class.
MY GRADE: C plus.
September 9, 2022
A lot of name dropping and very little true spy craft.
March 24, 2021
Most accounts of Allied spies in World War II highlight their heroic exploits. Stealing top-secret documents. Operating clandestine radios. Leading scores or hundreds of Resistance fighters in battle. Or blowing up Nazi troop trains. Aline Griffith did none of these things. But the fascinating story Larry Loftis tells in The Princess Spy reminds us that espionage then involved a great deal more than fighting on the front lines. His tale of a middle-class American woman who became an OSS spy and married into Spanish nobility offers its own rewards for readers eager to understand World War II in depth.
Four neutral countries in Europe were hotbeds of espionage during the war. Axis and Allied spies virtually tripped over one another in the major cities of Switzerland, Sweden, Portugal, and Spain. The activity was especially intense in Madrid. There, American and British spies and diplomats helped downed Allied airmen fleeing over the border from France and worked to minimize the Spanish government’s help for the Nazis. And it was there in Madrid, early in 1944, that a twenty-three-year-old American fashion model named Aline Griffith (1920-2017) arrived as a neophyte OSS spy.
World War II was drawing to a close
Entering a hotbed of espionage
Griffith trained in spycraft at The Farm. She became adept at such arts as lockpicking, pickpocketing, and safecracking as well as ciphers and hand-to-hand combat. She was prepared for a battle she would never encounter. Griffith arrived in Spain only a few months before D-Day (June 6, 1944), which would lead to the end of the war in Europe in less than a year. But no one knew that then. Many military observers expected the fighting to continue into 1946 or ’47. And hundreds of Nazi agents representing the Abwehr, the Gestapo, and the Sicherheitsdienst worked in Nationalist Spain, sometimes openly supported by officials of Francisco Franco‘s government.
By contrast, the OSS had small numbers of agents in place, and the American ambassador disdained espionage. For American spies like Griffith, the challenges were immense. But Aline Griffith wasn’t destined to tangle with enemy agents or steal secrets. She worked under non-diplomatic cover as a code clerk for the American Oil Control Commission. And her job was to circulate in Spain’s high society and keep her eyes and ears open for signs of Nazi activity. In other words, listen for gossip.
Hobnobbing with European royalty
For the bright, vivacious, and beautiful former fashion model, the assignment was a natural. “In Madrid less than a day and already she had an admirer. A celebrity, no less.” It was Juanito Belmonte, one of Spain’s wealthiest and most famous bullfighters. He was the son of the legendary Juan Belmonte, who was “even more famous than Franco.” Juanito pursued Griffith for months. He took her to the capital’s most exclusive restaurants and night clubs and introduced her to celebrities from all across Europe.
Soon, she was mingling with European royalty and attracting attention from other handsome, wealthy, and important men. She became a fashion icon, showcasing the dresses of Cristóbal Balenciaga and other haute couture designers. Griffith’s life was a whirlwind of elegant dinners, parties, and balls in the palatial homes of Spanish nobles. Her dates at these gatherings, and her friends, were Europe’s elite, some of them ardently pro-Nazi so long as Germany’s victory still looked plausible. And she proved adept at distilling meaningful intelligence from the gossip that swirled around her. Because not only had she worked as a runway model. She was also a college graduate and a quick study with a fine analytical mind that impressed her handlers in the OSS.
Finally, an assignment as a front-line agent
But it was not until February 1945 that Aline Griffith became what we would expect of an OSS spy: a field agent on dangerous assignments. The end of the war in Europe was three months away. The US government was concerned about the wealth and looted treasures that Nazi officials were flooding through Spain on their way to South America and other safe harbors. Griffith’s job was to identify the players in this high-stakes game and to learn how they moved their money. And that work continued long after the war in Europe officially drew to a close.
Even after President Truman shut down the OSS (September 20, 1945), Griffith continued to dog the footsteps of such suspects as Austrian Prince Maximilian Egon von Hohenlohe-Langenburg (1897-1968) and the Countess of Fürstenberg, née Gloria Rubio (1912-80). “The OSS was certain that Max had been getting money out of Spain, but it was up to Aline to figure out how and through whom.” That she did, working as an OSS spy in Project Safehaven (1944-48). She learned, though, that the Countess of Fürstenberg was not working for the Nazis, despite indications suggesting she was.
After the end of the war
Marrying into royalty
Some time after Juanito Belmonte faced the fact that Aline Griffith wasn’t in love with him, another suitor had surfaced. He was the handsome and fabulously wealthy Luis Figueroa y Pérez de Guzmán el Bueno, Count of Quintanilla (1918–1987). His grandfather was none other than Álvaro de Figueroa y Torres-Sotomayor (1863-1950), best known as the Count of Romanones. Figueroa was the former prime minister and principal adviser to the king before the Spanish Civil War.
Grandson Luis was dating her best friend but doggedly pursued Griffith nonetheless despite repeated brushoffs and missed dates because of her missions as a spy. Eventually, however, she agreed to marry him. (She had tried to tell him about her work as an OSS spy, but he refused to believe it was anything but fantasy.) The wedding took place in 1947. Years later, after the Count’s grandfather and father had both passed away, she gained the title Countess of Romanones. It was under that name that she gained fame in later years as a fashion icon and denizen of the international jet set. Her closest friends were the Duke and Duchess of Windsor and Audrey Hepburn and her husband, Mel Ferrer.
Continuing espionage after the OSS was disbanded
Loftis makes his most valuable contribution to our understanding of history in his account of the immediate post-war period. For two years, from the closure of the OSS on September 20, 1945 to the launch of the Central Intelligence Agency two years later (September 18, 1947), the United States no longer had a government-sanctioned foreign intelligence service. But Griffith and a small number of other tightly selected former OSS operatives kept working in Europe under private auspices.
With a blue-ribbon board of directors that included OSS Director William J. Donovan (1883-1959) and funding from the Mellon banking fortune, the man who had recruited Griffith to the OSS led a company called the World Commerce Corporation. He hired a number of the most successful OSS agents to continue work until the American government woke up to the necessity for a permanent spy agency. Aline Griffith was among the elect. It was under this private cover that she continued to track the transfer of Nazi-looted assets on their way out of Europe. And once the CIA came into existence, Griffith was called upon for “odd jobs” from time to time. (Records of those assignments remain classified.) The countess—never a princess, as the title claims—truly was a spy.
The sources of this story
During her long life—Aline Griffith was eighty-six years old when she died in 2017—she wrote five memoirs. Her books had titles like The Spy Wore Red (1987), The Spy Went Dancing (1990), and The Spy Wore Silk (1991). The books sold well. Unfortunately, they mixed fiction with fact. And the author of this nonfiction account caught her in lie after lie as his research progressed. She changed dates and hid the real names of many of those she worked with in the war, even “changing her own code name—from BUTCH to TIGER.” She also included fantastic accounts of gunfights and other adventures she never experienced. “Her spy books must be regarded as historical fiction; some parts are true, many others not.”
Still, the basic facts were there in the memoirs. Aline Griffith really did work as an intelligence agent from 1944 to 1947, including work as in the field for the OSS from February 1945 to August 15, 1945.” She continued to serve as an employee of World Commerce and for years afterward on special missions for the CIA. And “she was a highly productive and valuable agent, producing some fifty-nine field reports for the OSS, far more than any other Madrid agent, and had more subagents working for her than” all but two of her superiors.
About the author
Larry Loftis has published scholarly legal articles as well as two bestselling nonfiction books. The Princess Spy is the second of those books. He lives in Florida, where he practices law. Loftis holds a B.A. in Political Science and a J.D., both from the University of Florida.
Four neutral countries in Europe were hotbeds of espionage during the war. Axis and Allied spies virtually tripped over one another in the major cities of Switzerland, Sweden, Portugal, and Spain. The activity was especially intense in Madrid. There, American and British spies and diplomats helped downed Allied airmen fleeing over the border from France and worked to minimize the Spanish government’s help for the Nazis. And it was there in Madrid, early in 1944, that a twenty-three-year-old American fashion model named Aline Griffith (1920-2017) arrived as a neophyte OSS spy.
World War II was drawing to a close
Entering a hotbed of espionage
Griffith trained in spycraft at The Farm. She became adept at such arts as lockpicking, pickpocketing, and safecracking as well as ciphers and hand-to-hand combat. She was prepared for a battle she would never encounter. Griffith arrived in Spain only a few months before D-Day (June 6, 1944), which would lead to the end of the war in Europe in less than a year. But no one knew that then. Many military observers expected the fighting to continue into 1946 or ’47. And hundreds of Nazi agents representing the Abwehr, the Gestapo, and the Sicherheitsdienst worked in Nationalist Spain, sometimes openly supported by officials of Francisco Franco‘s government.
By contrast, the OSS had small numbers of agents in place, and the American ambassador disdained espionage. For American spies like Griffith, the challenges were immense. But Aline Griffith wasn’t destined to tangle with enemy agents or steal secrets. She worked under non-diplomatic cover as a code clerk for the American Oil Control Commission. And her job was to circulate in Spain’s high society and keep her eyes and ears open for signs of Nazi activity. In other words, listen for gossip.
Hobnobbing with European royalty
For the bright, vivacious, and beautiful former fashion model, the assignment was a natural. “In Madrid less than a day and already she had an admirer. A celebrity, no less.” It was Juanito Belmonte, one of Spain’s wealthiest and most famous bullfighters. He was the son of the legendary Juan Belmonte, who was “even more famous than Franco.” Juanito pursued Griffith for months. He took her to the capital’s most exclusive restaurants and night clubs and introduced her to celebrities from all across Europe.
Soon, she was mingling with European royalty and attracting attention from other handsome, wealthy, and important men. She became a fashion icon, showcasing the dresses of Cristóbal Balenciaga and other haute couture designers. Griffith’s life was a whirlwind of elegant dinners, parties, and balls in the palatial homes of Spanish nobles. Her dates at these gatherings, and her friends, were Europe’s elite, some of them ardently pro-Nazi so long as Germany’s victory still looked plausible. And she proved adept at distilling meaningful intelligence from the gossip that swirled around her. Because not only had she worked as a runway model. She was also a college graduate and a quick study with a fine analytical mind that impressed her handlers in the OSS.
Finally, an assignment as a front-line agent
But it was not until February 1945 that Aline Griffith became what we would expect of an OSS spy: a field agent on dangerous assignments. The end of the war in Europe was three months away. The US government was concerned about the wealth and looted treasures that Nazi officials were flooding through Spain on their way to South America and other safe harbors. Griffith’s job was to identify the players in this high-stakes game and to learn how they moved their money. And that work continued long after the war in Europe officially drew to a close.
Even after President Truman shut down the OSS (September 20, 1945), Griffith continued to dog the footsteps of such suspects as Austrian Prince Maximilian Egon von Hohenlohe-Langenburg (1897-1968) and the Countess of Fürstenberg, née Gloria Rubio (1912-80). “The OSS was certain that Max had been getting money out of Spain, but it was up to Aline to figure out how and through whom.” That she did, working as an OSS spy in Project Safehaven (1944-48). She learned, though, that the Countess of Fürstenberg was not working for the Nazis, despite indications suggesting she was.
After the end of the war
Marrying into royalty
Some time after Juanito Belmonte faced the fact that Aline Griffith wasn’t in love with him, another suitor had surfaced. He was the handsome and fabulously wealthy Luis Figueroa y Pérez de Guzmán el Bueno, Count of Quintanilla (1918–1987). His grandfather was none other than Álvaro de Figueroa y Torres-Sotomayor (1863-1950), best known as the Count of Romanones. Figueroa was the former prime minister and principal adviser to the king before the Spanish Civil War.
Grandson Luis was dating her best friend but doggedly pursued Griffith nonetheless despite repeated brushoffs and missed dates because of her missions as a spy. Eventually, however, she agreed to marry him. (She had tried to tell him about her work as an OSS spy, but he refused to believe it was anything but fantasy.) The wedding took place in 1947. Years later, after the Count’s grandfather and father had both passed away, she gained the title Countess of Romanones. It was under that name that she gained fame in later years as a fashion icon and denizen of the international jet set. Her closest friends were the Duke and Duchess of Windsor and Audrey Hepburn and her husband, Mel Ferrer.
Continuing espionage after the OSS was disbanded
Loftis makes his most valuable contribution to our understanding of history in his account of the immediate post-war period. For two years, from the closure of the OSS on September 20, 1945 to the launch of the Central Intelligence Agency two years later (September 18, 1947), the United States no longer had a government-sanctioned foreign intelligence service. But Griffith and a small number of other tightly selected former OSS operatives kept working in Europe under private auspices.
With a blue-ribbon board of directors that included OSS Director William J. Donovan (1883-1959) and funding from the Mellon banking fortune, the man who had recruited Griffith to the OSS led a company called the World Commerce Corporation. He hired a number of the most successful OSS agents to continue work until the American government woke up to the necessity for a permanent spy agency. Aline Griffith was among the elect. It was under this private cover that she continued to track the transfer of Nazi-looted assets on their way out of Europe. And once the CIA came into existence, Griffith was called upon for “odd jobs” from time to time. (Records of those assignments remain classified.) The countess—never a princess, as the title claims—truly was a spy.
The sources of this story
During her long life—Aline Griffith was eighty-six years old when she died in 2017—she wrote five memoirs. Her books had titles like The Spy Wore Red (1987), The Spy Went Dancing (1990), and The Spy Wore Silk (1991). The books sold well. Unfortunately, they mixed fiction with fact. And the author of this nonfiction account caught her in lie after lie as his research progressed. She changed dates and hid the real names of many of those she worked with in the war, even “changing her own code name—from BUTCH to TIGER.” She also included fantastic accounts of gunfights and other adventures she never experienced. “Her spy books must be regarded as historical fiction; some parts are true, many others not.”
Still, the basic facts were there in the memoirs. Aline Griffith really did work as an intelligence agent from 1944 to 1947, including work as in the field for the OSS from February 1945 to August 15, 1945.” She continued to serve as an employee of World Commerce and for years afterward on special missions for the CIA. And “she was a highly productive and valuable agent, producing some fifty-nine field reports for the OSS, far more than any other Madrid agent, and had more subagents working for her than” all but two of her superiors.
About the author
Larry Loftis has published scholarly legal articles as well as two bestselling nonfiction books. The Princess Spy is the second of those books. He lives in Florida, where he practices law. Loftis holds a B.A. in Political Science and a J.D., both from the University of Florida.
May 1, 2021
I have always liked to read about all things WWII. Not for the negative, but for the candle flame in the dark that didn't go out. To see the positive side of what humans can do for one another. It gives me hope.
I am by NO means a WWII professional, or even buff, that can give you dates and places and names of important locations, battles and people. But I DO enjoy reading about it and I enjoyed reading this book. It was fascinating and I have to say, she was an AMAZING person. Everything she did and went through, it is just stunning to think that she wasn't the only incredible person, that the whole world is full of incredible people, but we don't always hear about them. I'm glad that her story was told and that I was able to read about it.
Very interesting book, one I am glad that I have read and will recommend at my store. Not just for history buffs, but also to those who want to read about strong women.
4, good addition to the WWII books out there, stars.
My thanks to NetGalley and Atria Books for an eARC copy of this book to read and review.
I am by NO means a WWII professional, or even buff, that can give you dates and places and names of important locations, battles and people. But I DO enjoy reading about it and I enjoyed reading this book. It was fascinating and I have to say, she was an AMAZING person. Everything she did and went through, it is just stunning to think that she wasn't the only incredible person, that the whole world is full of incredible people, but we don't always hear about them. I'm glad that her story was told and that I was able to read about it.
Very interesting book, one I am glad that I have read and will recommend at my store. Not just for history buffs, but also to those who want to read about strong women.
4, good addition to the WWII books out there, stars.
My thanks to NetGalley and Atria Books for an eARC copy of this book to read and review.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
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