Women in Intelligence
The Hidden History of Two World Wars
Published on 25. June 2024
Book
Paperback/Softback
448 pages
978-0-300-27931-3 (ISBN)
Description
A groundbreaking history of women in British intelligence, revealing their pivotal role across the first half of the twentieth century
From the twentieth century onward, women took on an extraordinary range of roles in intelligence, defying the conventions of their time. Across both world wars, far from being a small part of covert operations, women ran spy networks and escape lines, parachuted behind enemy lines, and interrogated prisoners. And, back in Bletchley and Whitehall, women's vital administrative work in MI offices kept the British war engine running.
In this major, panoramic history, Helen Fry looks at the rich and varied work women undertook as civilians and in uniform. From spies in the Belgian network "La Dame Blanche," knitting coded messages into jumpers, to those who interpreted aerial images and even ran entire sections, Fry shows just how crucial women were in the intelligence mission. Filled with hitherto unknown stories, Women in Intelligence places new research on record for the first time and showcases the inspirational contributions of these remarkable women.
From the twentieth century onward, women took on an extraordinary range of roles in intelligence, defying the conventions of their time. Across both world wars, far from being a small part of covert operations, women ran spy networks and escape lines, parachuted behind enemy lines, and interrogated prisoners. And, back in Bletchley and Whitehall, women's vital administrative work in MI offices kept the British war engine running.
In this major, panoramic history, Helen Fry looks at the rich and varied work women undertook as civilians and in uniform. From spies in the Belgian network "La Dame Blanche," knitting coded messages into jumpers, to those who interpreted aerial images and even ran entire sections, Fry shows just how crucial women were in the intelligence mission. Filled with hitherto unknown stories, Women in Intelligence places new research on record for the first time and showcases the inspirational contributions of these remarkable women.
Reviews / Votes
"[Fry] has fulfilled the task she set herself: that of putting these women on the map, testifying to their number and courage and providing an invaluable handbook for future scholars."-Caroline Moorehead, The Spectator"Sexy female spies are a myth and women in intelligence looked more like secretaries than Bond girls."-Anita Singh, The Telegraph
"[A] well-researched and accomplished narrative of a largely untold story of women in intelligence. . . . Fry's work likely will prompt more counterparts in places like Australia and Canada to emulate her inspirational work on Britain's women in intelligence."-Australian Outlook
"After reading Women in Intelligence no-one can doubt the significant contribution women made to every aspect of military intelligence. . . . This is a book that will inspire PhD students for decades."-Debbie Kilroy, GetHistory
"This important book provides a vital corrective to the decades of history and analysis that have ignored or minimized the contributions of British women to the intelligence operations that helped the Allies win two world wars."-Lena Andrews, Cipher Brief
"Last year's brilliant book by Helen Fry revealed that Cavell's work with British intelligence went much further than assisting stranded soldiers. . . . Even a century later, then, there are stories to be uncovered."-Angus Reilly, The Telegraph
Selected a 2024 Book of the Year by Britain at War
"Fry puts the oft-forgotten female heroes at the forefront of her revisionist history."-Saskia Kemsley, Evening Standard
"Helen Fry . . . has achieved something of deep importance with Women in Intelligence. It closes many of the gaps in the history of women's contribution to both world wars."-Intelligence Corps Association Journal
"[Fry's] latest book, Women in Intelligence, offers a captivating journey into the lives of these often-overlooked heroines."-Ella Sampson, northdevontoday
"This is an exceptional book and full of interesting revelations. . . . As Dr Fry concludes: 'Still so much of women's work is obscured by secrecy.'"-Melody Foreman, Britain at War
"[A] highly impressive new book. . . . The impeccable sourcing, and a bibliography brimming with individual accounts will ensure that readers keen for more detail of what are often truly inspirational stories can read more."-Michael Smith, Aspects of History
"Fry emphasises how women's contributions to intelligence were far more entrenched and broader than individual stories . . . thus contributing to a wider re-examination of gender and security studies."-Ashleigh Percival-Borley, Journal of Policing, Intelligence and Counter Terrorism
"Beware-this is a book full of danger and deception, sabotage and secret codes, and some brilliant, unstoppable women."-Clare Mulley, author of The Spy Who Loved
"This account is long overdue. Helen Fry redresses the relative neglect of the contribution of women as intelligence officers and agents during and between the two world wars, with gripping personal stories of bravery, grit and analytic brilliance."-Sir David Omand GCB, former director of GCHQ
"A superb introduction to the role of women in some of the most fascinating and secretive organisations of the two world wars. Fry brings to the fore stories of bravery, self-sacrifice and the ingenuity of women working in intelligence, all told with her usual inimitable style."-Kate Vigurs, author of Mission France
"Much needed and extremely important. I was hooked from start to finish and found it very emotionally evocative. There has never been an attempt to bring together all the strands of the story, and this book shows the full and impressive picture of women's contributions in two world wars."-Sarah-Louise Miller, author of The Women Behind the Few
"A fascinating, minutely researched study of women in the espionage business."-Nigel West, author of Spies Who Changed History
More details
Language
English
Place of publication
United States
Product notice
Paperback (trade)
Illustrations
16 pp bw plates
Dimensions
Height: 194 mm
Width: 126 mm
Thickness: 39 mm
Weight
424 gr
ISBN-13
978-0-300-27931-3 (9780300279313)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Person
Historian and biographer Helen Fry is the author of The Walls Have Ears, Spymaster, MI9, and more than twenty books on intelligence, prisoners of war, and the social history of World War II. She appears regularly in media interviews and podcasts and has been involved in numerous documentaries.