Operation Pimento
A secret mission, a sole survivor, an epic escape
Published on 4. June 2026
Book
Paperback/Softback
288 pages
978-1-3997-4017-3 (ISBN)
Description
August 1943: Adam Hart's great-grandfather Frank Griffiths is the only survivor of Operation Pimento, a secret World War 2 mission to disrupt supply lines from Italy into Nazi-occupied France.
Though seriously injured, Frank embarks on a perilous, 1,200-mile, 108-day escape across France, Switzerland and Spain.
August 2022: Adam Hart retraces his great-grandfather's epic journey, meeting descendants of people who'd risked their lives to help Frank, while learning much about his own powers of endurance.
Acclaimed by Andy McNab as 'A wartime classic', Operation Pimento is a vivid account of a young man's quest to discover more about a man he'd never met but always knew to be a hero.
Though seriously injured, Frank embarks on a perilous, 1,200-mile, 108-day escape across France, Switzerland and Spain.
August 2022: Adam Hart retraces his great-grandfather's epic journey, meeting descendants of people who'd risked their lives to help Frank, while learning much about his own powers of endurance.
Acclaimed by Andy McNab as 'A wartime classic', Operation Pimento is a vivid account of a young man's quest to discover more about a man he'd never met but always knew to be a hero.
Reviews / Votes
Frank Griffiths' incredible escape and evasion story will become a wartime classic. This is a unique book because Frank's outstanding deeds are only part of the story. We also follow the writer's own emotional journey through Europe as he follows in the footsteps of his great-grandfather and discovers the incredible bravery of those who risked their lives to help Frank escape. Truly inspiring. -- Andy McNab An affectionate and often audacious tale of an unsung WW2 hero, told by his great grandson. Adam Hart is a writer to watch out for. -- Anthony Horowitz A thrilling tale of courage, bravery and survival, brought to life by Hart's gripping narrative and fascinating personal connection. A superb debut. -- Alice Loxton This moving family history pays fitting tribute to the courage and resilience of the Special Duties Squadrons' crews, and the heroism of the French resisters serving alongside them. -- Clare Mulley, Women's Prize-longlisted author of 'Agent Zo' A wonderfully evocative tale of one man's escape from occupied Europe and the countless people who helped along the way, their extraordinary courage and sacrifice brought movingly to life across the generations by the author retracing his great-grandfather's footsteps to freedom. -- Air Chief Marshal Sir Michael Wigston KCB CBE, Chief of the Air Staff, 2019-2023 A classic tale of Second World War derring-do, told with flair. A wonderful debut. -- Robert Penn The writer's command of tension is on full display. Chapters break off at the opportune (read: most frustrating) moments to leave us hankering to find out how the Welsh airman gets out of the latest hair-raising situation he's found himself in. And then, just as we've settled into Hart's charming travelogue, back we go to his great-grandfather's escape. * Nation.Cymru * There are touches of the BBC sitcom 'Allo 'Allo, such as the attic above the brothel, but for the most part it reflects the deadlier drama Secret Army... This is an inspiring story, warmly told as a travelogue. * Country Life *More details
Language
English
Place of publication
United Kingdom
Publishing group
Hodder & Stoughton
Product notice
Paperback (UK-B)
Dimensions
Height: 129 mm
Width: 197 mm
Thickness: 20 mm
Weight
202 gr
ISBN-13
978-1-3997-4017-3 (9781399740173)
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
Adam Hart is a writer and historian from Pembrokeshire in South West Wales. While training to be a journalist at Cardiff University, Adam won a travel bursary to retrace his great-grandfather's escape in World War 2, inspiring this book. He has also written for The Times and Telegraph, appeared on the Antiques Roadshow and ITV Evening News and has spoken on Radio 4 and Times Radio. Operation Pimento is his first book.