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Spy Princess: The Life of Noor Inayat Khan
 
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Spy Princess: The Life of Noor Inayat Khan (Hardcover)

by Shrabani Basu (Author)
4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (10 customer reviews)
RRP: £18.99
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Frequently Bought Together

Spy Princess: The Life of Noor Inayat Khan + Violette Szabo: The Life That I Have + A Life in Secrets: Vera Atkins and the Lost Agents of SOE
Price For All Three: £27.05

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Product details

  • Hardcover: 256 pages
  • Publisher: The History Press Ltd (16 Feb 2006)
  • Language English
  • ISBN-10: 0750939656
  • ISBN-13: 978-0750939652
  • Product Dimensions: 23.6 x 16 x 3 cm
  • Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (10 customer reviews)
  • Amazon.co.uk Sales Rank: 380,511 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Product Description

Product Description

This is the riveting story of Noor Inayat Khan, the descendant of an Indian Prince Tipu Sultan, the Tiger of Mysore, who became a British secret agent for SOE during World War II. Born into an illustrious Indian family in 1914 and brought up in the non-violent Sufi religion, Noor seemed an unlikely secret agent. Yet she became the first female radio operator to be landed in enemy-occupied France, and refused to abandon her post in Paris in 1943, continuing her work under extremely dangerous circumstances. Shrabani Basu tells the moving story of Noor's life from her birth in Moscow - where her father was a Sufi preacher - to her capture by the Germans. Noor was one of only three women SOE awarded the George Cross and, under torture, revealed nothing but her name - but not her real name, nor her code name, just the name she used to register at SOE: Nora Baker. Kept in solitary confinement, chained between hand and feet and unable to walk upright, Noor existed on bowls of soup made from potato peelings. Ten months after she was captured, she was taken to Dachau and, on 13 September 1944, she was shot. Her last word was 'Liberte'.


About the Author

Shrabani Basu lives in London where she is a correspondent for the Ananda Bazaar Patrika Group. She writes for the Telegraph, Sunday magazine and other publications in the group. She is the author of Curry (Sutton 2003).

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Customer Reviews

10 Reviews
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3 star:
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2 star:    (0)
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Average Customer Review
4.2 out of 5 stars (10 customer reviews)
 
 
 
 
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16 of 16 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars So Brave, 28 May 2006
By T. Duffy "belzec" (Lanarkshire, Scotland) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   
I am ashamed to admit that, although having read many many books on WW2, I had never heard of Noor Inayat Khan until I saw the story of her life on BBCs Timewatch. Ashamed, because everyone should know about the bravery of this young Indian girl, and the others like her, who gave their lives for the one we have now. Descended from Indian royalty and daughter of a Sufi preacher, she became an SOE agent who, due to her beliefs, could not tell a lie. Not an ideal person to be sent into occupied Paris as a wireless operator you would think. Although not fully trained, because they were so badly needed, she showed great ability and outstanding courage while the Prosper circuit she worked with, crumbled around her. A superb book about a very brave and very beautiful girl to whom we should all be indebted.
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19 of 20 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars A Beautiful Book, 12 Mar 2006
Knowing little about Noor Inayat Khan except the legends, this was an incredibly moving biography of the princess who fought for Britain. I found her story to be extraordinary because she was so different from the hardened war operatives - a gentle musician with Sufi inclinations. It must have been so difficult for her in the field, and she must have been so frightened, but she put up such a brave show when she died - her last words of liberté showed they could not break her spirit. The book does a fine job in dispelling the myths and a compulsive page turner.
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13 of 14 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars Not to be missed..., 16 Feb 2006
A truly fascinating insight into the life of a forgotten heroine. It was a gripping read; Basu has clearly done a lot of research, taking the reader on a journey from her birthplace in Moscow to her final moments in Dachau. Basu also explores the inner workings of the SOE and the many flaws that took place which lead to the tragic demise of Noor and her colleagues. Noor's story as narrated by Basu is very touching, and her haunting beauty makes the tale all the more poignant. I had been previously been unaware of the Indian contribution to the war effort, and Basu's book brings this to light. I would definitely reccomend this to all readers as it has something for everyone.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars Not to be missed
An excellent and compelling history of one of the bravest people to fight against the Nazis. Written with sensitivity and packed full of interesting facts, this is an absolute... Read more
Published 13 days ago by 1965fan

3.0 out of 5 stars More to her
Noor Inayat Khan was one of a surprising number of agents who knowingly sacrificed their lives in the Second World War for freedom. Read more
Published 2 months ago by Hugh van der Mandele

4.0 out of 5 stars A haunting tragedy
I grew up reading the Sufi books of Hazrat Inayat Khan from childhood, and these profoundly moving insights into life have guided so much of my ideals since. Read more
Published 3 months ago by Spilsbury

1.0 out of 5 stars Dreadful
I bought this on the strength of other reviews but also had an interest in both the period and unusual Noor story. Read more
Published on 14 Sep 2007 by R. Syed

5.0 out of 5 stars Superbly researched
This is a beautifully written book that is the perfect blend of thorough research and interesting biography. Read more
Published on 8 Feb 2007 by reader

5.0 out of 5 stars Super new investigation for Noor
I spotted this book early on when released. I read it with great excitement, it was thoroughly researched detailing Noor's life and her talents for Morse and wireless operating... Read more
Published on 28 Nov 2006 by Ms. Vanessa Wagstaff

5.0 out of 5 stars A Beautiful Biography
Knowing little about Noor Inayat Khan except the legends, this was an incredibly moving biography of the princess who fought for Britain. Read more
Published on 12 Mar 2006 by rogermorris55

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