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She Landed by Moonlight

The Story of Secret Agent Pearl Witherington

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She Landed by Moonlight

Written by: Carole Seymour-Jones
Narrated by: Catherine Harvey
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Summary

On the night of the 22 September, 1943, Pearl Witherington, a 29-year-old British secretary and Special Operations Executive (SOE) agent, was parachuted into Occupied France.

Pearl had a dual mission: to fight for her beloved France and to find her lost love who had been taken prisoner. Her wartime record is unique. She became a legendary guerrilla leader training 3,800 Resistance fighters. Probably the greatest female organiser of armed maquisards in France, Pearl lit the fires of resistance in Central France so that Churchill’s famous order to ‘set Europe ablaze’, which had brought SOE into being, finally came to pass.

©2014 Carole Seymour-Jones (P)2014 Oakhill Publishing Military Military & War Wars & Conflicts Women World World War II War Imperialism Winston Churchill
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What the critics say

"The truth is that Sebastian Faulk's novel...stands on its own, but so does She Landed by Moonlight, the long-awaited biography that Agent Pearl deserves." (The Times)
"Dialogue is recreated, scenes are set and we are given a character's thoughts, feelings and reactions. Pearl's story is so well-documented and her exploits so extraordinary." (Independent Book of the Week)
"Quietly moving... Carol Seymour-Jones has done an excellent job in bringing Witherington's courage, commitment and ability to light, sensibly focusing on her war years when she lived to her full potential." (Spectator)
"It took until 2004 - four years before her death - for her own country to belatedly present her with a CBE. As this biography makes clear, the brave and wholly admirable Pearl Witherington deserved much, much better." (Sunday Times)
"Carole Seymour-Jones does full justice to a truly remarkable and little-known woman." (Country Life)
"This biography successfully establishes her in the pantheon of the very bravest and best, up there with such legendary figures as Violette Szabo, Andree Borrel, Madeline Damerment and Nancy Wake." Sebastian Faulks, (Mail on Sunday)
"Thoroughly researched and perceptive" (The Lady)
"A gripping tale. A story of narrow escapes, lost and betrayed comrades and incessant danger." (Literary Review)
All stars
Most Relevant
Carole Seymour-Jones book is brilliant. I love WWII history, especially action behind enemy lines by courageous resistance fighters. This is a really comprehensive look at Pearl Witherington's escape from & return to France. After she manages to get her mother and two sisters out of Enemy occupied France, it follows her training & drop back into France. The SOE saw some qualities in her besides her flawless command of both French & English. She ended up taking command of an entire Maquis operation; sorting things out & obtaining the trust & devotion of her group of French Resistance fighters. The only woman to do so. Also there is the true back story of her finding & re-uniting with her fiancé Henri, whom she had to leave behind while escaping to Britain with her family. This book is one of my faves. As we are behind on the Canada site.(Because it is so new), I would like to recommend a few titles in the same genre. The Jedburghs by Will Irwin-narrated by Patrick Lawlor who is excellent!;The Phantom Major by Virginia Cowles with great narration by Robert Whitfield; & my fave to date: Operation Kronstadt by Harry Ferguson & narrated by the most excellent Gideon Emery(Post WWI British agents in Russia.) An exquisite true thriller! I have been with Audible since May 2010, and hope I helped a few fellow Canucks new to this. Hope that the NAFTA publishing wars will be dealt with soon, as a lot of WWII Titles are currently not available here, which is a bit frustrating. Also a tip of the hat to Catherine Harvey's narration of 'She Landed By Moonlight' it is awesome. She goes to my Top 10 list of narrators! - Thanks, Ron L. Ottawa.

Agent 'Paulina' gets the job done!

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