The remarkable true story of SOE heroine Elaine Madden, told for the first time. After a tragic childhood among the Great War cemeteries of Flanders fields, a troubled young woman searches for love and meaning in war-ravaged Europe. Elaine Madden's quest takes her from occupied Belgium through the chaos of Dunkirk, where she flees disguised as a British soldier, into the London Blitz, where she finally begins to discover herself. Recruited to T Section of the Special Operations Executive (SOE) as a ?fast courier', she is parachuted back to the country of her birth to undertake a top secret political mission and help speed its liberation from Nazi oppression. Elaine Madden never claimed to be a heroine, but her story proves otherwise. Its centrepiece ? war service as one of only two women SOE agents parachuted into enemy-occupied Belgium ? is just one episode in an extraordinary real-life drama of highs and lows, love, loss and betrayal. Relayed to the author in the final years of her life, Elaine's true story of courage and humour in testing times is more intriguing, more compelling than fiction. AUTHOR: After teaching English nDrama in a London comprehensive, Sue Elliott spent twenty-five years in broadcasting, where latterly she was in demand as a speech- and ghost-writer for senior TV executives. She's been a freelance writer since 2002 and had two non-fiction books published ? the bestselling 'Love Child' (Random House, 2005) and 'The Children Who Fought Hitler' (John Murray, 2009). SELLING POINTS: ? Based on extensive interviews with Elaine Madden and original research ? Casts new light on the role of women in the Second World War ? Women SOE agents and their exploits still fascinate the public. Thirst for new real-life stories increases with time despite, or perhaps because of, their finite supply 8pp b/w illustrations
