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Priscilla: The Hidden Life of an Englishwoman in Wartime France
bookshelves: published-2013, radio-4, winter-20132014, nonfiction, biography, wwii, women, under-20, france, fradio, next
Read from January 12 to 17, 2014
BOTW R4BBC description: Nicholas Shakespeare writes about his aunt, a glamorous English woman whose life in Paris during the German Occupation grew more and more mysterious. Abridged in 5 episodes by Katrin Williams. Reader Nicholas Shakespeare. Producer Duncan Minshull.
1. The author resolves to unearth the facts about Priscilla, whose background and activities during World War 2 fascinate the rest of the family. She died in the 1980's, even a Vicomtess at one stage. How, then, will he embark on his task of discovery?
2. Fleeing to Paris, in desperate straits, the young woman finds kindness when it is least expected. Enter the gallant Robert Doynel. Now her life will change forever.
3. Priscilla has been living off her wits and off the favours of men she knows. But incriminating information seems to gather fast, and one morning the police come calling.
4. Priscilla is relying on the kindness and often dubious motives of men to survive. Then information supplied by her friend Gillian Sutro casts even more light on tumultuous events.
5. D-Day, and the whole of Paris is jumping, dancing, clasped in embrace. But Priscilla, the eternal party girl, is in a very quiet place, with a dubious past hot on her heels.
2*
4