Churchill's Secret Messenger Plot Summary
Rose Teasdale is a typist in Winston Churchill's Cabinet War Rooms, located under Westminster's Treasury building, where she shares a cramped space with other civilian typists and switchboard operators. Her brother, Charlie, has already died in the war, and when her parents are killed from German Luftwaffe bombings, Rose vows to do anything she can to defeat the Nazis, even if it just means working double shifts typing confidential reports.
This book is overflowing with accurate historical facts, yet it reads like a thriller.
When Winston Churchill learns his British typist speaks French with a fluent accent, he recruits Rose for his Special Operations Executive, which is an espionage network that infiltrates Nazi-occupied Europe. Rose undergoes a grueling training program before she is parachuted with her team into Nazi-controlled France where she is received by the French Resistance.
Roses's codename is Dragonfly, and she poses as a cosmetic saleswoman, though her real mission is that of a courier who delivers messages between the British government and the French Resistance. Her two cohorts in the Conjurer network are Felix and Muriel. Felix is the group leader, and Muriel performs all the wireless transmissions to Britain, which means she must be moved from safe house to safe house to avoid detection.
Author, Alan Hlad, includes an honest portrayal of Winston Churchill's persona.
Lazare Aron works underground for the French Resistance and is second-in-command under his leader, Claudius. Lazare's Jewish parents, who refuse to leave their home, have been seized by the French police and sent to Auschwitz.
When Lazare and Rose are paired for a bombing assignment and continue to work together, the two develop a deep connection. Memories of their brief romance give them the strength and hope to survive the horrific trials that come their way when their networks are infiltrated by the enemy.
What Makes Churchill's Secret Messenger So Riveting?
Churchill's Secret Messenger is very compelling because of its historical accuracy. While the novel is a work of fiction, Alan Hlad weaves impeccable and thorough research into the story, giving it great depth and substance.
During WWII, Churchill's SOE really did exist, and many of the true stories of the female operatives are capsulized in the character of Rose Teasdale. Who ordered the bombing of Amiens Prison to rescue French resistance prisoners, dubbed "Operation Jericho," still remains a mystery. The French police were complicit in aiding the Nazis to round up 13,000 Jews. The heinous atrocities that occurred in the Ravensbruck concentration camp--the death march, cremations, gassings, torture, starvation--are included in Hlad's tale along with many other period-specific events.
Operation Jericho was a rescue mission at Amiens Prison.
Churchill's Secret Messenger is also gripping because Hlad skillfully pulls readers into the book, making them feel as if they are the agents on the ground in enemy territory. When Rose is stopped at a Nazi checkpoint to show her papers, the reader's knuckles turn white, a lump forms in the throat, and the heart races wondering if "we," not Rose, will be caught. As Muriel dictates a letter from her typhus sick bed to her small daughter back home, the reader feels like they are at her bedside recording her words on the slips of paper. One nearly becomes claustrophobic in the web of catacombs under France from breathing the stale, musty, stifled air--it's like we are there.
Here's a peek of the catacombs located under France's 14th arrondissement.
The eye-opening historical truths along with Hlad's masterful way of planting the reader in the story makes Churchill's Secret Messenger a book you can't put down easily.
Churchill's Secret Messenger Isn't Overly Graphic
The reader will appreciate this novel is honest and raw without being too graphic.
For example, during the romantic interlude between Rose and Lazare, the scene isn't overly sexually explicit, more PG-13, which is great for those of us who prefer to shield our eyes from reading filth. At the same time, the reader can feel the electric shock the occurs between the two when they touch.
WWII is ripe with human depravity that's hard to swallow--torture, murder/genocide, mental abuse, concentration camps--and while these horrific events are addressed throughout the novel, Hlad leaves a lot unsaid, fortunately. Man's inhumanity to man is apparent and will make you wince, but Hlad spares us the gory details.
You Don't Have To Be A History Buff To Appreciate Churchill's Secret Messenger
When Churchill's Secret Messenger first caught my eye, I dismissed it as a book geared more toward men who love war stories. The title, however, kept popping up on my social media feed accompanied with rave reviews. With some hesitation and doubt, I downloaded the book to my Kindle, and Churchill's Secret Messenger ended up being one of the best books I have ever read.
Some bookworms have an eclectic taste and explore a variety of genres frequently. Many of us, however, insist on returning to the same section of the library or bookstore for our next selection. If you feel daring, branch out and try this book--you will be glad you did.
Why Books Like Churchill's Secret Messenger Are Important To Read
Too many left-wing revisionists have invaded our educational institutions and are attempting to wipe out history and replace it with false narratives. Some even dare to suggest the Holocaust never happened! Our national statues aren't the only things being toppled, but the truths of our world's past are no longer being taught--a huge disservice to our future generations.
As the American philosopher, George Santayana, once stated, Those who forget history are condemned to repeat it.
Inside Hitler's Ravensbruck concentration camp for women.
Many have voiced the question, How could anyone have ever allowed the Holocaust to happen? You can ascertain the answer by simply observing our current culture and political climate. BLM and Antifa terrorize our streets, and the helpless residents in those cities cower in their homes, much like people did in Nazi-occupied territories. The disdain for and persecution of Christians is on the rise in society, sometimes paralleling the unwarranted hatred of Jews during WWII. Hitler aspired for an all-Aryan race, and Leftist radicals are racists who ferment hatred towards whites. Jews were branded with holocaust tattoos, and now governments want to "mark" us all with a COVID vaccine and mandate masks and vaccine passports to move about in society, reminiscent of the Nazis demanding, Show me your papers. In America, left-wingers strive to usher in communism under the deceptive guise of equality and equity. There will always be an elitist and power hungry group willing to enslave people for personal gain and influence. We need only look back at history to discover the warning signs, and Hlad's book helps us do just that.
Books like Churchill's Secret Messenger also teach today's snowflakes embracing woke culture what it means to be a patriot who loves their country. While anti-American political activists take a knee during the national anthem and disrespect our flag, and military generals and the CIA focus more on gender, inclusion, and cultural sensitivity rather than developing brave military heroes and government operatives, we are raising up a crop of wimps who are more likely to cry at the sight of enemies rather than fiercely and courageously defeat them.
Due to her fluency in French, Cecile Pearl Witherington was accepted into the SOE and parachuted into France in 1943, posing as a cosmetic company representative. She delivered coded messages and took control of her unit when her leader was captured.
During WWII, Allied Forces were patriots dedicated to serving, protecting, and liberating their respective countries. They were resourceful, cunning, and held their heads high in the face of danger. Despite unbearable hardships, these daring souls left behind families and personal comforts, willing to sacrifice their lives so their children could grow up in a free world. They had immeasurable grit, unwavering determination, and strong character--traits severely lacking in our country's youth today. Patriotic education is desperately needed in our schools. Hlad's book is an excellent resource for teaching history via literary engagement.
You Need Time To Recover After Reading Churchill's Secret Messenger
Bookworms are chain readers who have stacks of books waiting to be read. They finish one novel and quickly dive into another. Churchill's Secret Messenger elicits such a strong emotional response that it takes time to "let go" before a reader can move on to a new book. This book forces you to experience WWII for yourself. You're the one across enemy lines, you're the one hungry from eating just a crust of bread and putrid broth, you're the one taking the beatings, and you're the one grieving over the tragic loss of family and friends. In the midst of darkness, however, the dawn of hope remains, and this book demonstrates the tenacity of the human spirit.
Churchill's Secret Messenger brings history to life, inspires patriotism, opens your eyes to hard truths of past, grips your soul, and leaves an indelible mark on your heart. It's a book you can't put down and one you'll never forget.
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