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. 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'.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #31890 in Books
• Published on: 2008-08-30
• Format: Illustrated
• Original language: English
• Binding: Paperback
• 288 pages

About the Author
Shrabani Basu is also the author of Curry: The Story of the Nations Favourite Dish.

Customer Reviews

So Brave
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.

A Beautiful Book
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.

Not to be missed...
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.