Her Finest Hour: The Heroic Life of Diana Rowden, Wartime Secret Agent

The untold story of the female British secret agent forgotten by history.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 320 pages
Publication date: 15 January 2018
Publisher: Amberley Publishing

Diana Rowden was a woman of exceptional character, serving as an agent with the Special Operations Executive (SOE) during World War II. Alongside Noor Inayat Khan, she was deployed to France, where she worked in the Resistance stronghold of the Franche-Comté department. Despite being relentlessly hunted by the Gestapo, Diana dedicated herself to the Allied war effort with unwavering determination. She played a crucial role in the sabotage of the Peugeot factory at Sochaux and delivered frequent radio messages to aid the resistance. In a remarkable twist of fate, Gabrielle McDonald-Rothwell recounts how Dianas adventures ultimately led to her betrayal by one of her own colleagues, and paints a vivid account of the final desperation she faced in a concentration camp.

This comprehensive biography, previously unknown, seeks to honor Diana's remarkable service to her country. At a time when the employment of female secret agents was contentious and plagued by establishment biases, Diana's tragic life receives its well-deserved recognition. Although she later received Mentioned in Despatches and was awarded an MBE and the Croix de Guerre, this lesser-known individual has largely faded from the annals of Second World War history. This story revolves around a woman who, with unparalleled bravery and unwavering commitment to duty, distinguished herself as one of the SOE's most exceptional agents.

Weight: 278g
Dimension: 130 x 198 x 22 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781445677163