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The Last Secret Agent

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The Last Secret Agent

By: Pippa Latour Doyle, Jude Dobson
Narrated by: Jilly Bond
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About this listen

The extraordinary true story of one of the last female special operation agents in France to get out alive after its liberation in WWII.

Born in 1921, Pippa Latour was a covert special operations agent who parachuted into a field in Nazi-occupied Normandy.

Trained by the British as a Special Operations Executive, Pippa was lauded for her fluency with languages and her coding ability—both attributes she put to remarkable use as she posed as a teenage soap seller, often selling soap to the German soldiers, and sending back information via code to the UK.

Incredibly brave—Pippa knew she would be instantly shot if her cover was blown—she concealed her codes in pieces of silk that she threaded through a flat shoelace and wore as a hair tie. She bicycled around the region, often sleeping rough and foraging for food.

During her time in Normandy, Pippa sent 135 secret messages conveying crucial information on German troop positions in the lead-up to D-Day. Pippa continued her mission until France's liberation in August 1944.

For decades, Pippa told no one—not even her family—of her incredible feats during WWII.

Now, for the first time, her story can be told in full.

©2024 Pippa Latour Doyle with Jude Dobson (P)2024 W. F. Howes Ltd and Allen & Unwin
Military Military & War Women World War II
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A fascinating and in-depth story of strength, grit and determination- I feel honoured to have read such a recount that speaks honestly and is such a sobering account of World War 2. Thank you Pippa- even though you have passed, for sharing your story with the world.

An unbelievable story of strength

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How can one describe the strength courage and bravery of one person when it represents that of a whole war effort? I am honoured that Pippa did tell her story and set the record straight where needed, but also speak to the depravity and humanity in war. To her family who 'outed' her thank you for encouraging her to tell her story. One can't 'review' someone's extraordinary life experience- but only be grateful and thankful she chose to share it. I for one am looking at my sometimes mundane 2024 existence with fresh eyes. The words 'sacrificed to protect our freedoms' means more today than last week. When my family and I stand among the war graves at Monte Casino in Italy Jan 2025 I will appreciate the sacrifice of our family and country but now families and brave warriors in occupied territories.

Riveting

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I thoroughly enjoyed this wonderful, moving story. What an incredible woman. Recommended by my daughter.

Moving wonderful story

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How gutsy this woman and others like her were. War is so terrible, why is the world not learning?

Brave woman

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Wow, what an amazing woman Pippa was. She was so resilient and brave... what a life she had! This is an informative and inspiring book that has left me wanting to read more about SOE agents. Well written and narrated, hard to hit pause on this one.

a must read

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