Secret Shepperton


Book Description

The lesser-known history of a town that began as an Iron Age settlement and became England's Hollywood.




The Spotlight


Book Description




Hidden Weapons


Book Description

In his Foreword, Professor Jones writes 'Mr Collier takes the opportunity to review the contributions of all forms of Intelligence, and the use and misuse that was made of them, in all the major phases of World War II. His task has required very wide reading of the great volume of original documents and derivative literature now available, and I admire the judgement that is evident throughout the book. Within the limits of treating the widest aspects of Intelligence in World War II in a small compass, Mr Collier has told the whole truth, fortunately without it turning out to be very unfavorable; and in the lessons to be drawn from it we indeed have one element of security if properly applied'.Basil Collier throws fresh light on the low priority given to Intelligence between the wars; the tendency of ministers and senior officials to rely less on intelligence reports than their own individual hunches; the failure to foresee the invasion of Norway; why, even with the aid of Enigma it was impossible to turn the scales in Crete, and why the Americans, though privy to some of Japans most closely guarded secrets, allowed the Pearl Harbor attack to take them by surprise.




The Army that Never Was


Book Description

The full, dramatic story behind Operation Fortitude—the biggest subterfuge of World War II—and the plan to mislead the Germans into thinking that the invasion of Europe would come at Pas-de-Calais. On May 29th, 1944, General George S. Patton gave a speech in the southeast of England to the men of the U.S. Army where he spoke of the American desire to win and of how losing was hateful to Americans. As he rose to his crescendo, he said how much he "pitied those sons of bitches we are going up against—by God, I do.” On that same day, General Omar Bradley gave a calmer speech in Somerset, England, to the men under his command about how much rested on the upcoming invasion of northern France and how vital their role was in achieving victory. Apart from the very different tones of the speeches reflecting the opposite character of the two army commanders, there was another big difference. Bradley was speaking to men who in a little over a week would be splashing ashore on the beaches of Normandy. Patton was addressing an army that didn't exist. The Army That Never Was tells the story of the biggest deception operation of World War II: the plan to mislead the Germans into thinking that the invasion of Europe would come at Pas-de-Calais instead of Normandy—by inventing an entirely fake army unit during Operation Fortitude. Full of fascinating characters from the American, British, and German forces, this compelling and propulsive narrative explores one of the most remarkable stories of World War II.




Shepperton Babylon


Book Description

A history of British movies which includes the scandals, the suicides, the immolations and the contract killings. It is the product of thousands of conversations with veteran film-makers.




Espionage & Mystery Novels


Book Description

William Le Queux (1864-1927) was a famous and incredibly visionary writer who wrote in the genres of mystery, thriller, and espionage - in the years leading up to World War I. His best-known works are the invasion thrillers "The Great War in England in 1897" and the anti-German invasion fantasy "The Invasion of 1910." – all written before the war..._x000D_ This edition includes: Novels_x000D_ The Great War in England in 1897_x000D_ The Invasion of 1910_x000D_ Guilty Bonds_x000D_ Zoraida_x000D_ The Temptress_x000D_ The Great White Queen_x000D_ Devil's Dice_x000D_ Whoso Findeth a Wife_x000D_ The Eye of Istar_x000D_ If Sinners Entice Thee_x000D_ The Bond of Black_x000D_ The Day of Temptation_x000D_ The Veiled Man_x000D_ The Wiles of the Wicked_x000D_ An Eye for an Eye_x000D_ In White Raiment_x000D_ Of Royal Blood_x000D_ Her Majesty's Minister_x000D_ The Under-Secretary_x000D_ The Seven Secrets_x000D_ As We Forgive Them_x000D_ The Sign of the Stranger_x000D_ The Hunchback of Westminster_x000D_ The Closed Book_x000D_ The Czar's Spy_x000D_ Behind the Throne_x000D_ The Pauper of Park Lane_x000D_ The Mysterious Mr. Miller_x000D_ Whatsoever a Man Soweth_x000D_ The Great Court Scandal_x000D_ The Lady in the Car_x000D_ The House of Whispers_x000D_ The Red Room_x000D_ Spies of the Kaiser_x000D_ The Great God Gold (Treasure of Israel)_x000D_ Hushed Up! A Mystery of London_x000D_ The Death-Doctor_x000D_ The Lost Million_x000D_ The Price of Power_x000D_ Her Royal Highness_x000D_ The White Lie_x000D_ The Four Faces_x000D_ The Sign of Silence_x000D_ The Mysterious Three_x000D_ At the Sign of the Sword_x000D_ The Mystery of the Green Ray_x000D_ Number 70, Berlin_x000D_ The Way to Win_x000D_ The Broken Thread_x000D_ The Place of Dragons_x000D_ The Zeppelin Destroyer_x000D_ Sant of the Secret Service_x000D_ The Stolen Statesman_x000D_ The Doctor of Pimlico_x000D_ Whither Thou Goest_x000D_ The Intriguers_x000D_ The Red Widow (The Death-Dealers of London)_x000D_ Mademoiselle of Monte Carlo_x000D_ This House to Let_x000D_ The Golden Face_x000D_ The Stretton Street Affair_x000D_ The Voice from the Void_x000D_ Short Story Collections_x000D_ Stolen Souls_x000D_ The Count's Chauffeur_x000D_ The Bomb-Makers_x000D_ The Gay Triangle




Intrepid's Last Secrets: Then and Now


Book Description

In this engrossing follow-up to The True Intrepid, author Bill Macdonald explores secrets only hinted at in that book. The WW II Macdonald explores secrets only hinted at in that book. The WW II Canadian spymaster William Stephenson - known widely as "Intrepid" Canadian spymaster William Stephenson - known widely as “Intrepid" was not only tasked to get help for anti-Nazi Europe and assist setting up was not only tasked to get help for anti-Nazi Europe and assist setting up an American intelligence agency.Stephenson faced a secret Anglophile an American intelligence agency.Stephenson faced a secret Anglophile group covertly seeking a quick peace with Adolf Hitler. Often referred to group covertly seeking a quick peace with Adolf Hitler. Often referred to as "The Milner Group;' the organization reportedly swayed major events as "The Milner Group;' the organization reportedly swayed major events of the twentieth century and likely has major influence today. of the twentieth century and likely has major influence today. Intrepid's Last Secrets: Then and Now Intrepid's Last Secrets: Then and Now explores The Milner Group's history explores The Milner Group's history in Canada, from its relationship to in Canada, from its relationship to Canadian prime ministers of the first half Canadian prime ministers of the first half of the twentieth century - to its probable of the twentieth century - to its probable impact on modern cultural policy and impact on modern cultural policy and government. Both British and American government. Both British and American strands of the group are explored with strands of the group are explored with a study of some of the prominent early members, their philosophies, and their members, their philosophies, and their strategic influence on events and our lives. This book includes the final interview with the late Svetlana Gouzenko, who, along with her husband Igor, fled to Canada from the soviet Union in 1945. The information they brought with them revealed massive Soviet espionage in the West and helped trigger the Cold War. A few of Stephenson’s former British Security Coordination (BSC) agents tell their story for the first time and the organization’s major area of accomplishment - World War II communications (the genesis of the so-called "Five Eyes" agreement) - is explained. Meticulously researched and engagingly written, Intrepid's Last Secrets presents a unique, fascinating, and ultimately deeply chilling take on modern history.




Whoso Findeth a Wife


Book Description

"Whoso Findeth a Wife" is a book by the famous British author William Le Queux, who wrote a lot of spy and mystery books in the late 1800s and early 1900s. The book, which came out in 1898, is a captivating mix of romance, mystery, and social commentary. The main characters, Richard Vryn and Viola Vernon, are at the center of the story. A rich man named Vryn is disappointed by how shallow London society is, while a charming and independent woman named Viola wants to become a famous artist. Through a string of lucky encounters, their paths cross, and they end up falling in love. Set in the Edwardian era, Le Queux's story is about love, social class, and what people think is right or wrong. The book explores the problems and social norms that the characters have to deal with as they start dating, which leads to an interesting look at the limits and standards that people in that society have. The book is a mix of romance and social commentary. It shows what the top classes in Edwardian England had to deal with in terms of expectations and restrictions. Le Queux's stories are known for their interesting plots, well-developed characters, and smart notes about the social norms and class differences of the time.




The Encyclopedia of Hammer Films


Book Description

Dracula and Frankenstein. Christopher Lee and Peter Cushing. These are just a few of the icons of Hammer Films. To horror fans, the name “Hammer” conjures visions of hissing vampires and buxom beauties in low-cut negligees. But Britain’s Hammer Film Productions, Ltd., was much more than just a fright factory. For more than thirty years, the company turned out neatly crafted entries in a variety of genres, ranging from comedies to pirate yarns, murder mysteries to war pictures. At the heart of Hammer’s remarkable success was its access to American financing and American theaters. But more than that, the individuals behind the scenes knew how to make good films on tight budgets. These pictures have withstood the test of time and continue to be enjoyed all over the world. The Encyclopedia of Hammer Films details the surprising story of Britain’s most successfulindependent film company and includes Entries on all of Hammer’s feature films, featurettes, and television episodes, including staff, production details, US and UK release data, cast, synopses, reviews, behind-the-scenes quotes, and US financial participation Capsule biographies of directors, producers, technicians, and actors––including the lovely ladies of Hammer glamour Special entries on Hammer-related topics, including “tax shelter” companies, Hammerscope, the British Board of Film Censors, and the recent Hammer reboot An annotated appendix of more than 150 unrealized Hammer projects A chronological, annotated listing of every production and coproduction from the company’s inception in 1934 An invaluable resource, this volume includes snapshots of the men and women who made the studio a success—including Peter Cushing, Terence Fisher, Christopher Lee, Ingrid Pitt, and Jimmy Sangster—as well as such iconic films as The Curse of Frankenstein, The Devil Rides Out, Dracula Has Risen from the Grave, and Vampire Circus. With more than six hundred entries, The Encyclopedia of Hammer Films is a must-have for every fan of this unique studio.




William Le Queux: 100+ Mystery & Espionage Thrillers (Illustrated Edition)


Book Description

This carefully edited collection has been designed and formatted to the highest digital standards and adjusted for readability on all devices. William Le Queux (1864-1927) was a famous and incredibly visionary writer who wrote in the genres of mystery, thriller, and espionage. Novels The Great War in England in 1897 The Invasion of 1910 Guilty Bonds Zoraida The Temptress The Great White Queen Devil's Dice Whoso Findeth a Wife The Eye of Istar If Sinners Entice Thee The Bond of Black The Day of Temptation The Veiled Man The Wiles of the Wicked An Eye for an Eye In White Raiment Of Royal Blood Her Majesty's Minister The Under-Secretary The Seven Secrets As We Forgive Them The Sign of the Stranger The Hunchback of Westminster The Closed Book The Czar's Spy Behind the Throne The Pauper of Park Lane The Mysterious Mr. Miller Whatsoever a Man Soweth The Great Court Scandal The Lady in the Car The House of Whispers The Red Room Spies of the Kaiser The Great God Gold (Treasure of Israel) Hushed Up! A Mystery of London The Death-Doctor The Lost Million The Price of Power Her Royal Highness The White Lie The Four Faces The Sign of Silence The Mysterious Three At the Sign of the Sword The Mystery of the Green Ray Number 70, Berlin The Way to Win The Broken Thread The Place of Dragons The Zeppelin Destroyer Sant of the Secret Service The Stolen Statesman The Doctor of Pimlico Whither Thou Goest The Intriguers The Red Widow (The Death-Dealers of London) Mademoiselle of Monte Carlo This House to Let The Golden Face The Stretton Street Affair The Voice from the Void Short Story Collections Stolen Souls The Count's Chauffeur The Bomb-Makers The Gay Triangle