Priscilla: The Hidden Life of an Englishwoman in Wartime France

I gave this book a four star rating as it was so good to read. It obviously was a complete surprise to Nicholas Shakespeare that his deceased aunt Priscilla had such a covert life living in France during WWII. It is understandable how so many people did not speak of their experiences during the war as the way of life and what happened (extreme cruelty, starvation interment etc.) was horrific. When the author found missing papers after his aunt's death it must have been quite enlightening to open a "pandoras" box as to her behaviour and life in war torn France . How Priscilla managed to live (physically) unharmed during WWII when the Germans occupied France is amazing - although mentally it would have taken quite a toll. This is an extremely detailed explanation of Priscilla's life and movements and I could recommend this book to those who are interested in the events which occurred during WWII in France. Annabel.

Slowly working through the mysterious life of Priscilla. Intend to finish it as it is fascinating to learn the role women played and continue to play during tumultuous times. Find that Shakespeare's writing style does not hold my attention, but as mentioned earlier hope to finish reading this biography nevertheless. Having said that, Shakespeare must have put a great deal of research before compiling a book on a captivating woman.

An interesting story about Priscilla's life, her decisions both good and bad and the consequences of those decisions. The book also provides a good explanation of life during the Occupation of France and how some lived well and others less so. Author seems a little heavy handed with many French phrases not translated (assuming the reader speaks French I guess). He is also inclined to use long, slightly abstract words where much shorter, more commonly used words would do.

I commend Nicholas Shakespeare in many ways for this book though I have a few criticisms. While I accept that he had a personal interest in Prisicilla Mais as his half-aunt I did not think she came across as a particularly interesting person, more like a character from May Wesley's "The Camomile Lawn," Calypso perhaps. A great great aunt of mine was also in Besancon, then released and allowed to return to her Paris apartment. It wouldn't enter my head to turn that into a book. My grandmother escaped France with her children courtesy of the 2nd BEF from Saint Malo. Both my mother and aunt were infinitely more worthwhile people than Priscilla insofar as they each joined the WRNS and the WAAF as soon as they were eligible to do so. Compared to many infinitely more interesting people that might attract research of this nature, Priscilla Mais really seems a bit slight and that the only focus of interest is screwing around in Occupied Paris with fringe members of the collabo community.I also feel that aspects of Nicholas Shakespeare's research are not very sure footed. Dunkirk and the withdrawal of the 2nd BEF were distinctly separate events, which does not quite come across in NS's narrative. Nor does one get the feeling that he understands military formations; to say that Rommel's 7th Panzer Div bivouacked at Boisgrimont, hmmm, - a division is usually more than 10,000 men, so that's a lot of tents on that tree lined front avenue. Nor does he seem to understand that Operation Otto was a more general theft project from Occupied France than just art, which mostly came under the Einsatzstab Reichsleiter Rosenberg, based at the Jeu de Paume.Also the story seems to turn on some very slight and unconvincing problems. So Priscilla's French aristo husband was impotent was he? It is generally not a good idea for a man 40+ to have a large supper washed down with several glasses of wine if he's intending to bed a younger woman afterwards. And surely a dutiful Catholic convert wife would encourage him to see his doc before reaching for a parade of lovers while remaining fond of him. Besides, among Catholics, non-consummation is sufficient cause for an annulment.However, I was interested by this book and, despite its glaring flaws, enjoyed the verve with which it was written and the atmosphere of Occupied Paris which NS often conjured up very well.

A gracefully written account of a relative who lived through truly awful times and circumstances. This is a not a happy story. It is a realistic and factual account of a woman who, born to two incompetent parents, was cast out on her own to struggle and design to survive. Hers is a tragic account from start to finish. Priscilla never really had a strong and dependable support system. To add to her tragic tale, she was struck down in youth by a disastrous, painful and scarring disease which destroyed her hopes of becoming a ballet dancer. Really, it was downhill from there. Her promiscuity, undoubtedly due to lack of parenting, (a dysfunctional mother and equally dysfunctional father), Priscilla sought love, comfort and safety in the arms of many men. The author correctly notes that French males in Germany were never (post WWII) punished for their fraternizing with German women. Quite the contrary was true for all European women who fraternized in any personal manner with the Nazi's. Priscilla was quick and smart enough to escape this post war retribution, and returned to Britain where she remarried. Hers is a sad and tragic story in which the reader can only feel a sense of grief for her hardships and silence she felt forced to keep. The writer gives the reader a fairly good feel for what France and Paris was like during occupation. Anyone who reads WWII history understands fully that in order for French women to survive possibly most of them had to fraternize with the enemy on a daily basis. Food and fear of torture and death in the camps was almost tantamount in their daily lives. Priscilla did what she could to escape the camps, although she was initially incarcerated and this awful experience was enough for her to use any and all wiles to prevent another detention. High recommend.