R. J. Minney — Carve Her Name with Pride

London, George Newnes Limited, 1956. First edition. Cloth. An advance presentation copy of the first edition of R. J. Minney"s celebrated biography of SOE agent Violette Szabo, signed and inscribed by the author and retaining the original unclipped dust wrapper. In the publisher's original pale green cloth binding. Complete with the original unclipped dust wrapper.Illustrated with twelve double sided monochrome photographic plates and a monochrome portrait frontispiece. Collated, complete. First edition. An advanced copy, signed and inscribed by the author to the title page: "For Lewis and Hilda, with my warmest regards, R. J. Minney. Advance copy - 10th Sept, 1956." A biographical account of Violette Szabo, the Anglo-French Special Operations Executive (SOE) agent who served in occupied France during the Second World War and was posthumously awarded the George Cross for her bravery. The work became widely known following the 1958 film adaptation, starring Virginia McKenna.The work recounts Szabo"s recruitment into the SOE, her missions in France assisting the French Resistance following the Allied invasion of Normandy, and her eventual capture by German forces. She was later executed at the Ravensbrück concentration camp in 1945. In the publisher's original cloth binding. Externally, generally smart. Slight fading to spine and extremities. Slight offsetting to endpapers. Dust wrapper, sound. Slight edge wear to extremities resulting in one or two small chips, closed tears, and creases to extremities. Soiling to wraps with the odd light spot of damp staining. Slight rubbing to wraps. Ink scribble to front wrap, with ink doodle to rear wrap. Internally, firmly bound. Pages bright and clean if characteristically age toned. One or two light spots and handling marks, heavier to first and last few leaves. Author's inscription to title page. Very Good . Ill.: None Stated. Very Good/Very Good.